Abstract
The aim of the paper was to identify the constructive and geometric characteristics of both historical and current violins. Thus, the main method of identifying the geometrical characteristics was based on computer tomography (CT) imaging analysis, as a non-invasive and non-destructive method, considering that all the analyzed structures were in good working order. Based on the CT images, the dimensions in the 3 main sections of the violins were determined, comparing them with each other. The results highlighted the fact that the constructive shape of the old violins varied from one school of luthiers to another, the degree of bowing of the front and back plates being dependent on the processing techniques used. Moreover, the imaging method provided details regarding the constructive elements of old violins, information that is difficult to access with the naked eye. All these results are correlated with the dynamic and acoustic properties of violins, helping to understand the connection between the constructive form of the resonator body and their acoustic response.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hutchins, C.M.: A history of violin research. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 73, 1421 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1121/1.389430
Harwood, I., Prynne, M.: A Brief History of the Lute. Lute Society, Richmond, UK (1975)
Schwarze, F.V.M.R., Morris, H.: Banishing the myths and dogmas surrounding the biotech Stradivarius. Plants, People, Planet. 2, 237–243 (2020)
Stoel, B.C., Borman, T.M.: A comparison of wood density between classical cremonese and modern violins. PLoS ONE 3, e2554. (2008). https://doi.org/10.1371/journnal.pone.0002554
Wilson, N.: The Art of Re-enchantment—Making Early Music in the Modern Age, 1st edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2014)
Schleske, M.: Empirical tools in contemporary violin making. 1. Analysis of design, materials, varnish and normal modes. Catgut Acoust. Soc. J. 4, 50–65 (2002)
Zynmuntowtrz, S.: ‘Huberman’ Stradivari—vibrant details. The Strad 44–53 (2003)
Erdelyi, S.: Hungarian Treasures of Violinists. Dreskult Budapest Printhouse (1996)
Bissinger, G.: Structural acoustics of good and bad violins. J Acoust. Soc. Am. 124, 1764–1773 (2008)
Rocaboy, F., Bucur, V.: About the physical properties of wood of twentieth century violins. Catgut Acoust Soc J Ser 21(6), 21–28 (1990)
Bianu V.V.: Vioara—istoric, construcție, verniu, Ed. Tehnică, București, Romania (1957)
Mannes, D., Le Conte, S.; Lehmann, E.: Neutron vs. X-ray computed tomography: comparative study on the example of a violin. In: Proceedings of the COST IE0601 International Conference, Izmir, Turkey (2010)
Gough, C.: Acoustic characterization of string instruments by internal cavity measurements. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 150, 1922 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0006205
Curtin, J.: Tap tones and weights of old Italian violin tops. Violin Soc. Am. Pap. 1(2), 1–13 (2006)
Stanciu, M.D., Mihălcică, M., Dinulică, F., Nauncef, A.M., Purdoiu, R., Lăcătuș, R., Gliga, G.V.: X-ray imaging and computed tomography for the identification of geometry and construction elements in the structure of old violins. Materials 14, 5926 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14205926
Mihălcică, M., Stanciu, M.D., Nastac, S.M., Dinulică, F., Nauncef, A.M., Roșca, I.C., Savin, A.: Signature modes of old and new violins with symmetric anatomical wood structure. Appl. Sci. 11, 11297 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/app112311297
Gutas V.P.: Study on the dynamic behavior of historical and current violins. Master thesis, Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania (2022)
Stanciu, M.D., Dinulica, F., Bucur, V., Gliga, G.V., Nastac, S.M., Campean, M.: Changing the vibrational behavior of the wooden thin arched plates—the maestro violins experimental study case. Thin Walled Struct. 174, 109042 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tws.2022.109042
Nastac, S.M., Gliga, V.G., Mihalcica, M., Nauncef, A.M., Dinulica, F., Campean, M.: Correlation between acoustic analysis and psycho-acoustic evaluation of violins. Appl. Sci. 12, 8620 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/app12178620
Stanciu M.D., et al.: Violin dynamics (in Romanian, Dinamica viorii), Ed. Universitatii Transilvania din Brasov (2022)
Acknowledgement
This research was supported by a grant of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization, CNCS/CCCDI—UEFISCDI, project number. 568PED/2020 MINOVIS—within PNCDI III. We thank colleagues Prof. Purdoiu Robert and Prof. Lacatus Radu from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, USAMV Cluj Napoca for supporting in computer tomographic imaging analysis.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Stanciu, M.D., Nastac, S.M., Gliga, V.G., Gutas, V.P. (2023). Identifying the Constructive Features of Historical Violins Using Computer Tomography. In: Moldovan, L., Gligor, A. (eds) The 16th International Conference Interdisciplinarity in Engineering. Inter-Eng 2022. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 605. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22375-4_19
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22375-4_19
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-22374-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-22375-4
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)