Violin Construction: The violin is basically a small wooden box with strings stretched across the surface, but the finest examples can cost in the region of a million pounds. Every detail of the instrument contributes to its sound and for hundreds of years crafts people have guarded their secrets from competitors. You can find fascinating details about violin construction and even see video clips of instruments being made by visiting violin maker, Hans Johannsson's website.
The Bow: The bow is an equally important part of the instrument: its weight and balance greatly effects the violin's sound and playability. The bow consists of a wooden stick with horse hair stretched between the two ends. The part of the bow that the player holds is called the frog and the other end or very tip of the bow is known as the point.
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In this video clip Miranda Dale of the Philharmonia Orchestra describes and explains the construction of a violin:...
How String Instruments are Made
How String Instruments are Made
To show each step of the process from raw materials to finished instrument, string instrument maker Rod Ward has taken an amazing series of photos throughout the making of a viola. Although the viola is larger than the violin there are many similarities in the methods of construction.
See Each Stage of Construction: Stage 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Hear the Finished Instrument
In the clips below you can hear the finished instrument and see what happened when Vicci Wardman, viola with the Philharmonia Orchestra, meets Rod Ward to try out the new instrument.
(After the recording, Vicci explained that what she was playing when trying the instrument was intended to find 'wolf notes', which are weaker, or poor sounding notes.)
Text transcript of media clips
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Vicci Wardman of the Philharmonia Orchestra trys out Rod Ward's newly completed viola (audio only).
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Vicci Wardman trys out Rod Ward's newly completed viola (broadband video).
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Vicci Wardman trys out Rod Ward's newly completed viola (modem video - low quality).