THE VIOLIN

THE VIOLIN

The Violin is a hollow, wooden instrument with 4 strings.

It can be played with a bow (left) or it can be plucked.

The four stings are spaced out in perfect fifths. G,D,A,E.

The strings are tuned using the pegs at the top or fine tuners at the bottom.

GENERAL INFO

The bow used to play the violin is made out of wood as well, however the part of the bow that moves across the string is made of horse hair.

This causes vibration which is amplified in the hollow box. To change the note on a violin, you place your four fingers on the finger board. (below)

To change the pitch of the note, you press your fingers on different places on the fingerboard

Your thumb is used to hold the violin.

The further down the finger board your fingers are, the higher pitch the note will be.

PLAYING IT The Violin is held in the left hand and rested against the shoulder. Vibrato [1]is an effect that makes the note vary in pitch. By wobbling the finger on the fingerboard. Tremelando/Tremolo [2] – The bow is pulsed quickly at the top of the bow to create a trembling

effect. It is played very quietly. Pizzicato [3] – Violinist plays by only plucking the strings. It can be played with the left or right hand. Staccato [4] – In Italian it means ‘detached’ and is a form of violin where 2 notes are seperate or detached from each other. [1

][4]

[2]

[3]

THE HISTORY The ‘Greek Lyre’ is one one of the

earliest stringed instruments. In the 9th century, the Lyre spread into the

Byzantine Empire of Eastern Europe and

North Africa and evolved into the Lira. The Lira spread through Europe westward in the

11th and 12th century where it evolved further. In the following centuries there were 2 main

stringed instruments in Europe. The

‘Lira da Braccio’ (Violin for the Arm) and Lira

da Gamba (Violin for the leg). Eventually, the

quieter, Lira da Gamba’ lost ground to the

Braccio. Lira Da Braccio

Byzantine Empire

THE HISTORY Meanwhile, at around the 12th to 13th century,

the Greek Lyre spread east into the Middle East and there it evolved into the Rebek (right)

In the following centuries the Lira da Braccio merged with the Arabic ‘Rebek’and eventually became the modern European Violin we know today.

Rebek

Greek Lyre

Lira

Rebek

Lira da Braccio

Lira da Gamba

Modern Violin

Time Line

FAMOUS COMPOSERS FOR THE VIOLIN Antonio Vivaldi (1678 – 1741) Italian Baroque

composer. Composed over 500 different concertos but is most famous for his series of violin concertos ‘The Four Seasons’.

Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) is considered the most influential composer of the Romantic Era. His Violin ‘Concerto in D major’ is one among the "4 great violin concertos". Written in 1806, the concerto performed very little until well after his death.

Nicolo Paganini (1782 – 1840) who is considered by many as the greatest violinist ever lived was born in Genova, Italy. His compositions include 24 caprices for unaccompaied violin. These pieces are among the most difficult works written for violin.

Antonio Vivaldi

Ludwig Van Beethoven

Nicolo Paganini

20TH CENTURY INFLUENCE Like most things, the 20th Century has had a

huge impact on the modern day violin. Through out the twentieth century with the

invention and improvement of electrical amplification, came the birth of the electric violin.

They are made with built in pick up which converts the sound into an electrical signal which can then be amplified .

They are often used when soloists are playing to large crowds because they are louder than the normal violin.

Since the invention of the electric stringed instrument it is a common sight to see purely electrical stringed quartets or bands. These bands mix popular electric music with the classical sound of the violin.