The Violin: A Short History

The violin is cherished by music lovers around the world – an instrument whose tonal range can shift from delicate sweetness to resonant power. But how much do you know about its history?

The violin has been around for about 500 years, though the history of bowed instruments goes back much further. One direct ancestor of the violin is the rebab, an Arabic instrument used in traditional Bedouin music since the 9th century.

The first violins, as we know them today, emerged in northern Italy in the early 1500s. Famed for their fine craftsmen, the cities of Cremona and Brescia were the likely birthplaces of the instrument – though the precise origin remains a mystery.

During the 1500s, the violin quickly became popular in Europe, with street musicians and nobles alike. The French king, Charles IX – a great lover of music – commissioned many beautiful violins and other stringed instruments during his reign.

While we'll never know the name of the violin's inventor, one man stands above the rest for his violinmaking. This is Andrea Amati, a craftsman from Cremona, who achieved renown in his lifetime for his fine violins and other instruments from the same family.

Other luthiers – that is, someone who specialises in crafting stringed instruments – who helped shape the violin include Antonio Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesù. These men created beautiful instruments that are considered classics of their kind today.

The violin became an integral part of orchestras and chamber ensembles during the 18th and 19th centuries. Musical maestros like Vivaldi, Mozart and Bach showcased the instrument in their compositions.

Today, the violin is as popular as it ever was, having been incorporated into musical genres as diverse as traditional Iranian song, bluegrass and Celtic folk. There are even electro-acoustic violins, too, that have found their way into heavy rock. From Mozart to the mosh-pit!

If you're feeling inspired by this musical history, why not take up your bow and compose a masterpiece with Viola the Bird?