Violin

The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello.
The word violin comes from the Middle Latin word vitula, meaning stringed instrument; this word is also believed to be the source of the Germanic "fiddle". The violin, while it has ancient origins, acquired most of its modern characteristics in 16th-century Italy, with some further modifications occurring in the 18th century. Violinists and collectors particularly prize the instruments made by the Gasparo da Salò, Giovanni Paolo Maggini, Stradivari, Guarneri and Amati families from the 16th to the 18th century in Brescia and Cremona and by Jacob Stainer in Austria. Great numbers of instruments have come from the hands of "lesser" makers, as well as still greater numbers of mass-produced commercial "trade violins" coming from cottage industries in places such as Saxony, Bohemia, and Mirecourt. Many of these trade instruments were formerly sold by Sears, Roebuck and Co. and other mass merchandisers.
Violin has 4 strings, there are G (bass), D, A, E (an octave higher). It’s quite easy to play the violin. We just have to know the distance between one note to the other. For one distance, we need to put our finger little bit far. And for half distance, we need to put our fingers without any distance.
A person who makes or repairs violins is called a luthier, or simply a violin maker. Someone who plays the violin is called a violinist or a fiddler. The violinist produces sound by drawing a bow across one or more strings (which may be stopped by the fingers of the other hand to produce a full range of pitches), by plucking the strings (with either hand), or by a variety of other techniques. The violin is played by musicians in a wide variety of musical genres, including Baroque music, classical, jazz, folk music, and rock and roll. The violin has come to be played in many non-western music cultures all over the world.
The most famous violin makers (luthiers) between the 16th century and the 18th century include:
• The school of Brescia, beginning in the late 14th with liras, violettas, violas and active in the field of the violin in the first half of 16th century
• The Dalla Corna family, active 1510–1560 in Brescia and Venezia, Italy
• The Micheli family, active 1530–1615 in Brescia
• The Inverardi family active 1550–1580 in Brescia
• The Bertolotti Gasparo da Salò family, active 1530–1615 in Salò and Brescia
• Gio Paolo Maggini, active 1600–1630 in Brescia
• The school of Cremona, beginning in the half of 16 century vith violas and violone and in the field of violin in the second half of 16 century
• The Amati family, active 1500–1740 in Cremona, Italy
• The Guarneri family, active 1626–1744 in Cremona
• The Stradivari family, active 1644–1737 in Cremona

The earliest references to jazz performance using the violin as a solo instrument are documented during the first decades of the 20th century. Joe Venuti, one of the first jazz violinists, is known for his work with guitarist Eddie Lang during the 1920s. Since that time there have been many improvising violinists including Stéphane Grappelli, Stuff Smith, Regina Carter, Johnny Frigo, John Blake and Jean-Luc Ponty. While not primarily jazz violinists, Darol Anger and Mark O'Connor have spent significant parts of their careers playing jazz. Violins also appear in ensembles supplying orchestral backgrounds to many jazz recordings.
Here is the part of a violin:

By : Agathon Hneryanto