Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
ABSTRACT
Data on weights for 80 violins, 20 violas, and 11 celli are presented
along with descriptions of set up and fittings used on each instrument.
Data are presented for classic European instruments as old as the
late 16th Century, plus a selection of modern instruments by
professional American makers.
Classic violins, ready to play with chin rest, average about 428 g,
compared to 439 g for a sample of good contemporary violins. Viola
weights show a large spread (511-731 g), depending on body size and
fittings. Full-size celli weight about 2900-3000 g, depending on
accessories.
We have noticed a correlation between weight and instrument
quality and marketability. There are few instruments that interest
us above and below certain threshold weights. Specifically, we
often favor new violins that weigh 430-460 g (although exceptions
are possible).
INTRODUCTION
We believe that as more data are accumulated, more understanding
is possible. This even applies to fields that at first glance seem
incomprehensible (including violin acoustics). This belief is also
held by many scientists, marketers, pollsters, and statisticians in
many difficult and challenging fields. For example, pollsters who
study the seemingly nonsensical voting habits of large numbers of
people are able to make predictions with remarkable accuracy.
Similarly, marketers formulate well-informed strategies based on
studying the publics often spurious and impulsive buying
preferences. There is no doubt that a database approach works,
possibly better than any other method, for answering basic questions
about highly variable systems. Conversely, you cant learn much
by studying one or two data points!
Like other violin shop owners, we have noticed a correlation between
instrument weight and the time it takes to sell the instrument [1].
32
John R. Waddle and Jeffrey S. Loen - Weights of Violin, Viola, and Cello
Date
1574
1577
1609
1628
1654
c1780
1732
1824
c1630
c1640
1759
1792
1792
c1800
1819
1749
c1748
1854
1885
1761
1696
1784
1791
1702
1717
c1700
1715
c1700
c1730
1732
1788
1733
1796
1803
1780
c1760
1623
1735
c1715
1742
1731
1715
c1750
c1730
1732
1735
1746
1668
1694
Weight (grams)
346
353
322
381
419.7
482
357
355
393
330
402
436
380
358
356.2
410
444
358
410.25
462.5
436
426.2
373.6
306.5
418.2
370
362
402
390.5
444.7
394.7
421
397
412.5
371.5
354
434.8
398
367
395
394
398
405
403.75
448
463.8
316
428.2
423.2
435
432.6
376
319
386
33
John R. Waddle and Jeffrey S. Loen - Weights of Violin, Viola, and Cello
(USA)
(USA)
(USA)
(USA)
(USA)
(USA)
(USA)
(USA)
(USA)
(USA)
(USA)
(USA)
(USA)
(USA)
Date
1698
1699
1700
1704
1759
1748
1718
1788
1890
1871
Weight (grams)
415
448.5
427.7
429.3
453
385
429.7
412.8
404
391
386
378
454
434
460
381
384.5
451
446.5
423.5
438
457
401
462.5
457
445
Table 2. Viola.
Maker (location)
Andrea Amati (Cremona, Italy)
Anselmo Bellosio (Venice, Italy)
Nicola Bergonzi (Cremona, Italy)
D. Busan (Venice, Italy)
Gasparo da Salo (Brescia, Italy)
Michele Deconet (Venice, Italy)
F. Gofriller (Venice, Italy)
Pietro G. Mantegazza (Milan, Italy)
Ansaldo Poggi (Bologna, Italy)
Jacob Stainer (Absam, Italy)
Peregrino di Zanetto (Brescia, Italy)
Contemporary
Contemporary
Contemporary
Contemporary
Contemporary
Contemporary
Contemporary
Contemporary
Contemporary
34
(USA)
(USA)
(USA)
(USA)
(USA)
(USA)
(USA)
(USA)
(USA)
Date
c1577
1781
c1609
1780
c1730
1793
c1650
c1564
Weight (grams)
576
583.8
561
731
649
511.5
583.6
534
643
561
665
615
560
564
637
666
605.6
565.2
630
587.3
John R. Waddle and Jeffrey S. Loen - Weights of Violin, Viola, and Cello
slight weight increase with time, from about 320-350 g prior to 1620
to 380-400 for most 19th Century violins. Violins with Baroque
setup average 353.0 g, versus 379.2 g for those with modern setup but
no chinrest. Modern violins with complete setup are split into two
classes: pre-1900, which average 428.1 g, and contemporary, which
average 439.3 g. Hence, there is little difference (2.5%) in weight
between fine contemporary violins and a selection of old classics,
other things being equal.
35
John R. Waddle and Jeffrey S. Loen - Weights of Violin, Viola, and Cello
Table 3. Cello
Maker (location)
Giovanni B. Ceruti (Cremona, Italy)
N. Gagliano(Naples, Italy)
Dom. Montagnana (Venice, Italy)
Dom. Montagnana (Venice, Italy)
Dom. Montagnana (Venice, Italy)
Vincenzo Postiglioni (Naples, Italy)
Contemporary (USA)
Contemporary (USA)
Contemporary (USA)
Contemporary (USA)
Contemporary (USA)
Date
1752
1730
1737
1735
CONCLUSION
Collection of weight data on violin/viola/cello of various ages and
nationalities helps to set limits for screening instruments that are
too heavy or too light. The data show that it is possible for
contemporary makers to construct instruments that weigh roughly
within the range set by classic old European instruments. Additional
work is needed on the problem of wood density, especially for
older fine instruments that are unusually light but meet high
performance standards.
36
Weight (grams)
2972
2597
2962
2900
3000
2920
2870
3050
2920
2610
3156
REFERENCES
[1] Curtin, J., 1998, Innovation in violinmaking: Proceedings,
international symposium on musical acoustics, Leavenworth,
WA, Edited by D. Keefe, T. Rossing, and C. Schmid (available
from Acoustical Society of America, or Catgut Acoustical
Society), p. 11-16.
[2] Jansson, E., 2002, Acoustics for violin and guitar makers (4th
Ed.): KTH, Stockholm, available on web at http://
www.speech.kth.se/music/acviguit4/index.html