Where did the violin originate

A. The violin is an impressively ancient musical instrument, its origins can be traced back to the 9^th century in Europe, and it is thought that even earlier versions existed throughout Asia.

Q. How did it all begin

A. The first stringed instruments involved a primitive musical bow, usually an arched stick with a string stretched taut between the two ends. The first bridge was used to add resonance when the string was vibrated, and strings were then stretched across suitable receptacles -tortoise shells, gourds and so on. The use of a bow to draw across the strings followed, possibly imported into Europe from Asia by Arab travellers, although this is pure conjecture; no one really knows for certain the origin of a stringed instrument played by a bow.

Q. What about the evolution of the instrument

A. The evolution of the violin was very slow indeed. It took until the Middle Ages for a version of the zither, a popular and older instrument, to evolve into the 'vielle' which saw the instrument being held against the shoulder for playing, and not across the knees, as was usual with the zither.

Q. Were there more changes

A. There were - the original one string grew to four, and for a time, five strings. The five-stringed vielle was fashionable until the 16^th century, and by that time, the small wooden ribs that were used on similar plucked instruments, were replaced by the tailpiece and bridge. By the time the Renaissance was in place, the 'viol' was being used, the first instrument to use a hole to add resonance and tone. From there, it was a short step to the 'viola da gamba', which was played between the knees of the musician, and the 'viola da braccio' held against the shoulder. It is from the second version that the modern shape of the violin has evolved.

Q. Why is the violin so popular

A. For two reasons. The first is its portability - in its earliest days, an instrument that could be carried easily and quickly by travelling musicians was always assured regular usage and popularity. The second is its versatility - once the four-string violin had evolved, using tuning in fifths, an instrument with rich and varied tonal and melodic patterns could be used in a variety of styles and settings. The two combined ensured the rapid spread and use of violins throughout the world.

Q. Where were early violins made

A. The evolution of the modern violin appears to have been completed in Italy, with the most famous violinmaker Andrea Amati at Cremona providing 24 violins, six violas, and eight cellos for King Charles IX of France in 1560. Antonio Stradivarius joined the school of violin making founded by Amati in the latter half of the 17^th century.

Q. That's a recognisable name in violin manufacture.

A. It is because Stradivarius was responsible for the final refinements to the shape and overall design of the modern violin. Instruments that have survived from that time are virtually indistinguishable from any modern violin, although the hand building and craftsmanship is regrettably not reproduced in modern factory production.

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by Andy Hughes