The violin is one of the most common stringed musical instruments. It has been popular since ancient times - since the 16th century. Violinists play solo on it, accompany in ensembles. The sounds of the violin can be found in many modern bands, as can be seen by listening to the compositions of the music portal weborama, which specializes in this subject. It is not for nothing that this instrument is called the queen of the orchestra.

It was not possible to establish the exact place and time of the origin of the violin. Many speculations have been made as to what stringed instruments were before the modern violin. It is assumed that the ancestors of the violin and viola were the rebab, company, fidel, which appeared in XIII-XV centuries... Viola originated before the violin. She was distinguished by a varied size. To perform any piece on the viola, the musician had to stand. During the performance, the viola was kept on the knees, and later on the shoulders, which led to the emergence of the violin.

The violin solo was not initially played, because this instrument was reputed to be common. It was only used in the circles of itinerant musicians in beer establishments.

A significant transformation of the violin took place in the 16th century, thanks to Italian craftsmen who made a musical instrument of an ideal form and from best materials... The author of the first modern violin is Gasparo Bertolotti. Huge contribution members of the Amati family, who worked on the timbre of the instrument, contributed to the making of violins in Italy. They made it deep and voluminous. According to their idea, the violin should convey feelings and emotions, its sound should resemble a human voice. The idea was a success.

The violin has a wide range, beautiful sound. This allows composers to create works of different genres for violin. There are many masterpieces where the leading part belongs to the violin.

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Of course, everyone knows the violin. The most refined and sophisticated of any stringed instrument, the violin is a way of conveying the emotions of a skilled performer to the listener. Being somewhere gloomy, unrestrained and even rude, she remains tender and vulnerable, beautiful and sensual.

We have prepared some fascinating facts about this magical musical instrument for you. You will learn how a violin works, how many strings it has, and what works are composed by composers for violin.

How does a violin work?

Its structure is simple: body, neck and strings. Instrument accessories vary widely in their purpose and importance. For example, one should not overlook the bow, thanks to which the sound is extracted from the strings, or the chin and bridge, which allow the performer to most comfortably arrange the instrument on the left shoulder.

And there are also accessories like a typewriter, which allows the violinist to correct the tuning that has changed for any reason without losing time, in contrast to the use of string holders - pegs, which are much more difficult to work with.

There are only four strings themselves, always tuned to the same notes - Mi, A, Re and G. violins? From different materials - they can be veined, and silk and metal.

The first string on the right is tuned to the E of the second octave and is the thinnest of all the strings shown. The second string together with the third "personify" the notes "A" and "D", respectively. They are medium, almost the same thickness. Both notes are in the first octave. The last, thickest and bassiest string is the fourth string, tuned to the "G" note of a small octave.

Each string has its own timbre - from shrill ("Mi") to thick ("Salt"). This allows the violinist to convey emotions so skillfully. Also, the sound depends on the bow - the cane itself and the hair pulled over it.

What kind of violins are there?

The answer to this question can be confusing and varied, but we will answer quite simply: there are wooden violins most familiar to us - the so-called acoustic ones, and there are also electric violins. The latter are powered by electricity, and their sound is heard thanks to the so-called "column" with an amplifier - a combo. There is no doubt that these instruments are arranged in different ways, although they may look the same on the outside. The technique of playing an acoustic and electronic violin does not differ significantly, but you have to get used to an analog electronic instrument in its own way.

What works are written for violin?

The works are a separate topic for reflection, because the violin is great both as a soloist and in. Therefore, for the violin, they write recitals, sonatas, partitas, caprices and pieces of other genres, as well as parts for all kinds of duets, quartets and other ensembles.

The violin can participate in almost all types of music. Most often at the moment, she is included in classics, folklore and rock. You can even hear the violin in children's cartoons and their Japanese adaptations - anime. All this only contributes to the increasing popularity of the instrument and only confirms that the violin will never disappear.

Famous violin makers

Also, don't forget about the violin masters. Perhaps the most famous is Antonio Stradivari. All of his tools are very expensive and have been prized in the past. The Stradivari violins are the most famous. During his lifetime, he made more than 1000 violins, but at the moment from 150 to 600 instruments have survived - the information in various sources is sometimes striking in its diversity.

Other surnames associated with the skill of violin-making include the Amati family. Different generations of this large Italian family have improved the bow musical instruments, among other things, they improved the structure of the violin, achieving a strong and expressive sound from it.

Famous violinists: who are they?

The violin was once folk instrument, but over time, the technique of playing it became complex and from the folk environment, individual virtuoso craftsmen began to stand out, who delighted the audience with their art. From the time of musical renaissance Italy is famous for its violinists. It is enough to name just a few names - Vivaldi, Corelli, Tartini. Niccolo Paganini also came from Italy, whose name is shrouded in legends and secrets.

Among violinists who came from Russia, there are such great names as J. Kheifets, D. Oistrakh, L. Kogan. The modern listener knows the names of the current stars in this area of ​​the performing arts - for example, V. Spivakov and Vanessa-May.

It is believed that in order to start learning to play this instrument, you need to have at least good, strong nerves and patience that will help you overcome from five to seven years of study. Of course, such a thing cannot do without disruptions and failures, however, as a rule, even they are only beneficial. The study time will be hard, but the results are worth the pain.

The material on the violin cannot be left without music. Listen famous music Saint-Saens. You've probably heard it before, but do you know what kind of work it is?

C. Saint-Saens Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso

The origin of bowed strings is unclear. According to K. Sachs, the bow was first mentioned in Persia and China in the 9th century, and fidels began to appear in Europe in the 10th century: one of the types of instrument, apparently from Byzantium, appears at this time in Spain. It was this type, usually pear-shaped and without a neck, with one to five strings, that became the main bowed instrument that appeared under various names - fidel, viela or viola - in medieval Europe... The second type, long and narrow, called a rebek, probably of Arab origin, appeared in Europe in the 11th century. and was saved in different types about six centuries. By the end of the 16th century. two main families of stringed instruments were clearly distinguished: the viola and the violin. The main differences between them related to the design of the instrument: the viols had a flat bottom deck, sloping shoulders, letter-shaped resonator holes s(es), a wide neck, frets on the fretboard and 6-7 thin strings, while violins were characterized by a convex back, rounded shoulders, letter-shaped holes f(f-holes), narrow neck, no frets on the fretboard and 4 thick strings. Viols of all varieties were played with the knee or between the knees, like the larger varieties of the violin family; other varieties of violins were held on the shoulder, later under the chin. In addition to the designation of the instrument itself, the term "violin" also referred to a family that included the viola, cello and some types of double bass.

The four strings of the violin are tuned in fifths: salt, re 1 , la 1 , mi 2. String salt entwined with a metal thread, string mi usually made of metal. Plucking the strings with your fingers is called pizzicato. Sometimes a small wooden device for muffling the sound, called a mute, is put on the strings, namely on the stand.

Unlike most modern tools, which were improved only after long development and experimentation, the violin entered its "golden age" at the beginning of its own career. The first violin makers worthy of note were Gasparo Bertolotti (or "da Salo") (c. 1542–1609) and Giovanni Paolo Magini (c. 1580–1632), both from Brescia in northern Italy. However, during their lifetime, the nearby Cremona began to gain fame as a world center for violin production. For more than a hundred years (c. 1575-1680), the Amati family played the main role in this process, especially Nicolo (1596-1684), who flattened the convex body of the old viola da braccio, narrowed its "waist", sharpened the corners, and improved the resonator holes and improved the lacquer finish. The most famous student of N. Amati was Antonio Stradivari (c. 1644-1737), more than 1100 instruments of which (over 600 of them are known today) are considered the pinnacle in the field of violin skill of all times. The third place in the great triumvirate of the Cremonians is occupied by the Guarneri families, especially Giuseppe del Gesu (1698–1744), who made instruments with a bright personality and strong sound. By 1750, the glorious period of violin makers was over, although Germany, France, England and other countries, as well as Italy, continued to make violins.

The modern violin differs from the ones made three hundred years ago, mainly in its more brilliant sonority, which it owes to thicker veined strings, an elongated neck and neck, and taller stands. Around 1820, the chin was invented by the composer and violinist Ludwig Spur. Although many modern violins are mass-produced and intended for students music schools and amateur musicians, and many others are fakes or copies of famous old instruments, and some excellent examples are made that can be compared with those of Cremona.

Considered at first a young loud-voiced upstart (and in France - an instrument suitable only for dancing), the violin supplanted the Renaissance viola only when, in the 18th century. music from the living rooms moved to concert halls and to the large opera stage. By its sensitivity and expressiveness of sound, an endless variety of technical possibilities, from all kinds of bow playing techniques to plucking and percussion effects, the violin is an unsurpassed solo instrument - both for "singing" a simple melody and for virtuoso performance. For three centuries she has played a leading role in orchestral and chamber music. In the 16th and 17th centuries, in addition to the viola and cello, several other varieties of the violin were known, which are now out of use. The small instrument, first mentioned in 1618, is used today as a three-quarter violin in teaching children.

Violin history

"And since then everyone knows about the violin family,

and it is unnecessary to say or write anything about it. "

M. Pretorius.

Before we start talking about the great masters who created magic violins, let's find out where this instrument came from at all, why it is the way it is and, in general, what is it about it that has troubled our minds and hearts for half a thousand years ...

Now, probably, it is already impossible to say exactly in what country and even in what century it was born. We only know withThe violin acquired its modern form in the 16th century and became widespread in the 17th century, thanks to the works of the great Italian masters.

The violin, as the most widespread stringed bowed instrument, is called the “queen of the orchestra” for a reason. And not only the fact that there are more than a hundred musicians in a large orchestra, and one third of them are violinists, confirms this.

The expressiveness, warmth and tenderness of her timbre, the melodiousness of the sound, as well as huge performing opportunities rightfully give her a leading position, as in symphony orchestra and in solo practice.
Of course, we all represent the modern appearance of the violin, which was given to it by the famous Italian masters, but its origin is still unclear.

Around this issue, disputes are ongoing to this day. There are many versions of the history of this instrument. According to some reports, India is considered the birthplace of bowed instruments.

Someone suggests that China and Persia. Many versions are based on the so-called "bare facts" from literature, painting, sculpture, or on early documents confirming the origin of the violin in such and such a year, in such and such a city.

From other sources it follows that many centuries before the appearance of the violin as such, almost every cultural ethnic group already had similar bowed instruments, and therefore it is inexpedient to look for the roots of the origin of the violin in certain parts of the world.

Many researchers consider the synthesis of such instruments as the rebeck, the guitar-shaped fidel and the bowed lyre, which arose in Europe around the 13th-15th centuries, to be a certain prototype of the violin.

Rebeck is a three-stringed bowed instrument with a pear-shaped body that blends into the neck. Has a deck with resonator holes in the form of brackets and a fifth tuning.

Rebeck came to Europe from the Middle East. It is much older than the violin, since it was already known in the twelfth century. Rebec (French rebec, lat. Rebeca, rubeba; dates back to Arabic rabāb) is an ancient bowed string instrument that influenced the formation of instruments of the entire violin family. The origin is not exactly known, perhaps in the late Middle Ages, the Arabs brought the rebeks to Spain, or the Arabs met him after the conquest of Spain.

The peak of popularity for this instrument came in the Middle Ages, as well as in the Renaissance.

At first, the Rebeck was a folk instrument, not a courtier, used by jugglers, minstrels and other itinerant musicians. Later it was also used in church and secular court music. Moreover, the Rebek sounded not only at social receptions, but also at village holidays. It is also a church instrument, an invariable companion to many religious rituals. Since the fifteenth century, the Rebekah has only been used in folk music.

Outwardly, the Rebeck looks like an elongated violin. It does not have those sharp bends that are inherent in the body of a violin. In this case, the smoothness of the lines is important. The Rebec has a pear-shaped wooden body, the upper tapering part of which goes directly into the neck.

On the body there are strings with a stand, as well as resonating holes. The fretboard contains frets and tuning pegs. The neck is crowned with an original curl, which is the hallmark of the rebec. Two or three strings of the instrument are tuned in fifths.

They play the instrument with a bow, which is led along the strings. It is important to note that using the bow when playing on string instruments presumably originated in Asia in the ninth century and spread through Byzantium and Muslim countries across Western Europe in the tenth to twelfth centuries. Rebeck is one of the first instruments to be played with a bow.

The tonal range of the instrument is quite extensive - up to two octaves inclusive. This allows the Rebekah to perform not only programmed pieces, but also various kinds of improvisation. This largely explains why Rebek was so popular among the folk. The tool is quite compact. Its total length does not exceed sixty centimeters. This makes it easy to transport the tool without worrying about bulky cases.

Of course, this once again proves the "convenience" of the instrument even in everyday life. An interesting fact is that one of the descendants of the Rebek was called "pocket", which means "small pocket" in French. This instrument was so miniature that it could easily fit in the pocket of a dance teacher. Then, during a rehearsal or a ball, the teacher led the party, accompanying on the pocket.

Rebeck belongs to a class of accompaniment instruments that produce sounds by vibrating the strings. The musician drives the strings with a bow, as a result of which the strings come into vibrational motion. This is how the sound of the instrument is born. Nowadays, the instrument belongs to the category of rare, but not forgotten. Rebeck rightfully occupies an important place in the heritage of world musical culture.

The Rebekah was once played in fairs, streets, but also in churches and palaces. The images of the Rebec remained in the hymnal, illuminated manuscripts, in the murals of cathedrals.

The greatest artists of the Renaissance painted angels and saints who played the Rebeca: Raphael, and Giotto, and the "blessed angelic brother" Fra Beato Angelico ...

Raphael - "The Crowning of Mary" (detail)

Giotto's "Mary's Wedding Procession" (detail)

As we can see, the tool was quite popular.Yet the Rebekah's reputation seemed to be ambivalent.

Like the minstrels themselves - even though a gift from God, but still, the artists were not, no, and they were suspected of something bad. In some places, the rebekah was demoted in rank: then they were placed in the underworld to the pagans,then they gave him in the clutches of outlandish half-humans - half-beasts of a suspicious appearance.

Paradoxes led to the fact that one day it turned out that although the Rebeck was once good enough to be played by angels and saints, to please the ears of the Most Pure Virgin and the Lord God, as well as kings and queens, but not enough - for to be played and listened to by decent people.

And he became a completely street instrument. And then he took it and disappeared altogether.

Although how did he disappear? Firstly, caring people made reconstructions in the 20th century, and secondly, maybe we feel some features of this instrument when we play the violin?

And the Rebeck still sounds. And we can listen to him ... .. As well as fidel (viola).

VIOLIN... The queen of the orchestra is the violin - the most common stringed instrument. "She in music is just as necessary

instrument, as in human existence daily bread ", talked about her

musicians as early as the 17th century.

Violins were made in many countries of the world, but the best violin makers lived in

Italy, in the city of Cremona. Violins made by Cremona masters XVI -

XVIII centuries Amati, Guarneri and Stradivari, are still considered

unrivaled.

The Italians kept the secrets of their craftsmanship sacredly. They knew how to make sound

violins are especially melodious and gentle, similar to a human voice.

Famous Italian violins survived to our time not so

a lot, but all of them are strictly registered. The best musicians in the world play them.

The violin body is very graceful: with smooth curves, a thin "waist".

There are beautiful f-shaped notches on the top, which are called f-holes.

Both the size and shape of the case, and all its smallest details, even the quality of the varnish,

with which it is covered are carefully thought out. After all, everything affects the sound of the capricious

tool. A neck is attached to the body of the violin, which ends

curl. In front of the curl, there are holes in the groove where the tuning pegs are inserted.

They pull the strings, on the other hand, are tightly attached to the neck. V

in the middle of the body, approximately between the f-holes, stands on two legs

stand. Strings run through it. There are four of them. They are called those

sounds to which they are tuned: mi, la, re and g or bass, counting from the

high string.

The general range of the violin is from G minor to G of the fourth octave. Violinist

changes the pitch by pressing the string against the neck with the fingers of your left hand. To

comfortable to play, he puts the violin on his shoulder and holds it

chin. In his right hand he holds a bow, which he drives over the strings.

The bow is also an important detail. The character largely depends on him

sound. The bow consists of a cane or a shaft, at the lower end of which

the shoe is attached. It serves to pull the hair, which on the other

side attached to the cane motionlessly.

If we catch a string with our finger and then release it, the sound will quickly fade away.

The bow can be pulled along the string continuously for a long time, and

the sound will also continue continuously. Therefore, the violin is very melodious. On it

you can play long, flowing melodies, as they sometimes say, "on one

breathing ", that is, without interrupting them with pauses or caesuras.

They say that the violin sings. And the truth is, its sound sounds like quivering

methods, the so-called strokes, which are used when playing the violin.

You can play not one, but two adjacent strings at once. Then sound

two melodies. More than two sounds cannot be produced at the same time, since

the strings are not flat, but on a rounded stand. However, violinists

play chords of three and four notes in a special way - arpeggiato, taking

sounds not simultaneously, but one after another, quickly sliding along the strings

In an orchestra, violins are the main instruments. They are entrusted with the responsible

episodes. Remember how often violins sing in orchestral pieces;

sometimes broad and calm, sometimes agitated, and sometimes dramatic

tense. And in the Polka-pizzicato of the brothers Johann and Joseph Strauss and

some other works of violins are used in a very unusual way:

performers play them not with a bow, but plucking the strings with their fingers, as on

plucked instruments. This technique is called pizzicato.

The violin has become very widespread as a solo instrument. For

She created a variety of works - from virtuoso sketches by Paganini to

lyric plays by Prokofiev. Many composers have written concerts for

violins and orchestra. You've probably heard concerts of Beethoven, Mendelssohn,

Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Glazunov, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Khachaturian.

The history of music knows the names of famous violinists. The name is surrounded by legends

the genius Paganini. He was accused of witchcraft, because in those days,

when he lived - in the first half of the 19th century, it was hard to believe that an ordinary

a person himself, without the help of magic power, can play so splendidly on