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6.3: Strings

Last updated

Dec 19, 2024
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- 6.2: Orchestral Instruments
- 6.4: Woodwinds

Lumen Learning
Lumen Learning

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Introduction

Bowed string instruments are a subcategory of string instruments that are played by a bow rubbing the strings. The bow rubbing the string causes vibration, which the instrument emits as sound.

The first modern violin is thought to have been developed by Andrea Amati (ca. 1505-1577) in Italy.

Listen: String Instruments

Listen to the different string instruments below.

Viola

Cello

Double Bass (originated in the late seventeenth century)

Strings in a String Orchestra

Other String Instruments

Listen: Erhu, the Chinese Fiddle

An old man on a street playing the erhu.

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Listen: Morin Khuur, the Mongolian House Fiddle

A Mongolian man playing the morin khuur.

A sample of the Morin Khuur’s sound

Contributors and Attributions

StringInstruMAPDF. Authored by: AlejandroLinaresGarcia. Provided by: Wikipedia. Located at: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:StringInstruMAPDF.JPG. License: CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
Bowed string instrument. Provided by: Wikipedia. Located at: https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowed_string_instrument. License: CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
Ehru played by blind man. Authored by: Anna Frodesiak. Provided by: Wikipedia. Located at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ehru_played_by_blind_man.jpg. License: CC0: No Rights Reserved
u6c5fu6cb3u6c34. Authored by: David290 u5f20u6c9bu575a. Provided by: Wikipedia. Located at: https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%E6%B1%9F%E6%B2%B3%E6%B0%B4.ogg. License: CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
Mongolian Musician. Authored by: Eric Pouhier. Provided by: Wikipedia. Located at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mongolian_Musician.jpg. License: CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike

Julia Fischer - Hindemith - Finale from Sonata for Solo Violin, Op 11, No 6. Authored by: Opus 21. Located at: https://youtu.be/LL-uyKDhDUM?t=1s. License: All Rights Reserved. License Terms: Standard YouTube License
Max Reger: Viola Suite, com Orquestra - Yuri Bashmet e os Solistas de Moscou (Movt. 1). Authored by: figure2000. Located at: https://youtu.be/Gji5CZ-VdHs?t=1s. License: All Rights Reserved. License Terms: Standard YouTube License
Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations Yo Yo Ma, violoncello. Authored by: Fredobel51. Located at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN184Ytzmpc. License: All Rights Reserved. License Terms: Standard YouTube License
Edgar Meyer - BACH & friends - Michael Lawrence Films. Authored by: Michael Lawrence. Located at: https://youtu.be/hV-65UMPMMA?t=1s. License: All Rights Reserved. License Terms: Standard YouTube License