The Amadeus Book of the Violin: Construction, History, and Music (Paperback)

by Walter Kolneder (Author) "The violin emerged ca. 1500 and continued to develop up to the mid-sixteenth century, acquiring its modern shape in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Leopold Mozart, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Since 1972, this encyclopedic volume on the construction, history, and lore of the violin has been an important resource. Pauly (music, emeritus, Lewis and Clark Coll.) has now translated and edited the most recent (1993) edition, bringing it further up to date by referencing material as recent as 1996. Kolneder, the late Austrian conductor and musicologist, divided his massive tome into three parts. The first, which deals with the physical instrument itself, contains detailed information on such diverse topics as bow-making, varnish, worm and crack damage, and string acoustics. This part, by necessity somewhat dry and pedantic, is followed by a remarkably inclusive history of the violin most impressive in its detailed examination of the various regional and national schools of violin-making throughout the world. The third part, titled "Performance, Pedagogy, and Composition," may be the most ambitious in scope; the section on virtuosi alone is worth the price. Pauly's updating is welcome, though one might have wished for more than just a brief mention of such outstanding ensembles as the Kronos and Arditti quartets. Essential.?Larry A. Lipkis, Moravian Coll., Bethlehem, PA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
... traces the construction, history and repertoire of the violin with Teutonic thoroughness ... liable to become a standard reference work. -- San Francisco Examiner, 1/1999

A good companion should entertain, inform, even beguile; Kolneder's book ... actually turns out to be [a companion]. -- Fanfare, May/June 1999

Its greatest strength is its thorough history of the schools of violin playing and teaching ... -- American Record Guide, March/April 1999

This book will continue to serve as a useful reference tool well into the next millenium. -- The Strad, July 1999

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Product Details

• Paperback: 600 pages
• Publisher: Amadeus Press (March 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574670387
• ISBN-13: 978-1574670387
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #226,048 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Review #1: The Amadeus Book of the violin, January 9, 2000

By	(DLR.) ,Bob Wilson (Kalaheo, Hawaii, USA) - See all my reviews

This book is splendid, talking about the history,playing and the construction of Violins. This Book reveals secrets about the old Italian varnishes, eyewitness accounts of Paganini's performances, bow making, and Ideal thicknesses for places on the bridge. Also, a comparison of different f-holes, string making, bow holds, harmonics, how famous people tested thier strings,the "bach bow", and experiments conducted on the violin are also included. A must see to believe! Indispensible!Way too much to type here!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent History and Pedagogy of the Violin!!!, May 8, 2002

By A Customer

A must for all violin players and lovers alike...if you have ever wondered about the life and times of the 4 string wonder instrument that is the violin, this is your book. It goes into construction, history, players and techniques...GET THIS BOOK!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Heavy, April 17, 2009

By	John L. Francis - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is some serious heavy reading material. Sometimes very dry but full of information.