Modern Violins. In the year 1891 a certain Dr. Stelzner, a German, made public his method of constructing new violins, for which it was claimed that they would outstrip the old Italian instruments. Stelzner inserted vibrating tongues in the f holes, and made other so-called improvements. The claims made for these instruments have not, however, been sustained. Another attempt of this kind, called the “Stroh” violin, does not seem to have been successful.
Violin Tone. The players on the viol in England in the seventeenth century did not welcome the violin. Its stronger and, to their ears, harsh tone was said to destroy the delicate balance of the viols.
Alto Violoncello, a smaller instrument than the ordinary one. Boccherini directs, in some of his chamber music, that the ’cello part is to be played on this instrument. The unusual difficulty of some of his ’cello parts may be explained, in part, by this direction.
Viol. This instrument preceded the violin. Its shape, which is still in use as the ordinary double bass of the orchestra, has been thus described by Mr. Payne:—“It differs from the violin in having deeper ribs, and a flat back, which is sloped off at the top. The shoulders curve upwards, joining the neck at a tangent instead of at right angles, as in the violin. The neck is broad and thin, the number of strings being five, six, or seven. The viol was made in four sizes.”
Fiddle. This word has its origin in “fides,” the Latin name for any kind of string. Its diminutive is “fiducula.”
The Strings. By this is usually meant the violins, violas, ’cellos and double basses collectively. The Germans use the term “bowed instruments,” which is better than “the strings,” seeing that the guitar, harp, piano, etc., are stringed instruments. Another German authority claims that an accurate description is “bow-stringed instruments.”
The Violin is constructed of fifty-seven different pieces of wood, which are glued together, the most numerous of these parts being the linings and purfling. Its movable fittings (bridge, pegs, etc.) number thirteen, making in all seventy different parts.
François Francœur (1715). This French composer and violinist is said to have used the thumb in playing the violin, so as to produce certain chords, as is done in ’cello playing.
Lute. An old instrument whose descendants are the guitar and mandoline. The chiterna (citerne) was of the same order.
Theorbo belongs to the lute family. It was a bass instrument, and had a double neck with two sets of strings.