Baroque Violin Shop Cincinnati Oh (2024)

FAQs

What is the highest note on a baroque violin? ›

During the Baroque period, the use of higher positions on the violin increased. In 1600, the highest note in regular use was the C above the E-string, while by 1700 the A one octave above the E-string was relatively common (being, for instance, the highest note used in Bach's violin music).

The physical differences between modern and baroque violins mean that the baroque violin is softer. The fact that the neck is angled back on the modern instrument means that the tension of the strings can be much higher without breaking the neck.

Baroque Period Setup

In its original Baroque setup, the violin family of instruments featured a fat neck set at a shallower angle to the top, large fittings (often made of softwood veneered with inlayed hardwood), a squat, broad bridge, a shorter bassbar, and most importantly, gut strings.

The strings are generally set into vibration with a rosined horsehair bow held at its frog end by the performer's right hand, though they are sometimes plucked with the right hand fingers (called pizzicato) instead.

24 Caprices by Paganini: Often recognized as one of the hardest works for solo violin, Paganini's Caprices are comprised of twenty four incredibly demanding pieces for the violin, loaded with double stops, left-hand pizzicato, and endless spiccato bowing.

The Messiah Antonio Stradivari - $20 million

The Messiah violin by Antonio Stradivarius is estimated to have a worth of $20 million and ranks among the most expensive violins in the world. Made in 1716, this historic instrument remains incredibly in almost perfect "like new" condition.

Piano vs violin difficulty: a detailed analysis

For beginners, the piano might seem more approachable due to its straightforward note production – press a key, and a note sounds. The violin, with no frets to guide finger placement and the need for bow control, can present a steeper initial learning curve.

One compelling reason to opt for the cello is its initial ease of play. The instrument's position feels more natural, making it potentially less intimidating than the violin, which can seem more challenging initially but becomes easier over time.

During the Baroque era, vibrato was used sparingly, for emphasis on long, accentuated notes in pieces with an affect or character to which it was suited. Being regarded as an ornament, in principle it was used on single notes like any other…

Antonio Stradivari was born in 1644, and established his shop in Cremona, Italy, where he remained active until his death in 1737. His interpretation of geometry and design for the violin has served as a conceptual model for violin makers for more than 250 years.

How to tune baroque violin? ›

Baroque violin tuning

Apart from classical violin, if you ever decided to play the baroque violin, you would tune it to A-415 Hz. The baroque pitch used during the Baroque period in the 17th century sounds almost like a “G” sharp in standard A-440 tuning.

Baroque violins, for example, were physically larger yet projected a lesser sound than the more modern versions that followed them, owing largely to the construction of the instruments: the neck of Baroque violins were set at a more shallow angle relative to the body, which put less pressure on the bridge from the ...

Baroque orchestras originated in France where Jean-Baptiste Lully added the newly re-designed hautbois (oboe) and transverse flutes to his orchestra, Les Vingt-quatre Violons du Roi ("The Twenty-Four Violins of the King").

The highest note playable is less well defined: E₇, the E two octaves above the open string (which is tuned to E₅) may be considered a practical limit for orchestral violin parts, but it is often possible to play higher, depending on the length of the fingerboard and the skill of the violinist.

Violinists can take Performance Grades at Initial Grade and Grades 1 to 8. There are no booking periods or exam sessions so you can choose when to book, record and submit your exam.

The strings are usually set about 3.5mm to 5.25mm above the board. Together these factors fix the string angles as they pass over the bridge. Although the basic violin set up has changed little from Baroque times, many of its parts have altered radically.