13 December is National Violin Day, a day that honours the bowed string instrument also known as the fiddle.
The violinist produces music from the violin by using a variety of techniques. The sound is manipulated by the violinist drawing the bow across the strings of the violin to produce a broad range of musical sounds. Through the generations, the violin’s versatility has been demonstrated by its extensive use in many genres, including baroque music, classical music, folk music, rock and roll, and soft rock.
The word violin is derived from the Latin word vitula, which means stringed instrument. The violin has some ancient origins but most of its modern characteristics can be traced back to the 16th century in Italy – with some modifications in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The world’s earliest fiddlers are believed to be Turkic and Mongolian horsemen from Inner Asia whose two-stringed upright fiddles were strung with horse hair. These fiddles, which often featured a carved horse’s head at the end of the neck, were played with horsehair bows. The violins, violas and cellos that we play today whose bows are still strung with horsehair, are a legacy of these nomadic people.
Some interesting violin facts:
– The oldest documented four-string violin was constructed by Andrea Amati in 1555.
– Lady Blunt, a Stradivari violin was sold at an auction on 20 June 2011 for a record amount of US$15,9 million.
– A Stradivarius violin is one of the most sought-after instruments by both collectors and musicians.
To celebrate today, pop in your favourite CD and let the soothing sounds of violin music fill the air.
Use #NationalViolinDay to post on social media.
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