The violin is arguably the world’s most popular instrument. It is the soprano member of the string family and is know for its sweet singing tone. Its expressive tones suit a variety of musical styles, from fast and furious to slow and sanguine and has a huge repertoire of music spanning from Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Jazz, Tango and 20th Century music
Becoming popular in the 16th century with both commoners and nobles, the violin has remained a democratic instrument, universal and versatile.
The development of the modern violin was gradual and complex, evolving from a variety of other stringed instruments.
The city of Brescia, located at the foot of the Alps, was the earliest to excel in the crafting of violins, but Cremona, home to the world’s most famous luthiers, Giuseppe Guarneri, Antonio Stradivari, and the Amati family, became synonymous with the art of violin making. Stradivari is the most famous of these violin makers from the 1700’s. In his lifetime of study he perfected the violin design and tone. His violins are now very collectable and sell for millions.
Modern makers today are still trying unlock Stradivari’s secrets to emulate his sound.
We are lucky to have some very fine modern makers including Daniele Ciaccio from whom we can source fine violins and violas.

Early composers and musicians, such as Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741), Franz Joseph Haydn (1731-1809), and Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840), focused on the sounds of the strings, bringing the violin to greater prominence in the orchestra.
Whether sounding sweet or sad, playful or somber, the violin's ability to evoke almost any mood has helped take it all the way to the top.

To master the violin takes careful teaching and regular practise for many years. One can expect to ‘start’ to produce a good sound after a year or two of good study.

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