In addition to the notes of the four “open” strings, the players make many other notes by stopping the string with the fingers of their left hands. When a string is pressed against the fingerboard, its length is shortened, and a higher sound is produced. The closer to the sound box the finger is pressed, the higher the note. There is nothing on the fingerboard to tell a player exactly where to place his fingers (that is, unlike a guitar, a violin has no frets); he must listen very carefully and practise hard to learn where the right spots are for each note.

Sometimes the player will draw the bow across two strings at a time, and this is called a double stop. By using double stops, a skilful player can play two melodies at one time, making it sound as though two violins were playing a duet.

Just in front and to the right of the conductor is another section of twelve to fourteen musicians playing instruments that look much like the violins. This is the viola section. Violas are played, held, and look like violins; however, they are about two inches longer than violins have larger bodies and a deeper tone. Violas are the tenor voice of the string family and play either melody, countermelody, or in combination with other instruments.

Directly to the right of the conductor is the cello section. Even though the cellos are shaped like violins and violas, there is no chance of confusing them. The cellos are not only much larger than the others but have lower sounds. The player sits on a chair and holds the body of the cello between his knees as he plays. Although it is held differently from the violin, the cello is played much the same; the strings are either plucked or bowed, and different pitches are made by stopping the strings with the fingers of the left hand.

As with players in the other sections, the ten to twelve cellists practise many hours so that they can play perfectly together. Cellos often play bass parts, but when they play a melody, it sings out in a strong, rich baritone voice. So beautiful is their tone that Camille Saint-Saëns uses the cello to describe the majestic movement of the swan in Carnival of the Animals.

Behind the cello section are the double basses. They are also called string basses and are so big that the player either sits on a high stool or stands next to the instrument, so low that even the tuba can’t match their sound, and so powerful that there are only six to nine of them in a large orchestra. When the double bass is plucked, the strings make a deep, resonant sound that helps keep the rhythm. This makes it a popular instrument in jazz and popular music. When it is played arco, it sounds very low and grumbly and is sometimes called upon to play either mysterious or unusual melodies. In Carnival of the Animals, the double basses play the theme of the lumbering elephants.

Each instrument of the violin family is made in many different sizes. There are eighteen different sizes of violins, violas, cellos, and double basses—an instrument to fit any size of player. A five-year-old boy or girl can begin study on a small-size violin and, as he or she grows, transfer to gradually larger instruments until he is big enough to play a full-sized violin.

The instruments of the violin family are equally at home playing solos, in small groups, or in large orchestras. One of the most popular small ensembles is the string quartet—two violins, one viola, and one cello. Each instrument in the string quartet is equally important, sometimes playing melody, sometimes playing accompaniment. The slow movement of the Emperor Quartet, one of over eighty string quartets composed by Joseph Haydn, is in the form of a theme and variations and gives each instrument a chance to play the melody. A string quintet is usually a string quartet with a part for a second cello.

Composers often write music for the string orchestra, which is like a string quintet with many players playing each part. When Mozart composed Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, it was written to be played by a string quintet. However, it is usually performed by a string orchestra and is, perhaps, even lovelier with several musicians playing each of the five parts.

A symphony orchestra is made up of the strings plus sections of brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. In Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Benjamin Britten illustrates the sounds of these various sections and how they are joined together. Certainly, there is no sound as exciting as that of a symphony orchestra with its variety of woodwind sounds, blaring brasses, and crashing cymbals. Nevertheless, the strings remain the most important section. Their beautiful tones, versatility, and general usefulness have earned the instruments of the violin family the title “heart of the orchestra“.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
The Heart of the Orchestra: the Violin Family-Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass continue…

• Folk Instruments: the Guitar, Fiddle, Banjo, and many more
• The Heart of the Orchestra: the Violin Family-Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
• Jazz, Rhythms from African Music
• The Violin, String Musical Instrument, Music and Songs from the Heaven continue...
• The Violin, String Musical Instrument, Music and Songs from the Heaven
• The Cello, not gain instant Success either as a Solo Music Instrument
• The Woodwind Family: Flute, clarinet, saxophone, and Double Reeds part 3
• The Viola, Melancholy Timbre, Symphonic Music
• Musical Instruments the Piano, Play the Beautiful Songs wherever you are continue...
• The Saxophone

dodoBrass, Guitar, Jazz, Music Box, Percussion Instruments, Popular Music, Violin, Woodwinds7 Oct, 2008