A Short History of the Violin
The violin is one a most beautiful sounding instruments that has been highly appreciated by many for centuries. It is said to have evolved out of the lire, a stringed instrument from the 9th century. The violin itself came into it’s own in the early 16th century in Northern Italy in the Brescia area, by a community of violin makers and players called “maestros.” In addition to the lire, the violin was also influences by the rebec and the Viola de Braccio aka the Renaissance fiddle.
In 1630 many of the Brescian masters died in the 1630 plague, and violin makers from Cremona rose in prominence with both street musicians and nobility. The oldest confirmed surviving violin comes from Cremona, the “Charles IX ” made by Andrea Amati in 1564.
Violins age well, and the most sought after instruments are more than 300 years old, particularly those made by Stradivari and Guarneri dei Gesu. As the modifications became the standard, older instruments 
were modified, the neck was lengthened by one centimeter, and a heavier bar was added to increase string tension.
In the 19th and 20th centuries other countries started to make violins. Many were made in France, in the areas that are now Germany, Austria and the Czech republic. Today, violins are made almost everywhere with the market dominating in China, Romania and Bulgaria.
In some instruments, such as the Stroh violins, there have been recent effort to boost sound through mechanical amplification. Patent records show over twenty different violin related inventions up to 1949. However, even as makers attempts to build on traditional violins, they will most likely always be sought after and appreciated for their classic beauty.
