The violin, viola and cello were first built in the early 16th century, in Italy. The earliest evidence for their existence is in paintings by Gaudenzio Ferrari from the 1530s, though Ferrari's instruments had only …

The Arabian rabab and the rebec, which came from the orient in the middle ages and was played widely in Spain and France in the fifteenth century, are said to be the ancestors of the violin.

Feb 4, 2021 · The oldest, surviving violin is an instrument by the Cremonese violin-maker, Andrea Amati. Cremona already had a reputation for stringed instrument-making, and, under Amati’s …

Before the violin, there were some very ancient string instruments, such as the Ravanastron, dating back to 5000 BC, and also played with bows. Other medieval instruments, such as the viella, had a …

Apr 15, 2025 · The violin as we recognize it today began to take form in the early 16th century in Italy. In the 1500s, several Italian craftsmen, particularly Andrea Amati of Cremona, are credited with …

Aug 21, 2024 · Early versions of the violin were developed in Italy, a country renowned for its musical innovation. The instrument’s design evolved from earlier stringed instruments, particularly the viola …

Sep 10, 2024 · Andre Amati from Cremona and Gasparo di Bertolotti from Salon, both in Northern Italy, are thought to be the first two creators of the earliest versions of the violin. Precise dates for these …

Mar 31, 2025 · The violin’s roots can be traced back to Renaissance Italy in the 1500s, where it emerged from earlier string instruments like the rebec and the viola da gamba.

The violin has been around for about 500 years, though the history of bowed instruments goes back much further. One direct ancestor of the violin is the rebab, an Arabic instrument used in...

It dates back to the 7th century and is often considered the first direct ancestor of the violin. The rebec, originating in the 10th century, was very similar to the rebab. This instrument ranged from one string …