Books › The Instruments of the Modern Orchestra and Early Records of the Precursors of the Violin Family, in Two Volumes, Vol. I- Modern Orchestral Instruments, 1910 › scan 146
Scan 146
The Instruments of the Modern Orchestra and Early Records of the Precursors of the Violin Family, in Two Volumes, Vol. I- Modern Orchestral Instruments, 1910
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1those which contain most open notes, i.e., those of C, G, D, A, E, F, and their relatives minor are the best, for the open notes are more sonorous than the stopped ones.
3Quality of Tone. An enormous variety of quality can be obtained from this instrument. Of the four strings, the notes of the E string are clear and sharp, of the A string soft and round, of the D string very mellow, deep and full like the chest notes of the human voice; of the G string perhaps because covered with silver wire, hard, but not powerful, owing to the great contrast between the smallness of the instrument and the depth of its tones. The harmonics have a quality resembling that of the flute (hence their name in French and German, Flageolet), of mysterious ethereal clearness and softness.
5If the strings of the violin are set in vibration by the bow near the bridge (sul ponticello, sur le chevalet), the tone becomes louder, harder, and more energetic, as also when the bow is used near the nut; (au talon) when the bow touches the strings over the fingerboard (sul tasto, sur la touche) the tone becomes soft and flute-like. When the point of the bow is used, lightness is obtained—from the heel energy and from the whole length amplitude.
7In addition to these, innumerable shades of tone can be produced on the violin by an imperceptible movement of the arm, a pressure with the bow, an unconscious sentiment of the performer, for there is no instrument, except the voice, that responds more readily to the soul of the musician, or is capable of greater expression; from it proceed at will sighs, aments, weeping, musing, joy, mirth, triumph, passion, etc.
9Possibilities. The technical possibilities of this instrument are almost infinite: chromatic and diatonic scale and arpeggio passages, both legato and staccato: chords
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