The ViolinThe instrument that changed music history

Predecessors, Part I

• Predecessors:• Rebec• Lira da braccio• Renaissance fiddle

• Developed in Northern Italy at the end of the 1600’s

• Not the same as a Viola da Gamba!

Predecessors, Part II

• First appeared in Spain in the mid 1500’s, but was most popular during the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

• Descended from the Arabian rebab and Vielle

• Flat backs, sloped shoulders, C holes, frets, and 6 strings tuned in fourths.

Andrea Amati (c.1505-1578)

• Amati was the first of the recognized masters of violinmaking.

• Born into a world filled with “scientific revolution.” During his lifetime:• Copernicus proposed that the earth rotates around the sun (1512)• Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) founds theoretical astronomy.• Galileo (1564-1642) founds experimental physics.• Santorio (1561-1636) invents the hydrometer

• Shortly after Amati’s death:• Marin Mersenne calculates the speed of sound in air using gunshots

(1640)• Isaac Newton discovers the light spectrum and tone colors (1672)

Brother Amati Violin, 1624

The Amati Family, 1538-1740

• Andrea Amati (1505-1578)• Antonio Amati (1537-1607)• Girolamo Amati (1551-1630)

• Nicolo Amati (1596-1684)• Andrea Guarneri (1626-1698)• Antonio Stradivari (1644-

1737)

• Antonio Stradivari sets the standard for all future instruments.

François Xavier Tourte (1747-1835)

• Considered the most important figure in the development of the modern bow. Developments include:• Counterbalanced tip and frog, with balance point at the lower third, about

19 cm from the frog.• Heavier frog with shape still used today.• Longer – with a usable hair-length of 65 cm.• Spreader block, prevents tangling and eliminates need for a comb.• Adjustable screw which adjusts tension of the hair.

• Tourte destroyed any bow that was not entirely faultless.

• Followed by Dominique Peccatte (1810-1874) and Nicolas Lupot (1758-1824).

Continued Evolution: The 1800’s

• The bridge is raised and curvature increased

• Soundpost thickened

• Neck angled back

• Pitch raised from A=426 to A=440

• Lengthened fingerboard

• Tourte bow

Early Violin Repertoire

• Claudio Monteverdi is the first composer to require the use of 4th position in Vespro della Beata Vergine, 1610.

• Giuseppe Torelli (1658-1709) writes some of the first concertos (mostly concerto grossi) for trumpet and violin.

• Antonio Vivaldi “The Red Priest” (1678-1741) • Over 500 Concertos, 230+ for violin and orchestra• Inspired J.S. Bach’s violin concertos. Bach transcribed Vivaldi’s

violin works for harpsichord

• Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713) writes the 12 sonatas for violin, and begins virtuoso violin playing.