RateItAll: The Opinion Network

It gives a lot of feeling. Now we are seeing it being incorporated in such genres outside of classical. Though weird, when you hear it long enough it can be a great addition to a band. Ask Jay-Z who had one in a commercial. I have played this in my elementary and middle school years and I saw and heard its sadness and giddiness depending on what song is played.

This instrument tells no lies...if you can play it is mesmorizing if not it is horrifying...no one can wing this one hehe.

From the family of 'chordophone' instruments, along with the viola, the cello and the double bass. Before the mid-16th century, there had been the 'lira da braccio,' the 'rebec' and, of course, the 'fiddle.'

Already the "early violin proper...had four strings, lateral pegs, a waisted body and f-shaped sound holes...(but) the perfecting of the bow in the 19th century further increased (its) possibilities." (from Musical Instruments of the World,' Bantam Books)

Fragments from Wikipedia: "Legendary violin manufacturer Antonio Stradivari (b.1644-d.1737) probably served as a pupil in Niccolò Amati's workshop...In the past, instruments by Stradivari's teacher, Nicolo Amati, and an Austrian genius, Jacob Stainer, who might also have studied with Amati, were preferred for their subtle sweetness of tone.

(Cont.) "In 1680 Stradivari set up for himself in the Piazza San Domenico, Cremona, and his fame as an instrument-maker was soon established. Apart from violins, Stradivari also made harps, guitars, violas, and cellos more than 1,100 instruments in all, by current estimate. About 650 of these instruments survive today.

"He began to show his originality, and to make alterations in Amati's model. The arching was improved, the various degrees of thickness in the wood were more exactly determined, the formation of the scroll altered, and the varnish more highly coloured. His instruments are recognized by their inscription in Latin: Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis Faciebat Anno [date] (Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, made in the year ...). It is generally acknowledged that his finest instruments were manufactured from 1698 to 1725 (peaking around 1715), exceeding in quality those manufactured between 1725 and 1730. After 1730, some of the instruments are signed Sotto la Desciplina d'Antonio Stradivari F. in Cremona [date], and were probably made by his sons, Omobono and Francesco.

(Cont.) "His instruments are regarded as amongst the finest stringed instruments ever created, are highly prized, and still played by professionals today. Only one other maker, Joseph Guarneri del Gesù, commands the same respect among violinists."

Improvements in violin making attempt to achieve tone that is more full and brilliant, which entail using "strings that are thinner and at greater tension, and a higher, more curved bridge that facilitates clean bowing." (From 'Musical Instruments of the World,' Bantam) On Bow action, the Bantam publication observes: "Different effects can be achieved by varying the method of bowing. The commonest method consists of smooth down-strokes and up-strokes, in which the bow is drwan across the strings from nut to point and back again. Other bowing methods include 'staccato' or detached strokes, 'hammered' strokes where each stroke is released forcefully and 'jeté' strokes where the bow is allowed to bounce across the strings."
And plucking the strings between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand produces 'pizzicato.'

There is plenty of instrumental virtuosity to be found in Bach's 'Partitas for violin, solo', and in Niccolo Paganini's 'Caprices.' Mozart's deceptively simple sonatas for violin and piano allow much in the enjoyment of either instrument. Renowned concertos for violin were written, one each mostly, by Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saens, Sibelius, Bruch and Alban Berg; but and, very enjoyably, in Antonio Vivaldi's and Bach's own many concertos for string instruments.

Violin is one of the most interesting instruments. I really hate it grawing up, something about it was so annoying, but over the years, it turned into one of the most unique nstruments for me. I find violins as an emotional instrument. Violin is one of the few instrument(guitar and piano being the other two) that can created quite an emotion. At the time as piano sounds so versatile with its many keys and peddals, violin sounds almost the same, but its monotonious sound is pretty charming, alluring, and absolutely haunting.

World Famous violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg will be appearing with the Edison Symphony at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ on October 15, 2006, 2:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now

www.edisonsymphony.com
www.statetheatrenj.org

A very hard instrument to master.I love a good violin player.Some of the best I've heard are Itzak Perelman,Scarlet Rivera and Regina Carter.My Dad used to play one in an orchestra.

i am a brass player and i dont like string instruments. plus, it takes away the melody from better instruments in a full orchestra.

The violin, with spiccato, staccato, the availability of different amounts of bow space (and more) can help you show emotion better than the piano.

A good instrument

I love the violin..not only because I play it, but because of all the other people that play it so well, and make such beautiful music with it. The violin may not be the hardest instrument to play, but it might be the hardest instrument to master...If it is even possible to 'master' any instrument.. so let's just say near-master. But I plan not to let difficulty intimidate me, and I'll just have fun practicing to become a better violinist/fiddler (which won't be hard, because the violin is so fun to play!).

Sounds awful if you don't know how to play it, but hang in there because once you get good it makes a really beautiful sound.

HUGE respect for violin players, it's probably one of the hardest stringed instruments. I'm a rock and roller but I salute Marty Maguire of the Dixie Chicks on making the instrument sound so delightful.

My joy at listening to violin/fiddle music is only eclipsed by the joy I feel when playing. Although I'm just at the barely-intermediate level, I still get so much fun out of playing it. Some days it's a struggle to play it, so I'll put it down, but the next time I pick it up it's like it plays itself. It's alot of hard work but for each week that passes by and each new technique and song I learn, it is so worth it. I'll never be at the performance-for-others level, but that's OK - maybe one day my children will see me playing (in the privacy of my own home, of course!) and want to learn. Playing is a great stress reliever. Creating music, no matter what instrument you choose, should be a part of everyone's life. A violin is perfect, because it's much more portable than a piano, is just challenging enough to keep things interesting and, let's face it, it's a very versatile instrument. You can play cajun fiddle, Irish fiddle, bluegrass, Texas swing, classical, blues, jazz, etc. and each style is entirely distinct. For everyone who has ever been interested in playing the violin (or fiddle, they're essentially the same thing) but feel that they are too old, I encourage you to swallow your pride, find a good starter violin and take a couple of lessons. When I first began playing, I was intimidated because I felt that if I didn't start at the age of three that I'd never be able to play. But when I bought my first violin last year, the guy who sold it to me said he had a student that was 78 and learning for the first time. I figured if a 78-year-old could pick it up for the first time, I could too!

I have had music lessons but I never tried to tackle the violin. My hats are off to those that have learned to play it! I understand it is one of the hardest instruments to play, but it is so worthwhile! When played well, it is one of the most beautiful sounding instruments there is! Whether it's classical, pop, rock or whatever, a well orchestrated song using violins (or fiddle!) often makes all the difference in the world. I mean it! Violin players are unsung heroes. Lead singers, lead guitarist and other lead musicians get all kinds of glory, while the orchestra with its violins (and other stringed instruments) are often contributing to the quality of the music as much or more as any of the individual "stars." Thank you violinists!

Fantastic for playing in a group or alone. The violin can make you almost see emotion with the sound it makes.

String instruments are crazy because there is no definitive place on the fingerboard for each note. Good violinists sound really good and bad violinists sound really bad. A diverse instrument. Nothing else quite has the clean, mellow sound that a violin makes.

I absolutely love the sound a violin makes. So much that I have considered buying one and taking lessons, if I can find the spare cash and time. I kind of like the more depressing sounds of music, and this definitely makes songs more mellow and passionate. I'm mostly a rock music fan, and whenever a band adds strings to their songs it makes them excellent. Some of my favorite rock songs have strings added to them. One song in particular is "Shimmer" by Fuel. It definitely ads depth and more of a sense of passion to music.

Have you ever heard someone play this instrument badly? When someone plays THIS instrment badly, it's REALLY bad, perhaps the worst instrument to introduce a kid to who has no idea what he's doing! On the other hand, when someone knows what they're doing, the sound is absolutely stunning! This is likely one of few instruments that are able to stand alone, without need of any other musical instruments to compliment, though it still CAN be played with other things for good music!