| Contents |
Violin facts. A collection of unusual and interesting violin facts -- The ancient ancestors of the violin. Primitive stringed instruments ; Chinese bowed instruments ; Snakeskin fiddles ; The Arabian instruments, kemangeh, rebab ; The ravanstrom of India ; The Yugoslavian gusle ; The Scotch crwth ; The viol, immediate predecessor of the violin -- The violin is developed. Contributions of the crusaders to music ; Early musicians and entertainers ; The development of music notation ; Need for better instruments ; The first violin maker ; Duiffoprugcar ; Gasparo da Salo ; Cremona, Italy, the home of violin makers ; Andrew Amati ; The Amati school of violin making -- Antonio Stradivari. Stradivari, the greatest name in violin making ; His apprenticeship ; Life ; Workmanship ; The long Strad ; What was his secret? ; His contributions to the violin -- Francis Tourte. Tourte, the master bow maker ; Early life as a watchmaker ; Learns to make bows ; Revolutionized bow making by his experiments -- The construction of the violin. Interesting facts about the violin ; Violin measurements ; Graduation of the top and back ; The parts of the violin ; Materials used in making violins ; Varnishing -- Choosing a violin. Secure the best instrument possible ; A good instrument is an investment ; Inspiration to the student ; Pointers on selecting a violin -- Choosing a bow. The importance of a good bow ; Price range ; Standard bow length ; Bow wood ; Graduation ; Bow markings, an indication of quality ; Selecting the bow -- The care of the violin and bow. The importance of being careful with the instrument ; The first rules of instrument care ; The violin case ; Strings ; The bridge ; The fingerboard ; The sound post ; Tuning pegs ; Cracks, rattles, buzzes ; The chin rest ; Cleaning the instrument ; Care of the bow ; Pointers for taking care of the instrument and bow -- How a violin produces sound. Importance of knowing how a violin produces sound ; What sound is ; The string is the motor to the violin ; How the sound chamber is put into motion ; Fundamental tones and overtones ; Nodes on the string ; Harmonics -- Why study the violin. The importance of music ; Music in ancient times ; Music in the schools of America ; Music in the field of education ; Reasons for taking music and playing the violin -- A dictionary of violin terms. |
