What is one thing that you learned about the Violin’s history What is one thing that you learned about the Violin’s history? Why do you think it is important?

VIOLIN! Part 2 : History

To Review… The Violin is… The highest and smallest instrument in the orchestral string family The soprano voice Has 4 strings (“G”,”D”,”A”,”E”) The body is a wood soundbox that amplifies the vibrations of the strings Has a rich, singing tone

Strings… “G” “D” Lowest Thickest Bass/Baritone – “Greg” Second Lowest Thick, but thinner than “G” Tenor – “Deon”

Strings… “A” “E” Second Highest Thinner than “D” Alto – Alesha Highest Thinnest Soprano - Emma

Violin History Musicians have used many kinds of stringed instruments, such as harps, for thousands of years. No one, however, knows exactly when players began to use bows instead of just plucking the strings. Chinese players used bowed instruments over 1,000 years ago!

Six hundred years ago, players started using bows to play instruments of the guitar family. These bowed guitars developed into the instruments we call viols.

After a while, people held the viol vertically (up and down) and put a rounded bridge on it. A curved bridge is essential to playing on one string at a time!

In Italy, about 300 years ago, Antonio Stradivari perfected the design of the violin and produced some of the finest violins ever made. Violins today still use the design of Stradivari. There are about 700 original Stradivarius instruments still in existence today. Some of these are worth nearly $1,000,000!

The violin is a major solo instrument in country music, where it is often called a fiddle

So… Tell me one thing about the violin’s history that you learned and why do you think it’s important?