Guest Author - Michelle Taylor

Probably the biggest difference between your high school band and a symphonic orchestra is the presence of the strings section. After all, it is rather hard to march with a cello! And it is that distinctive sound of bow across strings that really brings “Classical” to mind.

The violin has long been touted as the premier instrument in an orchestra, and for good reason. There are more pieces of classical music written for the violin, both symphonic and solo, than any other instrument. Design of the violin has not changed in over 300 years, the same design as was created by makers hailing from Cremona and Brescia in Italy. In fact one of the world’s top violin competitions is entitled “Citta’ de Brescia”. And the Stradavari of Cremona has long been considered the instrument of choice among professionals.

All stringed instruments played with a bow are members of the violin family, with similar shape and structure. The main difference is size. Size of the instruments, or more specifically the size of the chamber over which the chords are strung, dictates the depth of tone of the instrument. Violins are the smallest, and so have the highest pitches, while the double Bass or Contrabass is the largest with the deepest tones. The sounds are formed by vibrations from the strings resonating within the chamber.

The range of the different instruments can be likened to those of a choir. Violin is soprano, Viola is alto, Cello is tenor, and Bass is (well) bass. As well as the size of the instruments, the strings get thicker as the instrument goes up. All four instruments typically have 4 strings, but the bass occasionally adds a fifth.

Both the violin and viola are played by being held on the area between the neck and shoulder and drawing the bow across the strings. The cello is played with the instrument held between the legs of the musician while he sits. It has a slender peg at the bottom to keep the instrument directly off the floor. The bass has a similar peg, but the musician usually plays it while standing due to the height of the instrument.

The sounds of strings seem to be something people either love or hate. We have all seen parodies of violinists screeching the bow across the strings, and some of us have even been unlucky enough to hear it in real life! Yet when played properly these instruments add a haunting quality to the symphony. The violin can be versatile in playing slow ballads or a quick succession of notes and so often have the lead in symphonies.

Strings are easily the most recognizable instruments in the orchestra and seem to embody the meaning of “Classical”