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Baritone Violin Pieces of Eight ♫ Newsletter of the Singing Woods Violin Shop ♫ Special Edition the Extended Violin Family an introduction The Hutchins Consort of Encinitas, California-- the world’s first ensemble to play on instruments of the Extended Violin Family. In This Issue: The Extended Violin Family 2 Treble Violin New Manifestations of an Old Idea 3 Soprano Violin The new violin family consists of qualities due to their common un- eight acoustically matched violins derlying physics. Conceived at the 4 Mezzo Violin ranging in size from a treble violin request of composer Henry Brant 5 Alto Violin with a body length of about eleven for a matched ensemble of violins, 6 Tenor Violin inches to a contrabass almost seven the eight instruments of the new vio- feet tall. This octet spans almost the lin family octet represent one of the 7 Baritone Violin entire range of written music, from most important successful advances 8 Bass Violin the silvery sheen of the treble violin, in violin design in almost three hun- 9 Contrabass Violin through new voices like the soprano dred years. and tenor violins, to a contrabass 11 Photo Gallery that literally shakes the floor. A Brief History. 12 What’s New in the Family? Sparked by Brant’s request, an in- Individual instruments have individual tense period of research, develop- characteristics; played together they display a splendid balance of tonal continued on last page Newsletter of the Singing Woods Violin Shop 2 Newsetter of the Singing Woods Violin Shop Treble Violin The Little Violin With the Big Voice The treble violin, tuned an octave phony orchestra in much the same standard works. The entire repertoire above the conventional violin (g’ d” way as a piccolo does. The sounds of works for the violin must also be in- a” e’”) is the smallest and highest of the two lower strings are surpris- cluded as it can be played beautifully member of the eight new violin family ingly mature and combine well with on the treble, sounding an octave instruments. Its dimensions approxi- other octet instruments, especially higher than the original. mate those of a quarter-size violin, the soprano. All of the nuance and but in construction it is quite differ- technique of the violin is available ent. in ranges that can exceed the high- est notes on the piano. It is the only To achieve the transposed violin instrument in the world capable of sound, the treble often is made with this. a thick top and back. To bring the air resonance of the body to the desired Players have found that the short frequency requires extra-large ff- string length of the treble violin holes. The string length of the treble makes it possible to tremolo on in- is adjusted to allow secure fingering tervals of up to one octave on any of consecutive semitones, and car- single string. Double stops up to bon rocket wire with twice the tensile a twelfth are possible on any two strength of ordinary steel wire is used strings. With practice, giant leaps for an E string that must be tuned to a can be made with the flick of the stratospheric1320 Hertz. wrist. The treble is a little violin with a big Literature for the treble violin in- Treble violin virtuoso Grigory Sedukh of voice. It produces an effortless bril- cludes many compositions written St. Petersburg , Russia, acknowledges his liance on its two upper strings, which specifically for the octet in addition to accompanist, Emi Saki, after a performance given soar above the sound of a full sym- a growing library of arrangements of in Tokyo, Japan in the Oiji Hall, February, 2008. Treble (Piccolo) Range and Tuning Standard Tuning The treble (piccolo) violin is a trans- an octave above the first string, which extreme upper registers and do so posing instrument with parts sound- yields a working range that approach- sweetly and lyrically, with the same ing an octave above written pitch. It es three octaves. full range of dynamics, expression, is written in treble clef in all registers. and bowing techniques available on Extremely high passages are typical- In the hands of a skilled player, the traditional violins. ly noted “8va” and written an octave piccolo has an immense range of below the desired pitch. Composers over four octaves. It is the only instru- may write for competent players up to ment in the world that can play in the Newsletter of the Singing Woods Violin Shop 3 Soprano Violin A New Leading Voice for the 21st Century The soprano violin, tuned a fourth sion and clarity on the soprano with- two notes. As the highest member of above the standard violin (c’ g’ d” out the whistling or scraping sound string quartets composed for sopra- a”), is the 21st-century version of the produced by standard violins in the no, mezzo, alto, and tenor violins, the violino piccolo, for which Bach wrote same range. Its dimensions are simi- soprano truly comes into its own. important parts in works such as the lar to those of a child’s three-quarter- cantata “Wachet Auf” and the First size size violin, but it sure doesn’t Brandenburg Concerto. Although the sound like an instrument for kids! ancient soprano violin faded from use by the end of the 18th century, Literature for the soprano violin in- it has returned in a modern version cludes many compositions written that utilizes the scaling theories of specifically for the octet in addition to John Schelleng, the plate-tuning a growing library of arrangements of techniques pioneered by Carleen standard works. Hutchins, and the geometric parame- ters of the Stradivari Model G worked The soprano is equally at home as out by Robert Spear. the highest voice in most chamber music groups where it provides extra The width of the soprano neck has brilliance and roundness to the en- been adjusted to that of a conven- semble. The first violin parts in quin- tional violin and the peg box wid- tets and sextets usually lie perfectly ened to accommodate adult hands. in the range of the soprano. Many The soprano is a natural solo instru- of the great works in larger cham- ment well-suited to the demands of ber forms by Beethoven, Mozart, composers for a bright and powerful Brahms, Dvorak, Bruckner and oth- leading voice. Passages of extended ers can be arranged for the soprano Igor Tchetchko plays soprano violin in concert range can be played with great preci- without changing more than one or with the Hutchins Consort Soprano Range and Tuning Standard Tuning The soprano is a non-transposing in- ity in tuning, and most already read petent players up to an octave above strument with parts sounding at con- treble clef. However, in some cases it the first string, which yields a working cert pitch. It is written in treble clef is helpful to provide a transposed part range that approaches three octaves. in all registers. Extremely high pas- in alto clef for them. Violinists already In the hands of a skilled player, the sages are typically noted “8va” and read treble clef, but some will require soprano has an immense range of written an octave below the desired a part transposed down a fourth, es- over four octaves. pitch. Viola players take naturally to pecially those who are position play- the soprano because of the similar- ers. Composers may write for com- 4 Newsletter of the Singing Woods Violin Shop Mezzo Violin What’s old is new again The mezzo violin is an enlarged ver- string length, the mezzo can be sion of the conventional violin, rang- played immediately by most violin- ing in size from 14.5 inches (368 mm) ists and violists with little adjustment. to 15 inches (381 mm) body length. No special bow is required, nor must Early makers of the Amati family, and special playing techniques be em- also G. P. Maggini and A. Stradivari ployed. Many players are delighted produced large violins, so this idea is with the true mezzo quality of this vio- not new. The mezzo violin was cre- lin, which gives an old instrument a ated after it was found that even a fresh appeal. fine concert violin could not match the power of the other new family instru- The mezzo violin can be heard clearly ments. in ensemble, and it remains an ideal solo instrument because its extra Maintaining the ideal resonance power and wide dynamic range, par- placements of the standard violin ticularly on the lower strings, give it a while increasing its size and power distinct advantage. In large chamber was no easy task. In addition to the groups, the mezzo becomes an indis- application of modern plate-tuning pensable middle voice. theories, the ribs are reduced in height to keep the volume of air in the Violin literature in its entirety is avail- body the same as that of a standard able for the mezzo, and the instru- violin. ment also fits beautifully into the violin Ethan Busteed of the Hutchins Consort playing sections of symphonic ensembles. an original Hutchins-model mezzo violin in The mezzo is tuned the same as the performance at the 2006 Guild of American conventional violin (g d’ a’ e”). By Luthiers Convention. keeping a near-normal nut-to-bridge Mezzo Range and Tuning Standard Tuning The mezzo is a non-transposing in- the experience “liberating.” Since of a skilled player, the mezzo has an strument with parts sounding at con- most violists already read treble clef, immense range of over four octaves.
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