The String Family and Its Famous Works

In our previous article, we introduced the violin, the smallest member of the bowed string family. This month, let us explore the violin alongside the other members and some famous works worth listening to.

Violin

Its body is 38 cm long and consists of more than 70 different parts. It has the widest range of any instrument after the piano. Famous violin virtuosos include Itzhak Perlman, Isaac Stern, Yehudi Menuhin, Gidon Kremer, Farid Farjad, Alexander Markov, Cihat Aşkın and Suna Kan.

Famous Works:

A. VIVALDI: Violin Sonatas — The Four Seasons

J. S. BACH: Partitas

L. V. BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto in D Major — Spring Sonata in F Major

A. BERG: Violin Concertos

A. CORELLI: Concerti Grossi

W. A. MOZART: Violin Concertos and Sonatas

P. TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto in D Major

Viola

The viola has a body length of 41–45 cm, and its music is written in the alto clef, with C on the third line. Its construction is like that of the violin. It is tuned C–G–D–A. Its deep alto voice is particularly expressive of sadness. The beauty of its sound was fully recognised towards the late 1700s. Its individual qualities can seem somewhat subdued in an orchestra, where it supplies the middle of the harmonic accompaniment because its range lies at the centre of the orchestral spectrum.

Famous Works:

TELEMANN: Viola Concerto

STAMITZ: Viola Concerto

W. A. MOZART: Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra

H. BERLIOZ: Harold in Italy

STRAUSS: Don Quixote

BARTÓK: Viola Concerto

Violoncello (Cello)

The cello is roughly twice the size of a violin. Its music is written in the bass clef, with F on the fourth line, and its sound is a fifth below the viola. Its bowing technique differs considerably from violin and viola technique. In the orchestra, it often moves with the double bass and adds vitality. Distinguished cellists include Yo-Yo Ma, Pablo Casals, Gaspar Cassadó and André Navarra.

Famous Works:

BACH: Six Suites — Cello Suite

BOCCHERINI: Cello Concertos

E. ELGAR: Cello Concertos

J. HAYDN: Cello Concerto in C Major

P. TCHAIKOVSKY: Variations on a Rococo Theme

S. PROKOFIEV: Ballade

C. SAINT-SAËNS: The Swan from The Carnival of the Animals

Double Bass

The double bass has the lowest, fullest sound in the bowed string family. Today it comes in four- and five-string versions: soloists use four strings and orchestral players five. Its appearance differs from the other strings, with sloping shoulders and geared tuning machines. Its music is written in the bass clef, with F on the fourth line; treble clef is used for higher notes. Its orchestral role is to provide the bass and harmonic foundation.

Famous Works:

G. BOTTESINI: Concerto in B Minor — Concerto in F-Sharp Minor

A. DUBENSKY: Fugue for Eight Double Basses

E. TUBIN: Double Bass Concerto

J. B. VANHAL: Double Bass Concerto

P. HINDEMITH: Sonata for Double Bass and Piano (1949)

Duygu Deniz Uşaklıgil
Rekor Sanat – Violin Teacher