violin

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violin Stringed instrument. It is thought to have derived from the lira da braccio, a Renaissance bowed instrument, and the rebec. It was perfected in Italy by the Amati, Stradivari, and Guarneri families between 1650 and 1740. The body is assembled from curved, wooden panels, the front pierced by two f-shaped sound-holes. Four taut strings are played by drawing a bow across them, or sometimes by plucking them with the fingers (pizzicato).

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