Illustrated history of violin-holding
Posted by Jessamyn on November 03, 1997 at 23:34:58:
In response to No, please go on!, written by Caroline on November 02, 1997 at 09:36:01
] Jessamyn, I'm fascinated, please go on! You havn't commented on Ken's point that it might have been the Baroque era that made the change...And where did they hold it in Regency times?
It was the Baroque era--which just means after the Renaissance (1500s) and before the Romantic period (1800s). Both upper-chest and under-the-chin styles of holding the violin coexisted for a while, with the French hanging on to the upper-chest position for longer than everyone else.
Here are some really wonderful pictures which show A) how early the violin started to be held under the chin; B) how the lower position held on for a while with some people; C) A Mozart-era player, with a fairly modern style (the bow hand is a little strange); and D) a mid-19th century player with a completely modern position of both hands.
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