Wetaskiwin District Heritage Museum Centre & City of Wetaskiwin Archives

Violins are among some of the most difficult instruments to play. It requires precision and passion to become a violinist, accompanied of course by years of dedicated practice. Violins appeared quite suddenly in the 16th century, and customarily went along with singers and dancers. A similar instrument, the fiddle, is commonly mistaken for the violin. This often happens because they are both 4 stringed instruments made out of comparable materials (wood) and can be played with a bow or by plucking. The particular violin featured in this photo resides in the Heritage Museum’s artifact vault and has 7 separate parts. Included is the violin with 2 bows, rosin, a wooden case, and 2 chin pieces. The interior of the violin is labeled “Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis Faciebat Anno 1716,” indicating a type of violin typically used for students to practice on. The Stradivarius is a famous and well-known variety of violin. It is still one of the world’s most revered brands to this day! It was named after the Italian family who manufactured it, particularly Antonio Stradivari. Please come by the Wetaskiwin and District Heritage Museum to learn more about local music and art history!