Comparing the Violin to a Puzzle Essay -- comparison compare contrast

Comparing the Violin to a Puzzle A violin can be compared to a puzzle. Each piece of the puzzle has a unique role in the outcome of the picture, or in this case, the overall sound. The pieces are brought together by both the violin's maker and its player. Just like a puzzle, different persons, when given the same pieces probably will not put them in the same order. This fact accounts for the differences in the designs of master violinmakers and the tonal differences between players. To quote Joseph Wechsberg, " The tone is of course created by the violinist . . . the same violin played by several violinists sounds different in the hands of each player," (45). In spite of the different interpretations of where the pieces should go, if any piece of the puzzle is missing or deformed, the puzzle won't fit together correctly. In order to determine whether or not the pieces are correctly assembled, it is necessary to understand the pieces and their functions. The violin consists of seventy parts: back and belly,two parts each, 6 ribs and inside blocks, 12 inside linings, 24 purflings, 4 pegs and strings, and one each of bass bar, fingerboard, neck, scroll, nut, lower nut, tailpiece, loop, tailpiece button, bridge and soundpost (Bachmann, 58). The shape and design of the instrument is referred to as the "model." The model not only influences the appearance of the violin, but also its acoustic qualities. For the most part, the acoustical effect is limited to the playability of the violin. For example, the shape of the shoulders influences the ease with which high positions, or notes, are played (Curtin). The choice of wood also affects the violin's acoustical properties. Traditionally, violin makers used spruce and maple fr... ...r that the reader will be seduced by the violin's siren song. Works Cited Bachmpedia of the Violin. New York: DaCapo, 1966. Curtin, Joseph. "The Anatomy of a Violin." 16 March, 2003. <http://www.msen.com/~violins/about/anatomy.html> Gough, Colin. "Science and the Stradivarius." Physics World April 2000. <http://physicsweb.org/article/world/13/4/8/1/pw-13-04-09fig5> Ifshin Violins 25 March, 2003. <http://www.ifshinviolins.com/strings.html> Hill, W. Henry, Arthur F. Hill, and Alfred E. Hill. Antonio Stradivari: His Life and Work (1644-1737). New York: Dover, 1963. Johannsson, Hans. 31 March, 2003. <http://www.centrum.is/hansi/construction/> Victor, Andrew. "Bows Magic Wands." 25 March, 2003. <http://members.aol.com/bowedstrings.bows-magicwands.html> Wechsberg, Joseph. The Glory of the Violin. New York: Viking, 1973.