The violin is an instrument that originated in the 16th century, Though other string relatives predate this. The violin's shape was first pioneered in Italy with modifications in the 17th and 18th centuries (www.britannica.com). The violin, sometimes called the fiddle, is widely spread and still used for modern music. This post will compare a Bach concerto to a famous contemporary country rock song, paying particular attention to the differences and similarities in the music.
Below is the song from Charlie Danials Band, The Devil Went Down to Georgia. It was made in America in 1979. Feel free to listen while you read.
History
Violins in the 16th century were made by famous crafters and are still in high demand today. Well-known crafters like Amarti created instruments that have sounds that some say are mysterious and have never been replicated; others disagree. Either way, the instruments are beautiful. Below is the oldest surviving violin, named the Charles IX. It was crafted by Amarti in 1560(Wikipedia.com)
The violin would make several changes before the 18th century. According to Britannica, " The neck was angled back, giving greater pressure of the strings on the bridge. The result was a stronger, more brilliant tone in place of the delicate, intimate tone of the violin of the 18th century."(Britannica) For this analysis, both instruments are post-18th century.
The Bach piece dates back to the early 18th century. The exact date is not fully known. Below is Bach's Violin Concerto No.2 in E Major. The location originally composed location is also not known but is believed to be in Cöthen.
American folk music also dates back to this period. Early violinists used to include a lot of street players. Some of these players immigrated from the British Isles to America and brought over their musical traditions(balladofamerica.org). These traditions eventually developed into American folk music. For an example of British folk music, click here.
Many groups settled in America with unique traditions that eventually formed modern folk and country music. Let's examine the evolution from the Bach piece to the modern country rock/ Folk song and the way popular violin music has changed.
Musical style:
The Bach piece is attractive compared to most modern music because the lead violinist plays the violin similarly to vocals. According to Britannica, "The violin was early recognized for its singing tone." It's unique and beautiful compared to the more supportive role the violin plays in The Devil Went Down to Georgia.
Dynamics:
The Bach piece sometimes changes louder and softer throughout the music. During this time, concerts were popular, and songs were long. This change in dynamics is supposed to take the listener on a musical journey and to entertain. The main violin will have parts playing louder, and the supportive instruments will play a response.
In the Devil Went Down to Georgia, the violin is only noticeable during periods with no vocals. It generally plays loud and only changes a little throughout. It's either playing or not, with very few parts where it is soft. In comparison, the older violin music uses the change in dynamics to bring the listener on a journey. The newer example instead keeps mainly to the same volume.
Tempoand Meter
The Devil Went Down to Georgia is played at 135 beats per minute(allegro) with a time signature of 4/4. Bach's piece is more interesting. During the 18th century, musical works often changed their Tempo. Bach's Violin Concerto No.2 is split into 3 movements. The first two are played in Adagio, with the last played in Allegro assai(Burns). This is a substantial and noticeable change in beat.
Conclusions
The Devil Went Down to Georgia is one of my favorite songs, and I thought I would prefer the violin in American Folk music to Bach; but I don't. The violin of Bach's piece and other famous composers of the 19th century have a lot more going on. The ups and downs of Bach. The increase in volume and beats keeps me on my toes. You never know in Bach what will come next; it is very unpredictable. I can see why people of the century loved it so much and why it has such strong staying power. Plenty was going on in the American folk song with the vocals, drums, and guitar. The violin work just doesn't compare, in my opinion, to the violin work of Bach. Maybe this comparison is unfair, and I still love The Devil Went Down to Georgia. I greatly appreciate classical music more after this comparison.
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