THE VIOLIN: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION 

The violin is the soprano member of the family of bowed instruments (the other members are the viola, the violoncello and the double bass).

The violin bow is usually about 30cm in length; the stick is made out of Brazilwood, and the white band which makes contact with the strings is genuine horse hair.

The violin itself is composed of about 70 parts, and several varieties of wood are used in its construction, including maple, spruce and ebony or rosewood.

Though its exact origin has been lost in the mists of time, the violin today holds a dominant position in the orchestra thanks to its many distinctive characteristics which differentiate it from other instruments.

Among its most outstanding qualities are the instrument's melodic capability, and its intrinsic agility.

In addition, the violin's capacity for expression is only comparable to that of the human voice; the instrument can produce a wide array of tone colours and special effects which give it huge versatility and provide composer and performer with a priceless tool.

And of course, the use of the violin is not just limited to the orchestral setting - it has applications in folk music, jazz, and pop music as well.

Violin Sounds - on the Web since 19th July 2004