CHAP, in ] STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. 141 



The sounding-box of a violin is formed of two almost similar 

 plates, A B, sliaped as shown in Fig. 96, and hollowed out at the middle 

 of either side in order to give free passage to the bow in its move- 

 ments backwards and forwards across the strings. The lower plate, 

 or "back," is made of a hard and close-grained wood, generally of 

 beech, as well as the lateral plates, sides, or ribs which connect it all 

 round with the upper plate or belly. This latter is made of a light 

 wood, either deal or cedar, 1 and it is strengthened inside by a 

 piece of wood, c c, the " sound bar," elliptical in form and fixed 

 longitudinally, and a little on one side of the centre line. The 

 upper plate or belly is pierced on each side, at its narrowest part, 

 in the positions, x Y, with two openings called " sound-holes," or 

 more commonly "/ holes." 2 Between the / holes is placed the 

 bridge e, a small piece of wood with two feet, perforated in order 

 to give it elasticity, and to prevent the sonority of the instrument 

 being impaired, and also intended to serve as a support to the 

 strings. These, which are four in number, are attached at one end to 

 the tail-piece d, which is fastened by a string and button to the 

 lowest part of the ribs or sides. This tail-piece has four holes made in 

 it through which the strings are passed and fixed by a knot ; at the 

 other end, the strings rest on the nut g, and enter the hollow part of 

 the head, p E, and are then wound on the pegs. Between the nut and 

 the bridge, and below the strings, is the finger-board /, a convex 

 piece of ebony which is joined or glued to the neck, and projects over 

 the belly without being in contact with it. Lastly, between the two 

 plates or the back and belly of the violin, and almost below the right 

 foot of the bridge, that is to say, on the same side as the first string, 

 or chanterelle, and on the opposite side to the sound-bar, is a small 

 cylindrical piece of wood a, which is fixed vertically, so as to connect 

 the back and belly, and is called the " sound-post." 



Such then is the sounding-box of the violin. We will now pro- 

 ceed to consider the system of strings and their mode of arrangement 



1 Swiss pine or Swiss fir was preferred by the old Italian makers for the belly, 

 on account of its feeble density and rapidity in transmitting sound ; and maple for 

 the back, as in this wood the propagation 6f sound is much less rapid than in 

 deal. TR. 



2 The "/holes " are of the form most suited to afford a connection between the 

 outer air and that inclosed in the body without destroying the continuity of fibrous 

 surface ; at the same time greater " play " is admissible in the face. 



