Claudio Monteverdi, an Italian composer, was the first in music history to give the violin a dominant role, believing it could express all human emotions, especially rage.
Compositional Technique
The violin's ability to be polyphonic, or multi-voiced, was developed by German and Austrian composers, transforming it into the "new lyre of Apollo."
Compositional Technique
The experimental nature of this music led to new playing techniques, such as left-hand pizzicato and scordatura tuning, which disappeared before being rediscovered by Niccolò Paganini in the 19th century.
Instruments
While the violin itself did not change significantly, the bow constantly evolved, achieving its modern form in 1790 with Parisian bow-maker François-Xavier Tourte.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The album explores the violin repertoire before Johann Sebastian Bach, showcasing composers who influenced him, including members of his own family.
Interpretation
Violinist Chouchane Siranossian uses different bows for different pieces on the album, selecting a shorter, lighter bow for Carlo Farina's work and longer bows for later repertoire.
Historical Context
The Italian composer Carlo Farina was among the first virtuosos from Italy, the cradle of the violin, to come to Germany and become concertmaster at the Dresden Staatskapelle in 1626.
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