:]

Pointless things are pointless. :]

:D

Yay, I am finally done! :D

Notes

Note to readers (if anyone actually reads this other than Mr. Kant): I’m terribly sorry if I have done something illegal by unintentionally copying any information or pictures (which I don’t think I did).

Note to Mr. Kant: If you can see the time of which I posted these blogs, do not be fooled, they are wrong. I did not post them at 2/3 a.m. Do you honestly believe that I would stay up that late/early just to post this assignment, just because I completely forgot about it, just because I realised it was overdue (thanks to your email)? Well, I didn’t. Although my remarks do seem a bit sarcastic, it is unintentional. I am being completely serious.

By the way, I don't know why my bullet/dot point things are squiggly lines.

Bibliography

§ http://www.soundjunction.org/theviolaabriefhistory.aspa?NodeID=1

§ http://library.thinkquest.org/27178/en/section/1/1.html

§ http://library.thinkquest.org/J001411/cello_history.htm

§ http://www.mathcs.duq.edu/~iben/viola.htm

§ http://www.mathcs.duq.edu/~iben/violin.htm

§ http://www.mathcs.duq.edu/~iben/viocello.htm

§ http://www.mathcs.duq.edu/~iben/doubass.htm

§ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cello

§ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_bass

§ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violin

§ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola

More about the Strings

Famous string compositions

Some famous string compositions include:

§ Canon in D by J. Pachelbel

§ Per Questa Bella Mano, K.612 by W.A. Mozart

§ Double Concerto in A minor, Op. 102 by J. Brahms

§ Triple Concerto by L. Beethoven

§ Unaccompanied Suites for Cello by J.S. Bach

§ Harold en Italie by H. Berlioz

§ Cello Quintet, Op.11 No.5 by L. Boccherini

Famous string composers and performers

Some famous string composers and performers include:

§ Johann Sebastian Bach

§ Niccolò Paganini

§ Leopold Mozart

§ Johann Pachelbel

§ Antonio Vivaldi

§ Johannes Brahms

§ Thomas Baltzar

Terms for string

§ am Steg (Ger) – at the bridge; i.e., playing a bowed string instrument near its bridge

§ arco – the bow used for playing some string instrument; i.e., played with the bow

§ col legno – with the wood; i.e., the strings (for example, of a violin) are to be struck with the wood of the bow

§ pizzicato – pinched, plucked; i.e., in music for bowed strings, plucked with the fingers as opposed to played with the bow

§ saltando – bouncing the bow as in a staccato arpeggio, literally means "jumping"

§ spiccato – distinct, separated; i.e., a way of playing the violin and other bowed instruments by bouncing the bow on the string, giving a characteristic staccato effect

§ sul ponticello – on the bridge; i.e., in string playing, an indication to bow (or sometimes to pluck) very near to the bridge

§ sul tasto – on the fingerboard; i.e., in string playing, an indication to bow (or sometimes to pluck) over the fingerboard

Terms taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_musical_terminology

Double Bass

History

It is unknown exactly where the double bass originated from, but it is presumed to be a descendant from the viola da gamba, which originated in the 15^th century. Although the viola da gamba family usually had five or six strings, and the violin family usually had four, before the 20^th century, the double bass only had three strings. The double bass’ appearance greatly resembles that of a viol, but the internal structure of the double bass is almost identical to that of the violin family’s instruments. The size of the double bass makes the violin seem insignificant when placed side by side. The double bass is extremely large, and is almost double the size of a cello. Of all the stringed bow instruments, the double bass is the lowest pitched. It is played with the double bassist standing, with the double bass resting on the floor, like the cello.

Parts

Refer to image

Image taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_bass

There are different types of bows used when playing the double bass. Two of these include the French (overhand) bow and German (Butler) bow.

Sound Production

The sound of a double bass is produced the same way as a violin’s sound is produced.

Range and Tuning

Rather than being tuned in fifths like the violin, viola and cello, the four strings of the double bass are tuned in fourths. Being tuned in fourths rather fifths avoids long finger stretches (extensions), making it easier for the player to play the instrument. Double basses are generally tuned from E (the lowest E on the piano), up to A, D, and then G. Some double basses, such as those in major European orchestras, have a fifth string, which is tuned in B (three octaves and a semitone below middle C). By preference of the player, some double basses are, like cellos, tuned in fifths but are an octave lower, and are tuned from C, up to G, D and then A. Tuning a double bass in fifths usually make the sounds louder.

Cello

History

The cello was also from the 16^th century, it’s real name being the violoncello. It was created for composers who desired an instrument which played lower pitches and tones as an accompaniment to other instruments, such as the violin. It was recognized as a solo instrument in the 18^th century. The cello was developed from the bass violin, but was transformed from the viola da gamba. Since the pitch is low, the strings are longer and thinker, therefore making the instrument itself larger. Although the cello is closely related to the bass violin, the cello is much larger than the average violin, and most definitely cannot be played against the neck/shoulder, but must be played with it placed on the floor. Originally, the cello did not have the end pin, but when introduced to the cello, it made the cello more stable against the floor and also brought the cellists great comfort.

Parts

Refer to image

Image taken from: http://learngen.org/cohorts/music/791/KCKPS/alonzo/strungoutvc.htm

Sound Production

A cello’s sound is produced in exactly the same was as a violin.

Range and Tuning

The cello has four strings which are, once again, tuned in fifths, starting from the A just below middle C, down to D, G and then to C. The range is over four octaves. Music for the cello is generally written with the bass clef, but it is sometimes written with the tenor clef or treble clef when there would be too many ledger lines.

Viola

History

The viola is very much like the violin, and is often mistaken as one. The differences are that a viola is slightly larger than a violin, and has a mellower and deeper tone. Like the violin, the viola is also a direct descendant from the viola da braccio, and also appeared around the 16^th century. However, the viola was, in a way, acoustically challenged, and an ideal viola would require it to be so long that it was nearly impossible to play. In the late 18^th century, composers began to realise the true musical quality of the viola, and even wrote concertos for it. Alterations were made as an attempt to improve the viola, but it was only until the 20^th century when the more successful and significant changes were made.

Parts

Refer to image

As seen in the diagram, the viola is almost identical to the violin, with the same appearance and same parts.

Image taken from:

http://www.wwbw.com/CustomerService/BuyGuides/BuyGuide_violas.aspx

Sound Production

In a viola, sound is produced in the same way as a violin – the strings vibrate, which cause the wooden body to vibrate, which causes the air inside to vibrate, which amplifies the sound.

Range and tuning

A viola, like the violin, has four strings which are also tuned in fifths apart. Unlike the violin, the strings start from the C an octave lower than middle C, jumping in fifths to G, D and to A. The tuning is one fifth below the violin, but is an octave higher than the cello.

Violin

History

The origins of the violin can be traced as far back as in the 9^th century, in Europe and Asia. However, it was not until the 16^th century when the violin appeared, relatively close to its modern day form, in Northern Italy. The very first types of major bow instruments either had a pyriform resonance box which barely had a neck, no pegs and a flat belly; or a flat, slightly arched and rounded bodied instrument, connected by ribs. In the middle ages, 11^th century, Europe, the vielle and the rote (rotta) were introduced and were played with a bow. By then, small instruments were already often played by holding it against the shoulder or breast. Originally, the number of strings had only been one or two, but as time grew on, it became more common for there to be three or four strings, or even five. Gradually, ribs, tailpieces, bridges and holes were introduced to the vielle, transforming it into the viol. Before 1500, three more families of stringed instruments appeared: the viola da gamba, the lira da braccio and the viola da braccio. Although the characteristics of the violin were created in many of the stringed instruments, the violin evolved directly from the viola da braccio. Eventually, as more and more time passed, many alterations and adjustments were brought to the stringed bow instruments, until the definite form of the violin was finally born.

Parts

Refer to image

Image taken from:

http://www.cmeabaysection.org/strings/violin.html

Sound Production

Sound on a violin is produced when the strings are bowed, plucked or struck. Sliding the strings with the bow makes the sounds smoother, longer and ultimately, more pleasant. The vibrations from the strings vibrate the wooden violin body, causing the air inside it to also vibrate, thus amplifying the sound so that it can be heard from a distance. This means that if the violin were not hollow, then the sound would not be properly heard, and the instrument would not be a true violin. Different notes are played by changing the string lengths, which can be done simply by putting a finger on the string or strings, against the bridge, then striking them with the bow. The less string there is, the less short the vibrations. Therefore, the thinner and shorter the string is, the higher the pitch and sound.

Range and Tuning

The range of a violin is from G3 (the G below the middle C) to the highest note of the piano, which is over 4.5 octaves higher. The four strings of a violin are tuned fifths apart, from G, D, A to E. The violin is tuned by turning the pegs at the pegbox, or by adjusting the screws at the tailpiece.