Meaning and Definition of violin | Concept and What is.

What is the violin?

The violin is a string instrument, more specifically, bowed string. It produces sound by an arc with a bunch of tensioned horse hair fibers, which is rubbed on the four strings which owns the instrument. It is the smallest of stringed instruments and which produces sharper sounds. One of the main instruments in large orchestras.

The origin of the violin is unknown; There are only based on similar assumptions. One theory says that their predecessors are former "bows", which consisted of one large which was fastened with the mouth, and a small one that was rubbed against the largest. Others think that it comes from instruments like the Egypt Nefer, the Revanastron of India and the Lira of Greece and there are still more theories. The violin, as it is known today, was built in the 16th century in Italy. In those years, there were many new sound ideas that were motivated by the Renaissance. Both the violin and other bowed string instruments were the results of those ideas. In the beginning wasn't very considerate, until 1607, Claudio Montiverdi includes it in his opera "Orpheus". The violin began has become popular and were renowned builders of the instrument as Gasparo da Salò, Giovani Paolo Maggini, Andrea Amati, Nicola Amati, Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarnieri of Gesù. The violin became the most sought-after instruments.

A number of legends surround the violin, giving it an air of almost supernatural mystery. Legendary is the case of Niccolò Paganini, Italian violinist which was said was "demon-possessed", due to the technical and 'impossible' speed for the time of this virtuoso.

The violin is composed of a beautiful resonance box with elegant curves. The box consists of the bottom and top, which give you a rounded form; the lid has two resonance hole called ear or efes (for its shape). The rings, which are those who go around the violin give special silhouette; the bridge, which is over the top and maintains high the strings of the violin; behind the bridge is the tailpiece, which is a triangular wooden structure that holds the strings. Strings are on the fretboard, which is smooth, without frets of the guitar. The fingerboard is attached to the box by the heel which in turn is continued by the handle. The back of the neck is the headstock, which receives the strings through the saddle. The ropes are knotted and stressed on the pins. Headstock ends in a snail called scroll (sometimes scroll has other forms). Finally, inside the box, two structures responsible for the sound of the violin: Harmonic bar and soul. Harmonic bar along the top below the bass strings. The soul is under the right foot of the bridge under the strings sharp.

As for the arch, it is formed by hairs or "you crines" horse which are tensioned between the two ends of the rod, which is very thin. The tension of the hairs can be by a screw.

The sound of the violin is produced when the bow slips by the strings of the instrument (the mane are rubbed with special resins to generate adequate friction, before playing the instrument), generating a constant vibration that produces sound waves. The soul transmits vibrations to the bottom of the violin, then produce sounds with the help of the air entering from the FS.

An important factor for sound quality is the type of wood and the violin varnish. The background is usually made Maple and spruce wood top wood since they are considered to be of better quality for the violin. As the varnish, this may affect the sound of the instrument by which you must select one of very good quality. In addition, it should serve to give beauty to the wood and protect it.

To play the violin, it is necessary to know very well hold the instrument with the left hand, because that should produce tension and stiffness in the body. Chin should not crush with force to the violin, just enough support it slightly.

Among the most notable pieces are the following: concert for violin of Beethoven, the 24 Caprices of Paganini, Concerto No. 1 for violin by Max Bruch, violin concerto of Tchaikovsky, violin concerto by Mendelssohn, no. 1 and no. 2 of the Paganini violin concertos, Concerto for violin by Brahms and concert for violin by Saint Saens, among others.

As for the violinists, the most outstanding are: Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840), Jascha Heifetz (1901-1987), Nathan Milstein (1903-1992), David Oistrakh (1908-1974), Yehudi Menuhin (1916-1999), Isaac Stern (1920-2001), Itzhak Perlman (1945-), Gidon Kremer (1947-), Anne-Sophie Mutter (1963-), Haylie Ecker (1975-), Eos Chater (1976-) and Vanessa Mae (1978-), among others.

Translated for educational purposes.