The violin, widely spread across various countries, is the primary instrument in modern orchestral string sections.

In the distant past, different ethnic groups invented their bowed string instruments. For example, the rebec in the area of Spain and the fiddle among Slavic and Germanic peoples. These instruments later made their way to Italy, where around the 1530s, through the improvements by Italian bow-string performers and folk artists, and the integration of their characteristics, the precursor to the violin emerged.

Triumphs of the Violin in European Musical Culture:

It is certain that following its "invention," the violin rapidly conquered Central European courtly music culture, primarily in the hands of Italian musicians.

Their artistry awakened a demand for these captivating new instruments and encouraged instrument makers to emulate their new models. This led to regional violin-making schools, such as the Hopf violin in Saxony or the Alemannic violin, as well as independent traditions like the Stainer violin, which enjoyed the widest distribution and long-lasting, defining stylistic influence.

From Baroque Violin to Modern Violin:

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the violin underwent its final fundamental development. Changes in concert practices led to the birth of the modern violin - while its basic elements still owe much to the classical models of early Cremonese Baroque violins, its characteristic was a louder, more infectious sound.

Despite various innovations in craftsmanship, the influence of existing models can be seen in the fact that most surviving Baroque violins were modernized during this period, and also in modernization - where historical appreciation and destruction are combined masterfully.

Violin Making between Tradition and Industry:

During the 19th century, modern violin models further differentiated in violin making in countries like Italy, France, Germany, and the UK, closely linked to a series of production from manufacturers and industrial factories serving the explosive growth in global demand of the 19th century.

While the difference between masterful classical violin craftsmanship and "mass production" violins is evident, considering industrial violin production as a sign of decline in traditional music culture seems inappropriate.

On the one hand, globally active major companies such as J.T.L. in Mirecourt, Schuster in Markneukirchen, or Neuner & Hornsteiner in Mittenwald quickly reached respectable production levels and could even meet the most complex musical demands with appropriate product lines.

On the other hand, these companies also served as incubators for entire generations of excellent violin makers, who received training at the factory gates and later matured into successful creators of high-quality masterpieces.

Electric Violin: The Latest Innovation in Violin Making History

The most recent chapter in violin history is marked by the invention of the electric amplified violin (electric violin). However, unlike the Baroque or modern violin, it did not replace its predecessors but served a steadily growing niche in music applications, especially in light music.