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The violin and viola / Sheila M. Nelson.
| Author/creator | Nelson, Sheila M. |
| Format | Book |
| Publication Info | London : Ernest Benn Limited ; New York : W.W. Norton & Company, 1972. |
| Description | xv, 24, 277 pages : illustrations, facsimiles, music ; 23 cm. |
| Subjects |
| Series | Instruments of the orchestra Instruments of the orchestra (Ernest Benn Ltd.) UNAUTHORIZED |
| Contents | The Braccio family: 1500-1600 -- Founders of the violin tradition: 1600-50 -- The first virtuosi: 1650-1700 -- Violin structure and violin makers: 1650-1750 -- The string-based orchestra: 1700-50 -- The rise of the string quartet: 1750-1800 -- The unrivalled virtuoso: 1800-50 -- The orchestral virtuoso: 1850-1900 -- The viola virtuoso: chances of survival in the 20th century -- Education for survival -- String acoustics. |
| Abstract | This book should be read by every player and teacher of violin and viola, and every enthusiast of music history. The chapter 'Education for Survival' must be singled out for special praise, for it provides a short but comprehensive discussion of the manner in which string teaching ought to proceed but all too seldom does. Comprehensive view of the violin and viola by a professional violinist, teacher, and author details the historical development and changing structure of the two instruments. Text covers the contributions of Stradivarius and the legendary Cremona school of makers; techniques and improvements advocated by such celebrated teachers as Geminiani, Tartini, and Leopold Mozart; the great schools of players--from Corelli to Paganini; and the demands imposed by the growth of the 19th-century orchestra. Includes music examples and 11 diagrams. 24 halftones. |
| Abstract | "The violin has an especially fascinating history and a basic importance as a solo and group instrument. The viola's importance has not been so consistent. But 20th-century virtuosi and composers--Lionel Tertis and Paul Hindemith, for example--have brought the instrument into solo prominence. Miss Nelson details the historical development of the violin and viola, given special impetus in Italy during the late Renaissance. She discusses their relationship with the viol family; the changing structure of the violin and the work of the Cremona school of makers and Stradivarius; the techniques advocated and improvements achieved by such celebrated teachers as Geminiani, Tartini, and Leopold Mozart; the great schools of players from Corelli and Vivaldi to Paganini; and the increased demands made by the 19th-century orchestra, reflected in the rise of such virtuosi as Joachim, when violas as well as violins were given parts requiring superb technique and new tone colours. In the 20th century 'the exploration of new key systems and the abandonment of key altogether have made the bowed strings seem partly outdated....' There are further chapters on teaching and acoustics. The first emphasises the physical and psychological aspects of violin- and viola-playing, the importance of the right kind of tuition, and the vicious circle of incompetence which can arise from poor teaching and the perpetuation of incorrect techniques. The second includes much information on the scientific properties of the vibrating string; harmonic series; harmonics; rosin, bowing, and pizzicato; and tone colour, including partials, vibrato, mutes, intonation, and wolf-notes." --Dust jacket. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliography (pages 257-264) and index. |
| LCCN | 72188821 |
| ISBN | 0393020924 (U.S.) |
| Stock number | £3.00 |