Why Violin Is the Best Instrument
Everything else is just accompaniment.
Carrying heavy, weirdly shaped objects can be a pain in the butt, even for the strongest people; but think about doing that everyday. That’s the sad reality of all musicians who play large instruments such as tubas and cellos.
Suppose it’s a Saturday night and you’re all dressed up to go to an orchestra concert. The lights dim, you hear the crowd whispering, and the first thing you notice on stage is a section full of violins. Well, that’s no accident. Violins are the heartbeat of an orchestra. They set the tone, carry the melody, and shine whether they play alone or blend with other instruments. They're versatile stars that can play every genre of music. They’re the ones who will always be the face of instrument history.
Think of your favorite classical piece. Beethoven's 5th Symphony, Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Vivaldi’s Spring. Now imagine it without the violin. Most people’s minds would be left with silence or confusion. That’s because these fiddles are the main melody, or in other words, the part that stays in your mind after listening to music. According to Serenade Magazine, “Their bright, singing tone naturally cuts through the orchestral texture, making them well-suited to melodic lines that need to stand out against the backdrop of other instruments.” Simply put, violins sound clear and powerful enough that you can hear them over everything else, qualifying them to be the main instrument of an orchestra.
I’ve talked about violins being the spotlight of an orchestra, but are they any better than all the other solo instruments? Take piano for example. Pianos sound great on their own but with other instruments, it’s just filler or an accompaniment. On the other hand, violins surprisingly have a really wide range of sounds, making it strong enough to carry the melody on its own but also flexible enough to perform and blend with other instruments.
Let’s take a look at BMusician’s chart.
As you can see, there are many different elements to a violin’s sound, making it extremely versatile to fit any style of music, whether it’s leading as a solo voice or harmonizing within an ensemble.
Carrying heavy, weirdly shaped objects can be a pain in the butt, even for the strongest people; but think about doing that everyday. That’s the sad reality of all musicians who play large instruments such as tubas and cellos. Fortunately, violinists don’t have this problem. Due to the petite size of this instrument, violinists get to play wherever they want whenever they want, in no time. As a violinist myself, during my orchestra rehearsals, I noticed that violins were one of the few instruments that showed up the earliest. Not only that but the violinists were also the ones that got ready the fastest due to how easy it is to set up. Seeing what happens everyday, I have noticed that it’s no coincidence these singing pieces of wood are some of the most beloved instruments.
At first, violin felt like a chore or a task to do to be productive. Playing it every single day, getting notes wrong every 5 measures made me want to quit. However, when I joined my first ever orchestra, I felt a spark inside. Hearing all instruments blending together was a whole other universe than just playing alone. Ever since then, I’ve never been able to put my violin down.
In conclusion, if you are trying out a new instrument, consider the violin. It elevates the sound of the entire orchestra, shines just as well on its own as it does alongside other instruments, and it’s convenient to lug around. With all these strengths combined, it proves that violins truly deserve their place as the best instrument.
