A good violin depends not only on the expertise of the violin maker, but also on the quality of the wood that is used. The Swiss wood researcher Professor Francis W. M. R. Schwarze (Empa, Swiss ...

At its most basic, the Modular Fiddle can be played like any other violin. But creator David Perry designed this instrument to explore the many different physical component shapes and tones made ...

Varnishes protect works of art and wooden instruments from environmental damage. However, until recently, little research had been carried out into the effects of varnish on the sound of violins. Empa ...

Varnish does more than just provide a protective sheen to a violin. It influences the vibrations and impulses that the wood absorbs and therefore the quality of sound the instrument produces, says an ...

Their tone and dynamic range make them a favourite of string players and classical music fans. But according to researchers in Manchester University, anyone can now produce the sound of a Stradivarius ...

Violin makers, aka luthiers, traditionally learn from hands-on experience how to craft parts and select materials to shape an instrument’s final sound. MIT engineers hope to streamline that ...

One little trick and BAM, you’ve got yourself a brand-new string instrument. Violinist Esther Abrami has come up with a brilliant trick to make a violin sound like a cello: and literally all you have ...

What is it? The younger sibling of the viola and cello, it's an instrument that exudes class, virtuosity and sentimentality. Who uses it? Violins have always been the frontline ammunition of classical ...

Recorded in: Asheville (N.C.), Ararat (N.C.), North Carolina, Farmington (Ark.), Arkansas, Crowley (La.), Louisiana, Iuka (Miss.), Meridian (Miss.), Mississippi ...