National Geographic History - 01.2019 - 02.2019

Nicolò, who became the maestro to two

of the most celebrated violin makers: An-

drea Guarneri and Antonio Stradivari.

The violin’s sound continued to ex-

pand through the centuries, embraced

by fiddlers and virtuosos alike. During

the 17th century, the violin became an

important instrument in the orchestra

as composers like Claudio Monteverdi

incorporated it into their compositions.

Around 1786, François Tourte created

the modern bow, standardizing its length

and weight. The invention of the chin

rest around 1820 made the instrument

easier to hold and increased its range of

play. The neck and fingerboard were both

lengthened and tilted in the 19th century,

allowing the violinist to play the highest

notes, and the bass bar was made heavier

to produce a bigger, more brilliant sound.

—Josemi Lorenzo

CHARLES IX VIOLIN

Made by Andrea

Amati for the French

king Charles IX.

Dated to 1564, this

violin is considered to

be one of the oldest

surviving examples

of a modern

violin. Ashmolean

Museum, Oxford

Strings

Pegbox

F-holes

Bridge

Scroll

Tailpiece

Neck

FIRST AMONG

INSTRUMENTS

SONATA PRIMA FOR VIOLINBY GIUSEPPE TARTINI.

BIBLIOTECA NAZIONALE MARCIANA, VENICE

CIRCA 1510

Andrea Amati is born. His work will

establish Cremona, Italy, as the center

for violin making in Europe.

1523

Records from the Alpine region of

Savoy notes payment for the services

of “trompettes” and “vyollons.”

CIRCA 1535

Gaudenzio Ferrari paints one of

the first depictions of a violin in the

Saronno Cathedral in Lombardy, Italy.

1644

Master violin maker Antonio Stradivari

is born. His instruments will become

treasures, valued for their acoustics.

BRIDGEMAN/ACI

BRIDGEMAN/ACI

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC HISTORY 11