STRINGS

Some would say the violin is the most beautiful instrument in the orchestra. The viola and cello are in the same family of instruments.  Though not the first luthiers, all were developed and perfected in the fifteen and sixteen hundreds by generations of the Amati family in Cremona, Italy.  Nicolo Amati was the most famous in the Amati family.  His violins are today valued at $600,000.00 each.

Nicolo tutored others in the making of instruments including one Antonio Stradivari.  Stradivari took his craft to a new and higher level.  He shared neither his materials nor methods with others.  Known as the Stradivarius, he produced about 1,000 violins in his lifetime and it is reported that there are 512 still in existence.  Every piece is catalogued and it's location and ownership known by collectors worldwide.  In 2010, a Stradivarius was sold in an online auction for $3,600,000.00.   In 2011, another Strad was sold at auction for over $12,000,000.00 with all proceeds going to aid the Japanese victims of their earthquake and tsunami.

One of the amazing accomplishments of the Amati and Stradivari families was the perfection of the F-Hole.  The sound of the violin comes from the vibrating of the upper and lower sound boards.  They discovered that placing F-shaped hole in the upper body made the sound resonate more beautifully.  Note that guitars use a round, oval or D-shaped hole in the center of the upper soundboard and cellos use a C-shaped opening.  Here is a picture of the violin with description.

A word to remember:  Luthier - one who builds or repairs stringed instruments.
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