Violin History

The violin originally emerged in Italy during the early 16th century and evolved from two medieval bowed instruments--the fiddle (also called vielle or fiedel) and the rebec--and from the Renaissance lira da braccio [ a violin-like instrument with off-the-fingerboard drone strings].

 It is Andrea Amati who is the known developer of the violin. Amati apprenticed as a lute maker and in 1525, he became a master instrument maker.

 The earliest explicit description of the violin, including its tuning, was in the Epitome musical by Jambe de Fer, published in Lyon in 1556. By this time the violin had already begun to spread throughout Europe by the popularity of the court dance and street musicians.

 Initially the violin could be either ½ inch longer or ¼ inch shorter than the modern violin which measures 14 inches. The pegboxes did not extend into a scroll every time, and sometimes they ended in carved heads. The violins had a neck that was shorter, thicker and less angled. The fingerboard was likewise shorter, the bridge was flatter and the strings were made of gut.

There was no tuning system and no standards of pitch. The distinction between harmonic pairs of notes also worked opposite to what it is today. Also, there was no accepted way of holding the bow of the violin. The violin was held at the neck for serious music and on the arm or breast for dance music.

 At first the violin was not popular, as it was considered a musical instrument of low status. However by the 1800s composers started to use the violin in operas and therefore the violin’s popularity and status grew.

 The violins' prestige continued to rise during the Baroque period, made more notable by celebrated figures and pioneers in music including Antonio Vivaldi and Johann Sebastian Bach.

 By the mid-18th century the violin enjoyed a vital place in instrumental music ensembles and in the 19th century the violins' rise to fame continued in the hands of virtuoso violinists such as Nicolò Paganini and Pablo de Sarasate.

 During the 20th century the violin reached new heights both in technical and artistic aspects as, due to its versatility, its use became frequently seen in a range of music styles. Isaac Stern and Fritz Kreisler are some of the well-known icons of this time.

 The violin has truly evolved over the centuries. Today the violin is one of the most popular instruments in the world and is widely used in classical, jazz, rock and folk.