jan 1, 1751 - Francesco Saverio Geminiani

Description:

The Art of playing on the Violin.

B shews a Method of acquiring the true Position of the Hand, which is this: to place the first finger on the first string upon F; the second finger on the second stringupon C; the third finger on the third string upon G; and the fourth finger in the fourth string upon D. This must be done without raising any of the fingers, till all four have been set down; but after that, they are to be raised but a little distance from the string they touched; and by so doing the position is perfect.

The violin must be rested just below the collar-bone, turning the right-hand side of the violin a little downwards, so that there may be no necessity of raising the bow very high, when the fourth string is to be struck. Observe also, that the head of the violin must be nearly horizontal with that part which rests against the breast, that the hand may be shifted with facility and without any danger of dropping the instrument.

Example 1B pp. 1-2
London, 1751, facs. ed. D. Boyden, London, 1952

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