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Predecessors, Part I
• Predecessors:• Rebec• Lira da braccio• Renaissance fiddle
• Developed in Northern Italy at the end of the 1600’s
• Not the same as a Viola da Gamba!
Predecessors, Part II
• First appeared in Spain in the mid 1500’s, but was most popular during the Renaissance and Baroque periods.
• Descended from the Arabian rebab and Vielle
• Flat backs, sloped shoulders, C holes, frets, and 6 strings tuned in fourths.
Andrea Amati (c.1505-1578)
• Amati was the first of the recognized masters of violinmaking.
• Born into a world filled with “scientific revolution.” During his lifetime:• Copernicus proposed that the earth rotates around the sun (1512)• Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) founds theoretical astronomy.• Galileo (1564-1642) founds experimental physics.• Santorio (1561-1636) invents the hydrometer
• Shortly after Amati’s death:• Marin Mersenne calculates the speed of sound in air using gunshots
(1640)• Isaac Newton discovers the light spectrum and tone colors (1672)
The Amati Family, 1538-1740
• Andrea Amati (1505-1578)• Antonio Amati (1537-1607)• Girolamo Amati (1551-1630)
• Nicolo Amati (1596-1684)• Andrea Guarneri (1626-1698)• Antonio Stradivari (1644-
1737)
• Antonio Stradivari sets the standard for all future instruments.
François Xavier Tourte (1747-1835)
• Considered the most important figure in the development of the modern bow. Developments include:• Counterbalanced tip and frog, with balance point at the lower third, about
19 cm from the frog.• Heavier frog with shape still used today.• Longer – with a usable hair-length of 65 cm.• Spreader block, prevents tangling and eliminates need for a comb.• Adjustable screw which adjusts tension of the hair.
• Tourte destroyed any bow that was not entirely faultless.
• Followed by Dominique Peccatte (1810-1874) and Nicolas Lupot (1758-1824).
Continued Evolution: The 1800’s
• The bridge is raised and curvature increased
• Soundpost thickened
• Neck angled back
• Pitch raised from A=426 to A=440
• Lengthened fingerboard
• Tourte bow
Early Violin Repertoire
• Claudio Monteverdi is the first composer to require the use of 4th position in Vespro della Beata Vergine, 1610.
• Giuseppe Torelli (1658-1709) writes some of the first concertos (mostly concerto grossi) for trumpet and violin.
• Antonio Vivaldi “The Red Priest” (1678-1741) • Over 500 Concertos, 230+ for violin and orchestra• Inspired J.S. Bach’s violin concertos. Bach transcribed Vivaldi’s
violin works for harpsichord
• Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713) writes the 12 sonatas for violin, and begins virtuoso violin playing.