History of the violin

Golden Musical Instrument Co.,Ltd was moved to Luoyang From Beijing in 1998 , yet it is already an integral part of the long and glorious history of one of the most fascinating musical traditions the world has ever known. Through our violin and accessories making activities, JinQu Instruments are attached to a tradition nearly 500 years. Every violin, viola, and cello double bass maintains the highest standards of craftsmanship, combined with deeply satisfying richness and complexity of tone and commercial achievement worthy of our predecessors.
The history of the violin family is fascinating and attractive to the musician and classic music fans. Let us pick up the important stages of violin history to share with you .
The violin emerged from northern Italy in the early 16th century, preceeded and evolving from three likely fretted and non fretted, stringed instruments : the rebec, the Renaissance fiddle, and the lira da braccio. The rebec derived from the Arab rebab had been in use since the 10th century . The earliest explicit description of the violin, including its tuning, was in the Epitome musical by Jambe de Fer, published in Lyon in 1556. By this time the violin had already begun to spread throughout Europe by the popularity of the court dance and street musicians.  

In the first half of the 16th century some of the early violins are attributed to Gasparo di Bertolotti da Sal?(c.1540-1609) of Brescia, founder of the school of violin making in Brescia. However more convincingly the first violins were made by Andrea Amati (1500-1577) of Cremona. There exists documentation of two- 3 string violins he created between 1542 and 1546. The first 4 string violin was dated 1555; likely by order of the Medici family, looking for an instrument with the quality of a lute. The violin immediately became very popular among the nobility , illustrated by the fact that the French king Charles IX ordered Amati to build a whole orchestra in the second half of the 16th century. There are 14 of these Andrea Amati instruments that have survived.

     One of oldest "surviving" dated violin, is the "Charles IX" by Andrea Amati, made in Cremona in 1560. The most famous violin makers between the late 16th century and the 18th century include the Amati School:

• Amati family of Italian violin makers, Andrea Amati (1500-1577), Antonio Amati (1540-1607), Hieronymus Amati I (1561-1630),
Nicolo Amati (1596-1684), Hieronymus Amati II (1649-1740)

• Guarneri family of Italian violin makers, Andrea Guarneri (1626-1698), Pietro of Mantua (1655-1720),
Giuseppe Guarneri (Joseph filius Andreae) (1666-1739), Pietro Guarneri (of Venice) (1695-1762), and
Giuseppe (del Gesu) (1698-1744)

• Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737) of Cremona- and two of his sons,
Francesco Stradivari (1671-1743) and Omobono Stradivari (1679-1742).

• Jacob Stainer (1617-1683) of Absam in Tyrol

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Documented resident apprentices of the Nicolo Amati workshop:

Giacomo Gennaro (c.1624-after 1655): (1641 to 1646 and possibly 1647)
Andrea Guarneri (c.1626-1698): (1641 to 1646/7, 1650 to 1653)
Francesco Mola (c.1641-?): (1653 to 1655)
Leopoldi Todesca (c.1625-after 1665?): (1653 to 1654, 1656)
Gio Batta ------ (1653)
The Malagamba brothers: (1654 to 1655, 1666)
Giuseppe (c.1634-?)
Gio Batta (c.1637-?)
Giacomo (Antonio?) (c.1644-?)
Bartolomeo Pasta (c.1640-after 1685?): (1660)
Giovanni Battista Rogeri, Bolognese (c.1662-after 1705): (1661 to 1663)
Giorgio Taiper (c.1648-?): (1666 to 1667)
Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655?-1731): (1680)
Gioseppe Segher, Padovane (c.1646-?): (1680 to 1682)
Giuseppe Stucchi, Veneziano (c.1663-?): (1681)
Giacomo Railich (c.1650-?): (1683 to 1685) ]

( It is strongly believed that Antonio Stradivari apprenticed under Nicolo Amati,  however there is no corroborating evidence,  independent of one or two suspect makers labels.)
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To this day, instruments from the "Golden Age" of violin making, especially those made by Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesu, are the most sought-after instruments by both collectors and performers.  

     Some changes have occurred in the 18th century, particularly to do with the length and angle of the neck, as well as a heavier bass bar. The majority of old instruments have undergone these modifications, and hence are in a significantly different state than when they left the hands of their makers, doubtless with differences in sound and response. But these instruments in their present condition set the standard for perfection in violin craftsmanship and sound, and violin makers all over the world try to come as close to this ideal as possible.

The Bowed instruments are brought to China by missionary in the 19th Century earlier . There are three bowed instrument factories which were invested by China government , The musical instrument industry is developing fast and produce large quantity after reform in 1978. Most of instruments are student grade compare with the Europe instruments.
1996 , Wang Shuang, board chairman of Luoyang Golden Musical Instrument at present, who gathered a group of excellent violin masters, and with their help, she established a large master violin workshop devoted to the handcrafting of instruments which became popular and has been distributed to all the major cities in China .
The Bejing making center was original company name . When factory was moved to Luoyang 1998, our violin makers group become larger on the base of our Italy , Germany and France partners joining with us along with the famous violin masters from Bejing Xing Hai Factory.
We add the Double bass and other related accessories to Luoyang Factory. Most of our products range from fractional size instruments for young beginners to outstanding master instruments and accessories for advanced and professional players .
We are developing 262 professional dealers in larger and medium cities all over China. “JinQu “ brand is already famous in musical instrument field of China. “ Golden” is our international translated brand name which will facilitate easier acceptance by overseas customers in terms of concept and pronunciation of our company operation and its name.
An exciting new chapter in the history of violin, viola, cello, and double bass is being written in our own time. We at Golden Musical Instruments are excited to be contributing to the passionate world of music through both our revival of traditional Old World methods, and our pioneering methods incorporating new materials in the construction of instruments and its accessories. Workshops at Golden operate in precisely the same manner as late 16h-19h century European workshops.,
We invite you to join us and share with us our proud achievements in the development of our bowed strings instrument culture and our accomplishments…!