In bowed musical instruments, sounds are produced by rubbing the hair of the bow against the strings; due to this sound characteristic they are largely different from plucked instruments.
Bowed instruments are distinguished by high sound quality and endless possibilities in the field of performance and therefore are leading in various orchestras and ensembles and are widely used for solo performance.
This subgroup of instruments includes violins, violas, cellos, double basses, as well as a number of national instruments 1 (Georgian chianuri, Uzbek gidzhak, Azerbaijani kemancha, etc.).
Violin among bowed instruments - the highest instrument in the register. The sound of the violin in the upper register is light, silvery, in the middle - soft, gentle, melodious and in the lower register - intense, thick.
The violin is tuned in fifths. The range of the violin is 3 3/4 octaves, from the salt of the small octave to the note mi of the fourth octave.
They produce solo violins, size 4/4; training, size 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, 1/4, 1/8. Study violins, unlike the solo violin, have a slightly worse finish and reduced sound quality. In turn, training violins, depending on the sound quality and external finish, are divided into training violins of grades 1 and 2. Class 2 violins are different from class 1 violins worst quality sound and exterior.
Alto a few more violins. In the upper register, it sounds tense, harsh; in the middle register the sound is dull (nasal), melodious, in the lower register the alto sounds thick, somewhat rude.
Viola strings are tuned in fifths. The range is 3 octaves, from a note to a small octave to a note to a third octave.
Violas are divided into solo (size 4/4) and training grades 1 and 2 (size 4/4).
Cello almost 3 times the size of a full-sized violin and is played while seated. The tool is installed on the floor, after inserting the stop.
The sound of the upper register of the instrument is light, open, chest. In the middle register it sounds melodious, dense. The lower case sounds full, thick, tight. Sometimes the sound of the cello is compared to the sound of the human voice.
The cello is tuned in fifths, an octave below the viola. Cello range Z1 / 3 octaves - from to a large octave to mi of the second octave.
Cellos are divided into solo and training:
♦ solo (size 4/4) are made according to one of the Stradivari models, they are intended for solo, ensemble and orchestral performance musical works;
♦ training cellos 1 (size 4/4) and 2 classes (size 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, 1/4, 1/8) differ in sound quality and presentation. Designed to teach music to students of different ages.
double bass- the largest of the family of bowed instruments; it is almost 31/2 times longer than a full-length violin. They play the double bass while standing, placing it on the floor in the same way as a cello. In its form, the double bass has retained the features of ancient viols.
The double bass is the lowest sounding instrument of the bow family. Its sound in the middle register is thick and rather soft. The top notes sound liquid, sharp and tense. The lower register sounds very tight and thick. Unlike other stringed instruments, the double bass is built in fourths and sounds an octave below the iotated one. The range of the double bass is 21/2, the octaves are from the mi counteroctave to the si-be-mol small octave.
Double basses are subdivided: into solo ones (size 4/4); educational grade 1 (size 4/4); training 2 classes (size 2/4, 3/4, 4/4).
Five-string solo double basses (size 4/4) are also produced, the range is from a note to a contra-octave to a note to a second octave.
By their design, the violin, viola, cello and double bass are of the same type. The difference between them is mainly in size and build. Therefore, this article describes the design of only one bowed instrument - the violin.
The main structural units of the violin are: body, neck with fingerboard, head, string holder, stand, peg box, strings.
The figure-eight body amplifies the sound vibrations of the strings. It consists of the upper and lower decks (14, 17), which are the most important resonating parts of the violin, and shells (18). The upper deck has the greatest thickness in the middle, and gradually decreases towards the edges. In the context, the decks have the shape of a small vault. The top deck has two resonator holes shaped like latin letter"f", hence their name - effs. Decks are connected by shells.
The shells of the tool consist of six parts and are attached to the six posts of the body (16, 19). A neck (20) is attached to the upper rack of the body, on which the neck (10) is mounted. The fingerboard serves to press the strings during performance, has a conical shape along the length, and a slight curvature along the end. The continuation of the neck and its end is the head (3), which has a peg box (12) with side holes for strengthening the pins. The curl (11) is the end of the peg box and has a different shape (often shaped).
The pegs are in the form of cone-shaped rods with a head and serve to tension and tune the strings. The nut (13) at the top of the neck limits the sounding part of the strings and has a neck curvature.
The string holder (6) is designed to secure the lower ends of the strings. To do this, in its wide part, it has corresponding holes.
The bridge (15) supports the strings at the required height from the fretboard, limits the sounding length of the strings, and transmits the vibration of the strings to the decks.
All bowed instruments are four-stringed (only the double bass can have five strings).
To extract sound, bows are used, which differ in size and shape.
The bow consists of a cane (2), which has a head at the upper end, a tension screw shoe (5) and a hair (6). The reed of the bow, on which evenly spaced hair is stretched, is slightly curved. It has a head (1) at the end and springs in the opposite direction from the hair. To fix the hair, a block is used, and at the other end of the bow, the hair is fixed at the end of the cane in the head. The block moves along the cane by turning the screw (4) located on the side of the end of the cane, and provides the hair with the necessary tension.
Bows are divided into solo and training 1 and 2 classes.
Spare parts and accessories for bowed instruments
Spare parts and accessories for bowed instruments are: string holders and fingerboards, stands, pegs made of stained hardwood or plastic; mutes made of plastic or wood; machines for adjusting the tension of brass strings; violin and viola chin rests made of plastic; strings; buttons; cases and cases.
According to reference books, stringed musical instruments (chordophones), according to the method of sound production, are divided into bowed ones (for example, violin, cello, gidjak, kemancha); plucked (harp, harp, guitar, balalaika); percussion (various kinds of cymbals); percussion keyboards (piano); plucked keyboards (harpsichords).
Below are the most known varieties bowed musical instruments .
Violin, 4-string bowed musical instrument. The highest sounding in the violin family, which also includes viola and cello. Arose from the improvement folk instruments. IN classical form took shape in the work of northern Italian violin makers 16-18 centuries, which in particular included: A. and N. Amati, J. Guarneri, A. Stradivari and others.
In this regard, a few words about the above masters:
Amati is a family of Italian string instrument makers. Ancestor-Andrea (born about 1520, died about 1580). He is the creator of the classical type of violin. His sons Andrea Antonio (circa 1540-after 1600) and Girolamo (1561-1630). The most famous son of Girolamo- Nicolo Amati(1596-1684), whose instruments are especially highly valued. Students of Nicolo Amati: his son Girolamo 2nd (1649-1740), Guarneri, Stradivari.
The Guarneri are a family of Italian string instrument makers. Its head, Andrea (1626-1698), a student of N. Amati, developed his own violin model. His sons: Pietro (1655-1720) and Giuseppe (1666-1739). Grandchildren on the line of Giuseppe's son: Pietro 2nd (1695-1762) and Giuseppe (Joseph), nicknamed Guarneri del Gesu (1698-1744). It should be noted that the most valuable are the violins and violas of Giuseppe (Guarneri del Gesu), which were played by N. Paganini, F. Kreisler and others.
Stradivari Antonio (1644-1737) - Italian master of bowed instruments (head of a family of masters). Initially imitated his teacher N. Amati; subsequently created his own models of the violin, viola, cello, which are most highly valued (along with the instruments of Guarneri del Gesu). famous masters were his sons: Francesco (1671-1743) and Omobeno (1679-1742).
But back to the topic of musical instruments:
Alto- a stringed bowed musical instrument of the violin family, larger than a violin.
Cello(Italian violoncello), a stringed bowed musical instrument of the violin family of bass-tenor sound. Appeared in the 15-16 centuries. Classic cello patterns created by Italian masters 17-18 centuries: A. and N. Amati, J. Guarneri, A. Stradivari and others. Used as a solo, ensemble and orchestral instrument.
violas(Italian viole), a family of stringed bowed instruments common in Western Europe in the 15th and 18th centuries. It looks like a big violin. According to the size and position of the instrument during the game, violas da braccio and violas da gamba are distinguished. Violas da braccio (Italian da braccio, hand-held) were held horizontally like a violin, while viols da gamba (da gamba-foot) were held vertically, like a cello. It should be noted that the modern double bass is the closest to the viol family.
double bass(Italian contrab(b) asso), the largest and lowest sounding stringed bowed musical instrument. The double bass was created in the middle of the 17th century on the basis of the double bass viola da gamba. Since the 18th century, the double bass has been used as an ensemble as well as an orchestral instrument, and since the 20th century as a solo instrument.
Gidzhak, string bowed musical instrument (Tajik, Uzbek, Karakalpak, Ussuri). Similar to kemanche.
Kemancha(kamancha), 4-string bowed instrument. Distributed in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Dagestan, as well as the countries of the Middle and Near East. 
Now about plucked string instruments. These include:
Harp(from other Germanic Ћarra), multi-stringed plucked instrument in the form of a large triangular frame. The earliest depictions of the harp date back to the 3rd millennium BC. The modern pedal harp was invented in 1810 by S. Erard in France. Various types of harp are found in many peoples of the world. The harp is used as an orchestral, ensemble and solo instrument.
Balalaika, Russian 3-string plucked instrument with a triangular soundboard. The balalaika has been known since the beginning of the 18th century. Improved in the 1880s.
Lute(Polish lutnia, from Arabic al-ud, literally tree), an ancient stringed (6-16 strings) plucked musical instrument of Arab-Iranian origin. Sounds like a guitar. In Europe, it has spread since the time of the Arab conquest of Spain (from the 8th century).
Oud(al-ud) is an ancient Arabic musical instrument, the prototype of the modern lute. It is also widespread as a folk Azerbaijani musical instrument of the lute type.
Sitar(setar), an individual stringed plucked musical instrument of the lute family. Distributed in India, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan (setar). It has been used in rock music since the 1960s.
Mandolin (Italian mandolino), a lute-type stringed plucked musical instrument with oval case. The sound is extracted with a plectrum. Tool Italian descent, has been known since the 17th century. The most popular Neapolitan soprano mandolin with four-pair strings.
Guitar(Greek kit'ara-kifara, Spanish guitarra), a lute-type plucked stringed musical instrument with a figure-eight wooden body. Since the 13th century, known in Spain, then in Italy, from 17-18 centuries - in the ancient countries of Europe and America (including as a folk instrument). Since the 18th century, a 6-string guitar has become commonly used, in Russia it is predominantly a 7-string. In modern pop music, the electric guitar is used.
Lyra(Greek lyra), an ancient Greek stringed plucked musical instrument, which is considered a symbol of poetic creative inspiration. Playing the lyre was accompanied by the performance of works of epic and lyric poetry(hence "lyric"). Among the many varieties is the improved cithara. This type of instrument was widespread in many ancient civilizations. Since the 11th century in Western and Eastern Europe the so-called hurdy gurdy. It is a musical instrument of Ukrainian and Belarusian singers(Ukrainian relay, ryla, Belarusian lera). In Western Europe of the 15th-18th centuries, the lyre was a bowed string instrument similar to the viola, lute, and violin.
Kifara(kitara), Greek kit'are, an ancient Greek stringed plucked musical instrument.
Gusli, Russian plucked string instrument. Varieties of gusli are pterygoid, helmet-shaped, rectangular. Pterygoid (voiced) gusli have 4-14 or more strings, helmet-shaped - 11-36, rectangular (table-shaped) - 55-56 strings. This musical instrument has been mentioned since the 6th century. Since the 20th century, mainly rectangular harps have been used.
Dombra, Kazakh 2-string plucked musical instrument. Traditional kyui plays are performed on the dombra.
For information: kyui, Kazakh folk instrumental pieces that were performed on the dombra, as well as on other folk musical instruments.
Domra, an ancient Russian stringed plucked musical instrument with an oval body. Domra was used in the 16-17 centuries by buffoons. At the end of the 19th century, a family of 3-string orchestral domras was created, and at the beginning of the 20th century, a family of 4-string domras.
For information: buffoons-itinerant actors in Ancient Rus' who acted as singers, wits, musicians, performers of skits, acrobats. Known since the 11th century. They were especially common in the 15th-17th centuries.
Saz, a stringed plucked musical instrument with 3-4 double or triple strings. Saz is widespread among the peoples of Transcaucasia, Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and other countries of the East. Ashugs usually accompany themselves in the saz.
Tar(tara, tari) a multi-stringed plucked musical instrument, common in the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Zither(German zitËer), a small stringed plucked musical instrument, usually in the form of a figured box with strings. Most common in Austria and Germany in the 19th century. Known since antiquity. 
Let's move on to the group of percussion stringed musical instruments. Here is one of the members of this group:
Cymbals (from Polish cymbaly), a multi-stringed percussion musical instrument ancient origin. It is presented in the form of a box with strings that are struck with hammers. This tool is most common in Hungary. Included in folk orchestras Poland, Romania, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova and others.
And now a few about percussion-keyboard stringed instruments:
Piano (Italian forteriano, from forte-loud and piano-quiet), common name string percussion-keyboard musical instruments with hammer action (piano, piano). The piano was invented in the early 18th century. modern type concert piano has been known since the 1820s.
Piano(from the French royal-royal, regal), a kind of pianoforte. The strings, soundboard and mechanics are arranged horizontally.
Piano(Italian pianino, literally small piano), a type of pianoforte. Strings, deck and mechanics are located in a vertical plane. The modern design has been known since the middle of the 19th century.
Clavichord (from Latin clavis - key and Greek cЋorde - string). Russian name in the 18th and 19th centuries it sounded like a clavichord. It is a string percussion-keyboard musical instrument. The clavichord acquired its main distribution in the 15-19 centuries, mainly in solo chamber music-making, then it was completely replaced by the pianoforte.
And here is a representative of the group of stringed plucked-keyboard instruments:
Harpsichord(chambalo, harpsichord), French clavecin, Italian cembalo, English 'arpsic'ord-stringed plucked-keyboard (unlike the clavichord) musical instrument. The harpsichord has been known since the 16th century. It has various forms, types and varieties. It is one of the forerunners of the pianoforte. Widely used since the 20th century.
And about some varieties of stringed instruments:
Harmonic(accordion), (from the Greek Ћarmonikos - consonant, slender), keyboard-pneumatic musical instrument. It is a movable fur with two boards equipped with a keyboard. The harmonica was invented by the German master F. Bushman (1822). Widespread among many peoples of Europe. Improved views - button accordion, accordion.
Accordion, one of the most advanced and widespread types of chromatic harmonica, exceeding in size a harmonica with a complex system of frets. Named after the ancient Russian singer-storyteller Bayan (Boyan). Used as a solo and ensemble instrument, included in the orchestra of folk instruments.
Accordion (French accordion), in Russian terminology, one of the most perfect varieties of chromatic harmonica with right keyboard piano type for right hand. The name of the instrument was given by the Viennese master K. Demian (1829).
Harmonium(German fisharmonium, from the Greek rysa-bellows and Ћarmonia-harmony), a keyboard pneumatic musical instrument with an air-pumping pedal device. Known since the beginning of the 19th century. The sound is produced by slipping metal reeds. The shape of the harmonium is close to the piano. Another name is harmonium.
Organ, keyboard wind instrument. The modern look has been formed since the 16th century. It consists of an air-injection mechanism, a set of wooden and metal pipes of different sizes and keyboards - manual (manuals) and foot (pedal) placed in a special pulpit. It should be noted that the air-blowing mechanism was manual until the middle of the 19th century, and then became electric. Since the 7th century, the organ has been used in church Catholic music.
barrel organ(probably from the opening line of the German song "Sarmante Katarine" - "Pretty Katharina"), a mechanical musical instrument in the form of a small portable organ without a keyboard. The hurdy-gurdy appeared in Europe as an instrument of itinerant musicians at the end of the 17th century, and has been widespread in Russia since the beginning of the 19th century.
A stringed musical instrument is a musical instrument in which the sound source (vibrator) is string vibrations. In the Hornbostel-Sachs system they are called chordophones. Typical representatives of string instruments are kobyz, dombyra, violin, cello, viola, double bass, harp and guitar, gusli, balalaika and domra, etc. Types of string instruments[edit | edit source]
See also full list of stringed instruments.
All stringed instruments transmit the vibrations from one or more strings to the air through their body (or through the pickup in the case of electronic instruments). Usually they are divided according to the technique of "starting" vibrations in the string. The three most common techniques are the pinch, the bow, and the strike.
bowed (string-bowed) musical instruments - a group of musical instruments with sound production, carried out mainly in the process of bowing along stretched strings. Exists a large number of folk bowed instruments. In modern academic music-making, four bowed stringed instruments are used:
The group of bowed instruments is considered the basis symphony orchestra and is divided into five parts:
First violins
Second violins
Cellos
Double basses.
Occasionally, a part is written out for the lowest stringed bowed instrument - the octobass
Range throughout bow group covers almost seven octaves from up to the counteroctave up to the fifth octave.
Bowed strings were formed and improved in about late XVII century, only a bow in modern form appeared to late XVIII century. Despite the timbre differences between the individual instruments of the group, in the mass they sound uniform. This is due to the unity of the design and general principle sound extraction.
The source of sound for all instruments is the strings, which resonate with the body of the instrument and transmit vibrations through the air to the listener. The sound is produced by a bow ( arco) or fingers ( pizzicato)
A craftsman involved in the creation and repair of bowed stringed musical instruments is called a violin maker or Master of bowed musical instruments.
The violin is a high-pitched stringed musical instrument. It has folk origin, acquired a modern look in the 16th century, became widespread in the 17th century. Has four strings tuned in fifths: g, d 1 ,a 1 ,e 2 (salt of a small octave, re, la of the first octave, mi of the second octave), range from g(salt of a small octave) to a 4 (A fourth octave) and higher. The timbre of the violin is thick in the low register, soft in the middle and brilliant in the high. There are also five-string violins, with the addition of the lower alto string "c" or do (up to a small octave). Origin and history[edit | edit source]
Fidel. Detail of the altar of the Church of St. Zacharias, Venice, Giovanni Bellini, 1505.
Miniature "David the Psalmist" (detail). Godunov Psalter, 1594
"Family tree" of the origin of the modern violin. Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th ed.
The progenitors of the violin were the Arabic rebarab, the Spanish fidel, the British crotta, the merger of which formed the viola, hence the Italian name for the violin, violino, as well as the Slavic four-string instrument of the fifth system j and g a (hence the German name for the violin - geige). As a folk instrument, the violin was especially widespread in Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Istria and Dalmatia (now Yugoslavia). The struggle between the aristocratic viol and the folk violin, which lasted for several centuries, ended in victory for the latter. In the middle of the 16th century, the modern violin construction took shape in northern Italy. Gaspar Bartolometti da Salo (c. 1542-1609) - the founder of the school of masters in Bresci and Andrea Amati (1535-c. 1611) - the founder of the Cremonese school.] . Violin forms were established by the 16th century; to this age and early XVII include well-known violin makers - the Amati family. Their instruments are of excellent shape and excellent material. In general, Italy was famous for the production of violins, among which the Stradivari and Guarneri violins are currently highly valued.
The violin has been a solo instrument since the 17th century. The first works for the violin are: "Romanesca per violino solo e basso" by Biagio Marini (1620) and "Capriccio stravagante" by his contemporary Carlo Farina. Founder artistic game on the violin is considered Arcangelo Corelli; then follow Torelli, Tartini, Pietro Locatelli (1693-1764), a student of Corelli, who developed the bravura violin playing technique.
Since the 2nd half of the 19th century, it has become widespread among the Tatars. Since the 20th century, it has been found in the musical life of the Bashkirs.
Alto(English and Italian) viola, fr. alto, German Bratsche) or viola violin- string-bowed musical instrument of the same device as a spark, but somewhat larger, which makes it sound in a lower register. The viola strings are tuned a fifth below the violin and an octave above the cello - c, g, d 1 ,a 1 (do, salt of a small octave, re, la of the first octave). The most common range is from c(up to a small octave) up to e 3 (mi of the third octave), in solo works it is possible to use more high sounds. Notes are written in alto and treble clefs. The viola is considered the earliest bowed instrument in existence today. The time of its appearance is attributed to the turn of the XV-XVI centuries. Viola playing techniques are slightly different from violin playing techniques in terms of sound production and technique, however, the playing technique itself is slightly more limited due to the larger size, and as a result, the need for more stretching of the fingers of the left hand. The timbre of the viola is less bright than the violin, but thick, matte, velvety in the lower register, somewhat nasal in the upper. Such a timbre of the viola is a consequence of the fact that the dimensions of its body (“resonator box”) do not correspond to its formation: with an optimal length of 46–47 centimeters (such violas were made by old masters of Italian schools), a modern instrument has a length of 38 to 43 centimeters [ source not specified 1220 days] . Larger violas, approaching the classical ones, are played mainly by solo players with stronger hands and developed technique.
As a solo instrument, the viola has been used relatively rarely until now, due to the small repertoire. However, quite a lot of very good violists have appeared in our time, among them Yuri Bashmet, Kim Kashkashyan, Yuri Kramarov and others. But, nevertheless, the main scope of the violas is the symphony and string orchestras, where, as a rule, they are entrusted with medium voices, but also solo episodes. Viola is an obligatory member of the string quartet, often used in other chamber compositions, such as string trio, piano quartet, piano quintet, etc.
Traditionally, they did not become violists from childhood, switching to this instrument at a more mature age (at the end of a music school, when entering a college or conservatory). Basically, violinists of large build with big hands and wide vibration. Some famous musicians successfully combined performance on the violin and viola, for example, Niccolo Paganini and David Oistrakh.
Cello(ital. violoncello, abbr. cello, German Violoncello, fr. violoncelle, English cello) - a bowed stringed musical instrument of the bass and tenor register, known from the first half of the 16th century, of the same structure as the violin or viola, but much larger. The cello has wide expressive possibilities and carefully developed performance technique, it is used as a solo, ensemble and orchestral instrument. The appearance of the cello dates back to the beginning of the 16th century. Initially, it was used as a bass instrument to accompany singing or playing an instrument of a higher register. There were numerous varieties of the cello, which differed from each other in size, number of strings, and tuning (the most common tuning was a tone lower than the modern one).
In the 17th-18th centuries, the efforts of the outstanding musical masters of the Italian schools (Nicolo Amati, Giuseppe Guarneri, Antonio Stradivari, Carlo Bergonzi, Domenico Montagnana, etc.) created a classical cello model with a firmly established body size. At the end of the 17th century, the first solo works for cello appeared - sonatas and ricercars by Giovanni Gabrieli. By the middle of the 18th century, the cello began to be used as a concert instrument, owing to its brighter, fuller sound and improving performance technique, finally displacing the viola da gamba from musical practice. The cello is also part of the symphony orchestra and chamber ensembles. The final approval of the cello as one of the leading instruments in music occurred in the 20th century through the efforts of the outstanding musician Pablo Casals. The development of performance schools on this instrument has led to the emergence of numerous virtuoso cellists who regularly perform solo concerts.
The cello repertoire is very wide and includes numerous concertos, sonatas, unaccompanied compositions.
Viola da gamba(ital. viola da gamba - foot viola) is an ancient stringed bowed musical instrument of the viol family, similar in size and range to the modern cello. The viola da gamba was played while sitting, holding the instrument between the legs or laying it sideways on the thigh, hence the name.
Of the entire viol family, the viola da gamba retained its significance the longest of all instruments: many works by the most important authors of the middle of the 18th century were written for it. However, already at the end of the century, these parts were performed on the cello. Goethe called Karl Friedrich Abel the last gamba virtuoso. At the beginning of the 20th century, authenticist performers revived the viola da gamba: the first modern gambo player was Christian Döbereiner, who made his debut in this capacity in 1905 with the performance of Abel's sonata.
double bass(ital. contrabbasso or ss))) - the largest in size (about two meters in height) and the lowest in sound of the widely used bowed stringed musical instruments, combining the features of the violin family and the viol family. (Viola da GAMBA family, Viola da GAMBA). .. It has four strings tuned in fourths: E 1 , A 1 , D, G (mi, la counteroctave, re, octave salt), range from E 1 (mi counteroctave) to g 1 (salt of the first octave) and higher. The real double bass was first mentioned in a book in 1566. The author of this book mistakenly drew a violin. Then he got the idea that it is possible to create such a tool. The author of this book is unknown modern people, but it is known that the book was written in Central Asia when the inhabitants of those lands were represented by Europe. Soon, the idea of a new instrument was brought to Europe. At that time Europe was the poorest place in the whole world. The double bass viol is considered to be the forerunner of the modern double bass. She had five strings tuned to D 1 , E 1 , A 1 , D, G(re, mi, la big, re, salt of a small octave), and, like most violas, frets on the fretboard. In the middle of the 17th century, the Italian master Michele Todini designed a new instrument based on it, which did not have the fifth (lowest) string and frets, but the shape of the body remained (“shoulders” - parts of the body adjacent to the fingerboard - the double bass still has more sloping than those of the instruments of the violin family) and a fourth system (among modern bowed instruments, the double bass is the only one that has it).
The new instrument was first used in the orchestra in 1699 in Giuseppe Aldrovandini's opera "Caesar of Alexandria", but then it was not used for a long time (bass voices were performed by cellos and low-pitched viols). Only since mid-eighteenth century, the double bass becomes an obligatory member of the orchestra, displacing bass viols from it. At the same time, the first double-bass virtuosos appeared who gave solo concerts - Domenico Dragonetti, in particular, gained significant European fame. For the convenience of solo performance, the masters designed a three-string double bass, the strings of which were tuned in fifths ( G 1 , D, A- salt of the contra-octave, re, la of a large octave, that is, an octave below the cello, but without a string before) or by quarts ( A 1 , D, G- la counteroctave, re, salt of a large octave). With the development of performing technique, it became possible to perform virtuoso compositions on a conventional four-string orchestral instrument, and three-string double basses fell into disuse. For a brighter sound in solo works, the double bass tuning is sometimes raised by one tone (this is the “solo tuning”).
In the 19th century, in search of opportunities to obtain lower sounds, the French master Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume built a four-meter-high double bass, which he called the “octobass”, but due to its huge size, this instrument was not widely used. Modern double basses may have either a fifth string tuned to C 1 (up to the counteroctave), or by a special mechanism that “lengthens” the lowest string and allows you to get additional lower sounds.
The development of solo playing on the double bass in modern times is associated primarily with the work of Giovanni Bottesini and Franz Siemandl at the end of the 19th century. Their efforts brought the virtuosos of the early 20th century to a new level - in particular, Sergey Koussevitzky and Adolf Mishek.
Bowed instruments are the basis of symphony and chamber orchestras, it is not possible to imagine music without this group. It is stringed musical instruments that give the melody smoothness, length, and grace. The sound in the instruments of this group is extracted with the help of a bow, which is drawn along the stretched strings. The strings resonate with the body of the instrument and transmit the vibrations of the air to the listeners. Unlike, bow strings do not have frets, which makes it difficult for musicians to play and learn. Finding the place to press the string to get the right sound is a matter of many years of study, talent, painstaking work and a delicate ear for music.
The closest ancestor of the modern violin and cello is the viola (Italian for flower), which appeared in the 15th century. Further formation and improvement of bowed instruments, as we see them today, took place in the second half of the 18th century. Not only playing, but also making stringed bowed instruments was considered great art. The names of the great masters of that time - Antonio Stradivari, Nicolo Amati, Giuseppe Guarneri and others - are known to this day even to people far from music, and the bowed instruments made by the maestro have an amazing sound, not to mention their cost. There are a large number of stringed bowed instruments in the world. The most common are the instruments that are used in academic music making: violin, viola, cello and double bass. Occasionally, in symphonic scores, a part is written out for the lowest-sounding bowed instrument - the octobass.
Academic musical stringed bowed instruments
Violin."Queen of the Orchestra" It is a bowed string instrument of the upper register. Despite the outward fragility and grace, it is fraught with huge opportunities and unexpected power of sound, and is absolutely deservedly considered the most perfect musical instrument. The violin consists of two main parts - the body of a specific rounded shape and the neck, on which the strings and the peg box are located. A violin bow is made from a wooden cane on which horsehair is stretched.
Alto. Despite the total popularity of the violin, the viola is an important component of the symphony orchestra. Both in size and age (appeared at the end of the 15th century), the viola can be called the “elder brother” great violin. The sound of the viola is thicker, velvety, but less bright. The size of the instrument requires slightly different playing techniques, more finger extension and hand strength. Violists, as a rule, do not become violists from childhood, violinists with a larger physique move to the instrument in a school, conservatory.
Cello. The cello is almost three times the size of an ordinary violin. The instrument is placed on the floor, vertically, and played while sitting (in past centuries, the cello was placed on a special chair and played while standing, after which a special metal capstan was invented). The sound of the cello is thick, juicy, melodious, in timbre very reminiscent of human voice(in timbre - baritone). Nowadays, the cello is an indispensable instrument of symphony and chamber orchestras, many solo works have been created, one of the most striking is the cello solo "Swan" by composer Saint-Saens from the orchestral cycle "Carnival of the Animals".
Double bass. The lowest sounding bowed string instrument in a symphony orchestra. It rarely performs as a solo instrument, since it is difficult to achieve accuracy and sharpness of intonation on it, but it acts as a kind of musical “foundation” on which the sound of other instruments is based. The double bass is an integral part of not only a symphony orchestra, but also jazz, pop musical groups. The instrument is played standing or on a high stool, the height of the instrument can be adjusted by changing the height of the spire.
Bowed musical instruments of the peoples of Europe
Horn. Russian folk bowed instrument, often used by buffoons in the 18th-19th centuries. It consisted of a hollowed-out wooden body of irregular (pear-shaped) shape and a flat soundboard with resonator holes. 3-4 strings were stretched on a short neck, the upper of which was intended for leading the melody, and the rest for accompaniment.
Rebec. Medieval Spanish stringed musical instrument that came to Europe from the Arab states. In the XIII-XIV centuries, it became widespread in countries Western Europe. Somewhat similar to the Russian horn, it has a pear-shaped body and a short deck with two stretched strings. The instrument was first described in 1275 by a music theorist, church figure Hieronymus Moravsky.
Hardangerfele. Norwegian version of the classical violin. It has a smaller size than the violin, differs in more convex soundboards, as well as a shorter wide neck. 8-9 strings are stretched on the neck, of which four are intended for playing, and the rest are resonating. The earliest hardangerfele dates back to 1651 and was made by Ole Junsen Yastadom. Often the body of the instrument was decorated with patterns, and the neck with inlays.
Bowed musical instruments of the peoples of Asia
Rebab. An instrument of Arabic origin, found in culture under various names different peoples East, came to Europe under the name rebek. Since the rebab is used not only as an accompaniment to singing, but also to recitation, there are two varieties of it. Rebab-eh-haer (rebab for poets) has only one string. The rebab el moganni (rebab for singers) has two strings. The instrument is played with a bow, while the rebab is held on its knees.
Huqin(guqin). A kind of violin from distant China. It consists of a body having a round (six or eight corner) shape, and a neck attached to the body. The case is made of thin wood or snakeskin. In China, there are about 30 varieties of huqin, in addition, in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Japan, Mongolia, neighboring China, tools similar to huqin are used.
Kemancha(kamancha, keman, gidzhak, Pontic lira). Very common in Western and Central Asia musical bowed instruments, obligatory for ensembles of the Eastern folk music. Often used for solo performances. There are many varieties of kemancha, but the Persian instrument is considered the ancestor. The kemancha consists of a long wooden neck with large pegs, the soundboard is made of thin snake, fish skin, bull's bladder. The number of strings ranges from two to six. The absence of frets on the fretboard opens up huge opportunities for musicians, both for solo and ensemble performance.
Many types of stringed instruments are combined according to a particular characteristic. Their sound is produced when a stretched strip of material (usually wire, silk or gut) begins to vibrate in contact with a bow or other object. The parameters of the sound emitted by a string depend on the length, flexibility, and tension.
IN Western countries gut or wire was the approved material for strings, and silk was used in the East. The gut was used in antiquity by the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. Wire was not used until the 14th century when wire drawing was invented. This discovery also led to the invention of stringed keyboard instruments (clavichord, harpsichord, clavicembalo and pianoforte). Due to the fact that only wire and gut were known in the West as a material for strings, these days keyboard instruments made up of the above materials.
There are a large number of folk bowed instruments. Occasionally, a part is written out for the lowest stringed bowed instrument, the octobass. The range of the entire bow group covers almost seven octaves from up to the counteroctave up to the fifth octave.
Bowed bows were formed and improved around the end of the 17th century, only the bow in its modern form appeared by the end of the 18th century. Despite the timbre differences between the individual instruments of the group, in the mass they sound uniform. This is due to the unity of the design and the general principle of sound production.
Varieties of bowed string instruments:
Harp Lyra Gusli Lute
Violin Alto Cello
double bass Oktobas
