Interesting Violin Facts

Though the violin is now considered a classy instrument, it was initially a folk instrument developed in Europe during the the 16th century.

As the instrument was improved, it gained increasing acceptance and great musical pieces were written for it. Many early violins were made in Italy.

In those days, the instrument was held against the chest instead of under the chin. Leopold Mozart claimed that it was too hard to hold onto when performing fancy finger work. He suggested holding it under the chin, which would stabilize it when it couldn’t be held with the hand.

The violinist draws a bow of horsehair across the violin’s four strings (or sometimes plucks the strings), causing them to vibrate. The sound of the strings echoes in a sound box, producing the violin’s distinctive music. Using the bow and fingers against the strings, the violinist can vary the music.

The violin is a very important orchestral instrument. There are more violins in a standard orchestra than any other instrument.