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Violin The violin is a bowed stringed musical instrument that has four strings tuned a perfect fifth apart, the lowest being the G just below middle C. It is the smallest and highest-tuned member of the violin family of string instruments, which also includes the viola and cello. ...
A violin consists of a body or corpus, a neck, a bridge, a soundpost, four strings, and various fittings. ...
// Playing the violin See also: How to play the violin The violin is usually held under the chin and supported by the left shoulder. ...
// History Beginnings, and Golden Age An intricately carved 17th century (believed 1660) British Royal Family violin, on display in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. ...
// Jazz The earliest references to jazz performance using the violin as a solo instrument are documented during the first decades of the 20th century. ...
This is a list of violinists, i. ...
This list of fiddlers shows some crossover with the List of violinists since the instruments used are quite similar, if not identical (given that each violin or fiddle has its own individual character. ...
Making violins
There is a three-dimensional geometric underlying construction that explains the main properties and placement of the different parts and proportions. The outer contour is designed by the violin maker, and today the outlines of the old masters' violins are usually used.
The traditional approach starts with a set of plans, which include a drawing of the outer shape of the instrument. From these plans a template is constructed, which can be made from thin metal or other materials, and is a flat "half-violin" shape. The template is used to construct a mould, which is a thick violin-shaped piece of wood.
Around the mould are built the sides (or ribs), which are flat pieces of wood curved by means of careful heating. The front and back are carved sections which fit on top. When the body is complete, the neck, which is carved out of a separate piece of wood (usually maple), is set in its mortise to complete the basic structure of the instrument, after which it is varnished.
Vital to the sound and playability of the instrument is setup, which includes adjusting the neck angle if needed, fitting the pegs so they turn smoothly and hold firmly, dressing the fingerboard to the proper scooped shape, fitting the soundpost and bridge, adjusting the tailgut and installing the tailpiece, and stringing up. A chinrest may be put on at this time.
Then the instrument begins the playing-in process, as its parts adjust to the string tension. The sound of a violin may be said to "open up" in the first weeks and months of use, a process which continues more gradually over the years.
Maintenance "Quite as important as the excellence of the instrument is its care." -Carl Flesch, from The Art of Violin Playing
The violin itself requires careful maintenance and it should last and improve for many years. Most importantly, whenever the violin has been used the collected rosin should be wiped from the varnish on the violin (under the strings) and bow with a soft cloth. If left for long enough, the rosin will fuse with the varnish.
Cleaning the rosin off strings can make a striking difference to the sound, and should be done regularly. A common wine cork serves admirably, quietly scrubbing off the crust of rosin without damaging the winding of the string. The use of alcohol is to be avoided, as it easily damages violin varnish in ways which may be difficult or impossible to restore.
The violin should be occasionally checked by a technician, who will know if repairs need to be made. The tuning pegs may occasionally be treated with "peg dope" when they either slip too freely, causing the string to go flat or slack, or when they stick, making tuning difficult. "Peg drops" (a solution of rosin in alcohol) may occasionally be used to treat slipping pegs, but that is a temporary solution at best; quite often slipping pegs have shafts which are no longer smoothly conical, and should be refitted or replaced. Peg dope is a waxy substance which is used to coat the bearing surfaces of the tuning pegs of string instruments (e. ...
Violinists carry replacement strings with their instruments to have one available in case a string breaks. A complete set of four replacement strings must be included because they differ in thickness and are not interchangeable. Even before breaking, worn strings may begin to sound tired and to become "false" over time, producing an unreliable pitch. Another common problem with strings is unravelling of the metal winding. Strings may need replacement every two or three months with frequent use. The higher strings require replacement more frequently than the lower strings – fortunately higher strings cost less. The price of strings varies, and the quality of the strings strongly influences the timbre of the sound produced. A teacher can advise students how often to change strings, as it depends on how much and how seriously one plays. In music, timbre, also timber, (French, IPA /tæmbÉ™r/ as in the first two syllables of tambourine) is the quality of a musical note or sound which distinguishes different types of sound production or musical instruments. ...
It is said that Niccolo Paganini purposefully weakened some of his strings so that in performance they would snap. He would then play the rest of the piece on the remaining strings, sometimes going into remarkably high positions in order to impress the audience. His "Variations on a Theme from Rossini's 'Moses'" is played on just the lowest string. Niccolò Paganini Niccolò Paganini, (Genoa, October 27, 1782 - Nice, May 27, 1840) was a violinist and composer. ...
For the bow, the only real maintenance is regular cleaning of the stick with a cloth, and re-hairing. In the course of playing the violin, hairs are often lost from the bow, making it necessary to have it rehaired periodically, which is done by professionals at roughly the cost of a new set of strings. The old horse hair is replaced with new hair. Other maintenance may include replacing the wire lapping and leather grip, or lubricating the screw. Large cracks and breakages in the bow are usually fatal; they cannot be repaired like the body of the instrument can. A bow which has warped and is no longer straight can sometimes be bent back to true or re-cambered, but this must be done with heat by a craftsman, and it is not always successful or worthwhile.
When the bow is not being used the hair must be loosened in order to prevent the bow from becoming "sprung" and the hair stretched. There are now bows available made from fiberglass or carbon composite which are less fragile.
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