Where was violin invented? How much can a very old violin cost? How about a regular ones?

Question

What are some musicians had play violin and what are some composers had written music?

Answer 1

Antonio Rizzo , violinmaker, engineer and inventor, established his violin making career in 1988. His approach to making instruments is both scientific and traditional in nature, using the principles of physics and the Italian influence on style, character and tone quality. Mr. Rizzo has been tutored by master violinmakers both in the United States and Italy, and presents his experience by creating instruments with tonal and artistic appeal. Musicians have characterized Antonio's instruments as having that “Italian sound”, being clear, open, well balanced with responsive tone, and easy to play. Many of his violins, violas and cellos received premier awards from the Violin Makers Association of Arizona and Violin Society of America International Competitions. His instruments are sold in Europe and Japan, as well as in the United States.

Former President of the Southern California Association of Violin Makers

www.ARVIOLINS.COM/



Marco M. Gastaldi
Antonio Strad Violin is proud to bring to you the instruments of Mr. Marco M. Gastaldi, an Italian violin/viola instrument maker, who has earned a name for his excellent instrument workmanship.

Mr. Marco M. Gastaldi was born in 1969 in Cuneo, Italy. He has lived in Cremona Italy since 1991. In 1994 he graduated from “Civica Scuola di Liuteria” for violin making. In 1996 he graduated from bow making school of Regione Lombardia. In the year 2000 his viola was chosen to be one of the best instruments exhibited on the Competition of the “IX Triennale di Strumenti ad Arco Antonio Stradivari” of Cremona. In the year 2000 his violin won a “Certificate of the 14th International Competition and Exhibition of Violin Society of America”.

See Marco Gastaldi's instruments here

Francois Lebeau
MASTER VIOLINMAKER in ANNECY FRANCE
François LEBEAU was born in Chalon-sur-Saône, Burgundy, France in 1966. As a child, he became attracted to the artistic ways of expression, through his education, his literary studies and the love for music. And naturally, the link between music, art and craftsmanship led him to violinmaking and its city: CREMONA.

In the 80’s, his studies were supervised by Maestro Riccardo BERGONZI, and he obtained his Master Degree from CREMONA’s International Violin Making School "Antonio STRADIVARI" (IPIALL) in 1989.

In the 90’s he opened his first workshop right in the historical center, overlooking the Torrazzo and the Piazza del Duomo. From the raw material – wood – he makes violins, violas and cellos.

The sound expressed by these instruments comes from the Great Tradition, but combines with the latest technologies. His apprenticeship took him to Geneva, Switzerland to the workshop of André-Marc HUWYLER and David HOEFFLIN, violinmakers, where he was praised for his restoration work. He continued his training in Nice, France with Pierre ALLAIN and Jean-Pierre GASQ, violinmaker and bowmaker, where his setup of instruments demonstrated the precision of his work. In 1996, he undertook a Bowmaker / Repairer training with A.-M. HUWYLER, Geneva, Switzerland. From 1995, he undertook numerous travels around the world: Israel, Malta, USA, Taiwan... to meet acquaintances in the musical world, customers and fellow violinmakers. Those travels are the occasion to share his passion, organizing conferences, talks and meetings with students and professional players, but also to confront his knowledge with different cultures, and assess new bases to his work and inspiration. With all his gathered experience,

in 1998, he opens his workshop in ANNECY, SAVOY, FRANCE, in the heart of the French Alps There, surrounded by mountains, forests and lakes, he finds peace and inspiration for creating fine violins, violas and cellos. His workshop in the historical center of the city is also a meeting point for local musicians, to have their instruments repaired, setup and improved. His work can be discovered, listened to and appreciated in the hands of young talents, professional players and connoisseurs all over the world.


Below are some sites that will help on prices from new to old. Have a good one:-)

Answer 2

Seems like Andrea Amati (1511-1577) may have been the inventor of the violin. In any case, it was during the 16th centry.

Very old violins, like those made by Amati himself and Stradivarius are worth a fortune. For example, a Strad sold recently for 2.03 million dollars.

Modern violins from manufacturers can cost from a couple of hundred dollars to thousands. New ones from custom makers can run over $10,000.

Some of the famous owners of Strads include:

Anne-Sophie Mutter
Salvatore Accardo

You can get a complete list of named Stradivarius violins from Wikipedia here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stradivarius

Answer 3

The violin emerged in northern Italy in the early 16th century. Most likely the first makers of violins borrowed from three types of current instruments: the rebec, in use since the 10th century (itself derived from the Arab rebab), the Renaissance fiddle, and the lira da braccio.[2] One of the earliest explicit descriptions of the instrument, including its tuning, was in the Epitome musical by Jambe de Fer, published in Lyon in 1556.[3] By this time the violin had already begun to spread throughout Europe.

The oldest documented violin to have four strings, like the modern violin, was constructed in 1555 by Andrea Amati. Other violins, documented significantly earlier, only had three strings. The violin immediately became very popular, both among street musicians and the nobility, illustrated by the fact that the French king Charles IX ordered Amati to construct 24 violins for him in 1560.[4] The oldest surviving violin, dated inside, is from this set, and is known as the "Charles IX", made in Cremona c. 1560. "The Messiah" or "Le Messie" (also known as the "Salabue") made by Antonio Stradivari in 1716 remains pristine, never having been used. It is now located in the Ashmolean Museum of Oxford.[5]

The most famous violin makers, called luthiers, between the late 16th century and the 18th century included:

Amati family of Italian violin makers, Andrea Amati (1500-1577), Antonio Amati (1540-1607), Hieronymus Amati I (1561-1630), Nicolo Amati (1596-1684), Hieronymus Amati II (1649-1740)
Guarneri family of Italian violin makers, Andrea Guarne]] (1626-1698), Pietro of Mantua (1655-1720), Giuseppe Guarneri (Joseph filius Andreae) (1666-1739), Pietro Guarneri (of Venice) (1695-1762), and Giuseppe (del Gesu) (1698-1744)
Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737) of Cremona
Jacob Stainer (1617-1683) of Absam in Tyrol
Significant changes occurred in the construction of the violin in the 18th century, particularly in the length and angle of the neck, as well as a heavier bass bar. The majority of old instruments have undergone these modifications, and hence are in a significantly different state than when they left the hands of their makers, doubtless with differences in sound and response. But these instruments in their present condition set the standard for perfection in violin craftsmanship and sound, and violin makers all over the world try to come as close to this ideal as possible.[citation needed]

To this day, instruments from the "Golden Age" of violin making, especially those made by Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesù, are the most sought-after instruments by both collectors and performers.