The violin is an instrument made with different woods, hairs, and other materials to produce different sounds. In Europe, the violin can be traced back to the ninth century, with is origin probably in Asia. No less than 450 years were needed to bring the violin to its present physicsal apperance. The violin is generally made with 4 different kinds of wood. Spruce wood is used to make the belly, the bass bar, and the sound post. Maple is for the back, the ribs, the neck, and the bridge. Ebony is used for the fingerboard, the pegbox, the nut, and the saddle. And rosewood is for the pegs and the button. All linings, blocks, and corners can be made out of pine, willow, poplar, or any other kind of light wood.If trees are not carefully selected before being cut down, the vioin's soud qualities won't be that good. There are ways to see if it is good enough wood by tapping on the tree with a hatchet. Then, once the tree is cut down, it has to be stored for 10-20 days! (usually in a dry place protected from the season change) Old wood is the best wood you can get for a violin. However, if it's too old, it's no better than wood that is to young.
The violin's bow length is 73cm. (not including the button) The normal weight is currently 60g. The stick is made of Pernambuco wood. It is a reddish, hard, and flexable wood. The bowhair consists of 150 "thoroughbread" horsehairs fixed to the head and to the nut in the moveable frog. And the rosin is used to harden the microscopic rugged edges of the horsehairs that by rubbing set the string vibrating.
The vioin emerged ni its first form between 1520 and 1550 in northern Italy. The first 4-stringed violin was made n 1555. There are still many made today. I did my report on the violin, because I play it, and I thought that it might be good to learn some background information. I find the violin to be and instrument that makes beautiful sound and is fun to play. |