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C00015 00004	In the matter of the left hand, the theorist-musicians are in
C00023 00005	.SS|Summary -- Left hand position on the fingerboard|
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C00047 00009	Mozart's treatment of shifting is disappointingly perfunctory.  He
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C00061 00011	By the time L''Abb'e le fils publishes his method, the French bow grip
C00066 00012	Monteclaire adds his plea to that of Mersenne stating,
C00072 00013	One can call the bow ``The Soul of the Instrument'' which it touches, since it
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.
.S|On Playing the Violin: A Study of selected Sources|
This study of the sources is risky at best, and potentially confusing
since the treatises I am examining cover the span of over a century
(Mersenne, l636 - L''Abb'e le fils, 1761). The popularity of the 
violin soared during this period as evidenced by the rapid
developments in the playing technique. In order to preserve some
sense of this progression, I am citing my sources in chronological order.

This chapter is by no means a comprehensive study. It is merely
meant to be
an overview of some of the better known works on (or including
chapters on) the violin. The translations, unless otherwise
indicated, are my own.

.SS|Summary -- holding the violin|
The majority of available information seems to indicate a movement
towards placing the violin against the neck and holding it securely by the chin.

Georg Falck is not very informative.  He merely instructs the student to 
set the violin on the left breast [tilted] a little downward towards
the right. ∪∪"...dass er die Violin auf der lincken Brust ansetze
doch also dass sie ein wenig gegen der Rechten abwerts sehe." 
(Falck, Georg, //Idea Boni Cantoris/ [N:urnberg: Wolffgang Moritz
Endter, 1688], p. 190)∪

Michel Monteclair, however, states,
.begin
.xquote;
"To hold the violin firmly so that it will not move at all, it is 
necessary to
press the button that holds the strings well against the neck under
the left cheek." ∪∪"Pour le tenir ferme et qu''il ne vacile point
il faut bien apuier le bouton qui tient les cordes contre le Col
sous la jo:ue gauche." (Monteclaire, Michel Pignolet de, // M'ethode
facile pour aprendre `a jo:uer du violon/ [Paris: chez l''Auteur vis
`a vis le Palais Royal, 1711-1712], p.2)∪
.end;
David Boyden (//The History of Violin Playing from its Origins to 1761/)
feels that the above implies that the violin is held securely by the left cheek.

Michel Corrette tells his students that it is necessary to put the chin on 
violin when shifting because it gives more freedom to the left
hand - especially when one wants to return to first position.
∪∪"Il faut necessairent, poser le menton sur le Violon quand on
veut d'emancher, cela donne toutte libert'e `a la main gauche,
principalement quand il faut revenir `a la position ordinaire."
(Corrette, Michel,  //L'''Ecole d''Orph'ee suivi de l'art de se
perfectionner dans le Violon/ [Paris: chez Mlle Castagnery, 1738],  p.7.)∪ 

Robert Crome gives similar instructions, "...let the back part rest on your
left Breast [shoulder?], the best way is to stay it with your Chin, that it
remain steady..."∪∪(Crome, Robert, //The Fiddle new Model'd or a useful 
Introduction for the Violin/ [London: J. Tyther, 174-?], p.34-5.)∪

Virtuoso Francesco Geminiani's instructions are,
.begin
.xquote;
"The violin must be rested just below the collarbone, 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.∪∪Geminiani, Francesco.
//The Art of Playing on the Violin/, [London: 1751], p.1-2∪
.end;

Leopold Mozart describes two ways of holding the violin.  The first
is chest high, slanting down so that the bow strokes are more vertical
than horizontal.  This is not recommended since the lack of sufficient
support for the violin makes position playing inconvenient. 
∪∪"Die erste Art die Violin zu halten, hat etwas angenehmes und sehr
gelassenes. Es wird n:amlich die Geige ganz ungezwungen an der H:ohe
der Brust seitw:arts, und so gehalten: dass die Striche des Bogens mehr 
in die H:ohe als nach der Seite gehen.  Diese Stellung ist ohne Zweifel
in den Augen der Zuseher ungezwungen und angenehm;  vor den Spielenden
aber etwas schwer und ungelegen:  weil, bey schneller Bewegung der Hand 
in die H:ohe, die Geige keinen Halt hat, folglich nothwendig entfallen
muss;  wenn nicht durch eine lange Uebung der Vortheil, selbe zwischen 
dem Daume und Zeigefinger zuhalten, eroberet wird."∪
The description of the second way suggests that the violin is held in
place by the chin:
.begin
.xquote;
"The violin is placed against the neck so that it lies somewhat in
front of the shoulder, and the side on which the E (thinnest) string
lies comes under the chin, whereby the violin remains unmoved
in its place even during the strongest movements of the ascending and
descending hand." ∪∪...die Violin so an den Hals gestzet, dass sie am
vordersten Theile der Achsel etwas auflieget, und jene Seite, auf
welcher das (E) oder die kleinste Seyte ist, unter das Kinn k:ommt:
dadurch die Violin, auch bey der st:arkesten Bewegung der hinauf und
herab gehenden Hand an seinem Orte allezeit unverr:uckt bleibet."
(Mozart, Leopold.  //Versuch einer gr:undlichen Violinschule,/
[Augsburg: Johann Jacob Lotter, 1756], p.53.  Translation: Knocker,
Editha, //A Treatise on the Fundamental Principles of Violin Playing/
[London: Oxford University Press, 1975], p.54-55)∪
.end;
Like Geminiani he warns that the violin,
.begin
.xquote;
"...must be held neither too high nor too low...The scroll of the violin
is then held on the level of the mouth or, at the highest, level with
the eyes; but it must not be allowed to sink lower than the level of
the chest.∪∪"Erstens, muss die Geige nicht zu hoch aber auch nicht
zu nieder gehalten werden....Man halte demnach die Schnecke der Violin
dem Mund, oder h:ochstens den Augen gleich:  man lasse sie aber auch
nicht tiefer sinken, als so, dass die Schnecke der Brust gleich komme."
(Mozart, //Versuch /, p.55. Knocker, //A Treatise/, p.58.)∪
.end;

L''Abb'e le fils'' instructions are a bit confusing;
.xgenlines←xgenlines-1;
.begin
.xquote;
"The violin should be set on the clavicle in such a manner that 
the chin is to the side of the fourth string.  It is necessary to 
lower the side of the chanterelle [E string] a bit."∪∪"Le Violon doit 
∧etre pos'e sur la Clavicule, de fa,con que le Menton se trouve du 
c∧ot'e de la quatri`eme Cord, il faut abaisser un peu le c∧ot'e de la 
Chanterelle" (L''Abb'e le fils [Joseph Barnabe Saint-Sevin], 
//Principes du Violon/ [Paris: Leclerc, 1761], p.1)∪
.end;
Boyden points out that a violin held in this manner would certainly 
slide away from  the player unless it was secured by the chin.

In the matter of the left hand, the theorist-musicians are in
agreement that it should not grip the neck of the violin too 
forcefully since that would tend to stiffen the fingers and the wrist.

Falck states that one should hold the violin 
.begin
.xquote;
"between the thumb
and palm of the forefinger; hold it almost encircling
but not too fast, so that one can play notes with the hand in the
high register and can also come back."∪∪"Dass er die Viol zwischen
dem lincken Daumen und Ballen dess vorderen Fingers/gleichsam eingeschlossen
halte/jedoch nicht zu vest/damit er mit der Hand im Fall der Noth in die
H:ohe/dann auch wiederum zuruck fahren k:onne." (Falck, //Idea/, p.190)∪
.end;
Furthermore, 
.begin
.xquote;
"Both arms should not be against the body but rather free from it so 
they can move sometimes over, sometimes under and will be able to act
lightly with agility. ∪∪"Dass er die beyden Aerme ja nicht an den 
Leib/sondern/um sich bald :uber=bald unter sich bewegen/und leicht
agiren zu k:onnen/frey von dem Leib halte." (Falck, //Idea/, p. 190)∪
.end;

Prelleur gives simple instructions, 
.begin
.xquote;
"hold the violin with your left hand about half an inch from the
bottom of its Head which is usually termed the Nut, and let it be 
between the Root of your thumb and that of your fore-finger..."
∪∪(Prelleur, Peter, //The Modern Music Master/, [London: the ⊗⊗Printing-Office⊗
in Bow Church-Yard,1731], p.2)∪
.end;

Crome's instructions agree, "Take the Fiddle and hold it in your
Left Hand let the Neck lie between your fore Finger and Thumb..." ∪∪Crome,
//The Fiddle/, p.34.∪

The above three descriptions seem to suggest that the neck of the
violin may have rested in the hollow between the thumb and the
index finger.

Mozart, however, refutes this, saying that the neck should be
.begin
.xquote;
"...held in such a manner between thumb and index finger that it
rests on one side on the ball at the base of the index-finger, and on
the other side against the upper part of the thumb joint, but in no way
touching the skin which joins the thumb and index-finger together.
The thumb must not project too far over the finger-board, for otherwise
it would hinder the player and rob the G string of its tone.  The lower 
part of the hand (namely, where it joins the arm) must remain free,
and the violin must not lie on it, for in so doing the nerves which
connect the arm and fingers would be pressed together and so contracted,
and the third and fourth fingers prevented from stretching.  We see
daily examples of such clumsy players, who find everything difficult
because they restrict themselves by an awkward position of the violin
and the bow." ∪∪Der Griff, oder vielmehr der Hals der Violin muss nicht
gleich einem Br:ugel in die ganze Hand hineingeleget, sondern zwischen
den Daumen und Zeigefinger, an der andern Seite an dem obern Theile des
Daumenglieds anstehe, die Haut aber, welche in der Fuge der Hand den
Daumen und Zeigefinger zusammen h:anget, keinesweges ber:uhre. Der Daume
muss nicht zu viel :uber das Griffblat hervorragen: sonst hindert er im
Spielen, und benimmt der G Seyte den Klang.  Der hintere Theil der Hand
aber (n:amlich gegen dem Arm) muss frey bleiben, und die Violin muss nicht
darauf liegen: denn hierdurch w:urden die Nerven, welche den Arm und die
Finger zusammen verbinden, an einander ger:ucket, dadurch gesperret, und
folglich der vierte oder kleine Finger sich auszustrecken Gehinderet.  Wir
sehen t:aglich die Exempel hiervon an solchen plumpen Spielern, bey denen
alles schwerm:uthig l:asst: weil sie die Violin und den Bogen so ungeschickt
halten, dass sie sich selbst dadurch einschr:anken.(Mozart, //Versuch/, p.54.)∪
.end;

L''Abb'e le fils is also quite explicit in his directions,
.xgenlines←xgenlines-1;
.begin
.xquote;
"The neck should be held without force between the thumb and the first 
joint (phalange) of the index finger.  The part of the neck closest to the
thumb should be placed on the fleshy protrusion (eminence) of its first
joint.  One must make sure that he places the thumb opposite the A-natural
of the bourdon [G string]."∪∪"...le Manche doit ∧etre tenu sans trop force
entre le pouce et la premi`ere phalange du doigt ⊗⊗Index⊗, la partie du manche
qui se trouve en de,ca du Pouce doit ∧etre pos'ee sur l'''eminence charn:ue
de sa premi`ere phalange; on doit observer de placer le pouce vis-`a-vis ⊗⊗La⊗
naturel du Bourdon." (L''Abb'e le fils, //Principes/, p.1)∪
.end;

.SS|Summary -- Left hand position on the fingerboard|
There are varied descriptions of the position of the left hand
on the fingerboard of the violin.

Falck states,
.begin
.xquote;
"The application of the fingers should be such that the hand is hollow and 
the fingers curved at the joint close to the strings as if hovering.  
They should be pressed down in such a manner that the next string is not disturbed."
∪∪"Die ⊗⊗Applicati⊗on der Finger soll also geschehen/dass die Hand hol sey/und die
Finger nach ihren Gelaichen eingekr:ummet/nahe :uber den Saiten gleichsam schweben/
auch dergestalt dieselben niederdrucken/dass ja die n:achste nicht zugleich mit
ber:uhret werde." (Falck, //Idea/, p.190)∪
.end;

Monteclaire's instructions are similar.
.begin
.xquote;
"It is necessary that the elbow be directly
under the violin and that the wrist be well curved and the fingers bent
and rounded in order that they may be set on the strings on their tips;
avoiding, however, fingering with the nails." ∪∪"Il faut que le Coude soit
directement sous le Violon, que le poignet soit bien ployez en arondissant,
afin qu''ils se posent sur les cordes par leur extremit'e en evitant neanmoins
de les toucher avec les ongles." (Monteclaire, //Methode Facile/, p.2)∪
.end;
He also includes a 
drawing of the fingerboard and indicates the locations of various notes.

Pierre Dupont contains no verbal description of the positioning of the 
left hand, but does include an extremely singular engraving of a
hand placed on the fingerboard of a violin.  The hand is shown in 
two different "positions" with the fingers poised over the E string.
In the first engraving, the fingers are over the notes F5, G5, A5, 
BF5.  In the second engraving, the hand has been moved up a half step, 
and the fingers are over the notes GF5, AF5, BF5, and C6.
In both illustrations, the thumb is pointing backwards towards the scroll.∪∪
Dupont, Pierre, //Principes du Violon/, (chez l''auteur, Paris, 1718), p.1,2.∪

Corrette describes the left hand as follows;  
.begin
.xquote;
"It is necessary to
take the neck of the violin in the left hand, hold it with the thumb
and the first finger without squeezing the hand, round the first
second, and third fingers, and hold the little one a little bit
more elongated."∪∪"Il faut prendre le Manche du Violon de la main gauche, 
le tenir avec le pouce et le premier doigt sans trop serrer la main,
arrondir le premier, deuxieme, troisieme doigt, et tenir le petit plus
allong'e." (Corrette, //L'''Ecole D''Orph'ee/, p.7)∪
.end;

Prelleur and Mozart have nothing to add to what has already been 
included in the previous section on holding the violin.

Geminiani, on the other hand, gives a detailed description of what
he considers the perfect left hand position;
.begin
.xquote;
"...place the first Finger on the first String upon F; the second Finger
on the second String upon C; the third Finger on the third String upon G; 
and the fourth Finger on 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."∪∪
Geminiani, //The Art/, p.1.∪
.end;

L''Abb'e le fils, who is usually more specific, states merely that the
hand "should be pretty close to the elevation of the neck [the scroll?]
However, he does add that "one must observe that he places the thumb
opposite the A-natural of the bourdon [G string]".∪∪on doit observer
de placer le pouce vis-`a-vis le ⊗⊗La⊗ naturel du Bourdon." (L''Abb'e
le fils, //Principes/, p.1)∪

There is, of course, concern among the instructors that the notes be
stopped in tune, but the suggestions for achieving this goal are sadly
lacking in their tutors.  The only practical directions come from
Prelleur and Geminiani who recommend marking the correct distances on
the fingerboard.  Both their methods include charts of violin finger
boards with intervals measured off. Prelleur even instructs the student to adjust
his bridge by moving it "a little forwarder or backwarder", so that the
distance from the scroll to the bridge matches that in the tutor.
Prelleur's fingerboard diagram is especially intriguing, as it places
enharmonic notes (such as B#b and A##) at different locations (for
example, the B#b is put higher than the A##).∪∪An interesting study of
Prelleur's fingerboard was done by David Boyden (see his article, 
``Prelleur, Geminiani, and Just Intonation '', //The Journal of the    
American Musicological Society/, Fall, 1951, p.202-219)
In this study, Boyden discovers that the notes marked by Prelleur
measure off intervals which closely approximate those of the just
intonation system.∪

Leopold Mozart scoffs at
the practice of marking or fretting the fingerboard stating, 
.begin
.xquote;
"If a
pupil has a good musical ear, one must not avail oneself of such an
extravagance.  If, however, he lacks this, he is useless for music
and it were better he took a wood axe than a violin in his hand."∪∪
"Hat der Sch:uler ein gutes musikalisches Geh:or;  so darf man sich
nicht solcher Auschweisungen bedienen;  fehlet es ihm aber an diesem, 
so ist er zur Musik untauglich, und er wird besser eine Holzart als die
Violin zur Hand nehmen." (Mozart, //Versuch/, p.58. Translation: Knocker,
//A Treatise/, p.62)∪
.end;
A bit of musical snobbery.

The amount of information on shifting varies.

Mersenne describes which fingers stop which notes, but gives no directions
on the positioning of the hand.  He merely states,
.begin
.xquote;
"...It is necessary so to adjust the fingers on each place of the
fingerboard so that the tones endure a proportion as well regulated
as if there were frets as on the viol".∪∪"il faut tellement aiuster
les doigts sur chaque lieu du manche, que les sons persuadent une
proportion aussi bien regl'ee que s''il y avoit des touches comme `a
la Viole." (Mersenne, //Harmonie Universelle/, p. 183.  Translation: Chapman, 
``The Books on Instruments'', p.241)∪
.end;
He mentions the extension of the fourth finger,
.begin
.xquote;
"If one advances it [the fourth finger] closer to the bridge than
the position of B mi, it makes the C sol ut fa, and then the D
la re sol.  Thus, the violin has a range of a nineteenth."∪∪"Si on
l''avance plus pres du chevalet que le lieu du   //mi/, il fait le
C //sol ut fa/, et puis le D //la re sol/;  de maniere que le Violon
`a l''estendu:e d''une Dixneufiesme." (Mersenne, //Harmonie/, p.182.
Translation:  Chapman, ``The Books on Instruments'', p.182)∪
.end;

Falck and Prelleur seem to present position playing only as a theory.
Falck instructs,
.begin
.xquote;
"When in a musical piece notes occur above the fifth on the string, 
[which is] higher than 
can ordinarily be reached with four fingers, one must edge up the hand
and instead of the third finger, put the forefinger on the a:  to go
over d to f or g one must edge up the hand further and put the forefinger
on the d."∪∪"Wann in einem ⊗⊗Musical⊗ischen St:uck ⊗⊗Not⊗en/welche auf der
⊗⊗Quint⊗-Saiten h:oher/als mans mit denen Vier Fingern ⊗⊗ordinari`e⊗
erreichen kan/gesetzt seynd/so muss man die Hand hinein rucken/und an statt
dess Dritten Fingers/den vorderen auf das a setzen: Solten aber sich ⊗⊗Not⊗en
finden/die :uber das d/biss etwan in den vorderen Finger auf das d setzen."
(Falck, //Idea/, p.190)∪
.end;
Prelleur describes the fourth finger extension, but also includes on his
fingerboard chart notes up to A6.  He has his own names for these shifts;
.begin
.xquote;
"Ye first shift which is called the half shift is upon the 5th line [=modern
day 2nd position];  the whole shift is upon ye 8th line [=modern 
3rd position]; ye double shift is on ye 17th line [=modern 7th position];
the last shift is upon ye 20th line [=modern 8th position]; note that in
shifting you must put your first finger on that line or Note where ye shift
is to be done, and then move the whole hand higher accordingly."∪∪Prelleur,
//The Art/, p.4.∪
.end;
Both authors have described extremely high positions - the modern 7th position 
in Falck's case, and 8th in Prelleur's.  The musical examples in the two
methods, however, tell a different story.  Falck never leaves first
position, and Prelleur never goes higher tnan C##6.

Monteclaire has no verbal descriptions of shifting.  He includes a diagram
of a violin fingerboard with locations of notes plus fingerings up to high
C6 on the E string.  This is fingered #4 (probably signifying a fourth 
finger extension).

Dupont contains no information other than a very tedious verbal description
of the notes each finger is able to play in his two "positions" (shown in the
engravings).  He includes a statement on the extension of the fourth finger
almost as an after thought in his exercise section.  The master, when asked
by the student how one reaches C6 on the E string explains:
.begin
.xquote;
"It is necessary to extend 
the little finger downward the distance which is marked from the B to the C 
on the fingerboard of the violin."∪∪"Il faut descendre le petit doit de la
distance qui est marqu'ee depuis le si jusqu''a l''ut sur le manche du 
Violon." (Dupont, //Principes/, p.4)∪
.end;

Corrette''s treatise, which is for the more advanced student includes actual
position playing, 
.begin
.xquote;
"Thus, to ascend to c above the chanterell [e string]
it is necessary to place the first finger on the g; and to go to d, the
first finger on the a; The same observation for the other positions."∪∪
"Ainsi pour monter `a l''ut dessus la Chanterelle il faut mettre le premiere
doigt sur le sol et pour aller au R'e le premier doigt sur le La.  La m∧eme
observation pour les autres positions."(Corrette, //L'''Ecole/, p.37)∪
.end;
These instructions are included in the second part of the tutor ("How to play in
the Italian style").  Musical examples take the student all the way up to the
seventh position.

Geminiani introduces the different positions in an exercise which "shews
the different Ways of stopping the same note, and discovers at the same Time 
that Transposition of the Hand [i.e. shifting] consists in passing from one Order
to another." (As he explained earlier, "an order is a certain Number of
Notes which are to be played without transposing the Hand."  They correspond to 
modern day positions.  For example, the second order=second position, the third
order=third position, etc.  His exercises take the student up to the seventh order.)
On shifting up he instructs,
.begin
.xquote;
"...Care is to be taken that the Thumb always remain farther back than the 
Fore-finger; and the more you advance in the other Orders the Thumb must be at
a greater Distance till it remains almost hid under the Neck of the Violin."
.end;
In another exercise, Geminiani writes out scales using numerous "transpositions
of the Hand" ascending and descending, and makes a rather intriguing statement.
about downshifting.
.begin
.xquote;
"It must here be observed, that in drawing back the Hand from the 5th, 4th,
and 3d Order to go to the first, the Thumb cannot, for Want of Time, be
replaced in its natural Position;  but it is necessary it should be replaced 
at the second Note."∪∪Geminiani, //The Art of Playing the Violin/, p.2-3.∪
.end;
This could, perhaps, be used to refute the crawling shift
of Sol Babitz in which he shifts downward first with the thumb, following 
with other fingers.

Tartini, surprisingly enough, includes some information on shifting in the 
Italian edition of his Trait'e;
.begin
.xquote;
"As regards to changing position, it is impossible to give any hard and
fast rules.  The student should adopt whatever method he finds most comfortable
in each case, and he should therefore practice the hand shifts in every
possible way so that he is prepared for every situation that may arise...
if the hand has to be shifted several times during a passage, it should be
done between the staccato notes, not the legato, in order that no gaps are
heard in the latter case."∪∪"Nello smanicare non deve tenersi regola stabile,
ma bisogna adattarsi a quello, che nell''occasioni riesce piu comodo, onde si
deve fare lo studio dismanicare in tutti li modi per esser sempre pronto ad ogni
caso possa accadere."∪
.end;
He suggests that multiple shifts be done between staccato notes rather than
legato so as not to interrupt the smoothness of the line.

In his letter to Maddelena Lombardini he describes the different shifts;
the half shift with the first finger on G, the whole shift with the first
finger on A, the double shift with the first finger on B, and the fourth
position with the first finger on C (all this on the E string).  The names
of the shifts correspond to present day 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th positions 
respectively.  This seems to be the limit, for he advises,
. begin
.xquote;
"making C with the first finger upon the first string; and indeed,
this is a scale in which, when you are firm, you may be said to be
mistress of the fingerboard."∪∪Assicurata passi alla quarta col primo in 
Csolfaut sul cantino;  e in somma questa `e una Scala di smanicature, di
cui quando ella se ne sia fatta padrona, pu`o dire di esser padrona del
manico."(Tartini, //Lettera/.  Translation, Jacobi, //Letter/, p.137)∪
.end;
Tartini's names for the shifts are the same 
as those of Prelleur, but they do not refer to the same positions.

Mozart's treatment of shifting is disappointingly perfunctory.  He
explains reasons for position playing - 1. necessity (eg. notes many 
leger lines above the staff) 2. convenience (to play great leaps)
3. Elegance (cantabile notes occurring closely together can often
be played easily on one string).  Mozart describes 3 positions, whole
position (=modern 3rd position), half position (=modern 2nd position),
and compound position (a mixture of the first two).  He gives two options 
for getting into whole position on the E string - shifting to A5 
with the first finger, or to B5 with the second finger. If the musical
passage requires a higher shift, the violinist again is given a choice.
He can ascend using the fingering 1, 2, 1, 2, etc. or 2, 3, 2, 3, etc.

L''Abb'e le fils introduces position playing with fingered two octave
scales up to E6.  His labelling of the positions is rather singular, for
his "first position" corresponds to the modern day "second position".
He also includes a fingered G## minor scale thus introducing the modern
day "half position" (he does not label this scale as being in any position).
He also describes the extension as advancing or drawing back the finger
indicated by figures "without moving the hand or any finger other than
the one being used".∪∪"..il faut avancer, ou reculer le Doigt qui est d'esign'e
par le Chiffre, sans d'eplacer la main, ni aucun autre Doigt que celui dont
on doit se servir".∪  He has interesting instructions on sneaking into 
positions,
.begin
.xquote;
"Sometimes it is necessary to shift the other fingers immediately after
the extension, in which case, the extension is marked to make the change
of position less noticeable."∪∪Quelquefois il faut d'eplacer les autres Doigts
imm'ediatement apr`es l''Extension, dans ce cas, l''Extension n''est marqu'ee,
que pour rendre moins sensible le Changement de Position." (L''Abb'e le fils,
//Principes/, p.18)∪
.end;

.SS|Summary -- Holding the Bow|
There is much interesting information in the treatises concerning the
holding of the bow - especially on the differences between the French
thumb-under-hair and Italian thumb-on-stick grip.

Georg Muffat, in his Florilegium secundum (a 1698 collection of French style
dances) comments: 
.begin
.xquote;
"The majority of German violinists and other players of upper string
instruments hold the bow as the French [Lullists] do, pressing the hair with
the thumb and resting the other fingers on the stick of the bow....The Italians,
among others, differ in playing these upper instruments in that they never touch
the hair..."∪∪"In Angreiffung dess Bogens kommen die meisten Teutschen in den
kleinen und mittern Geigen mit den Lullisten :uber eins, indeme sie die Haare
mit dem Daumen andrucken, und die andere Finger auff dess Bogens Rucken legen.
(Muffat, Georg, //Florilegium Secundum/, [apud Authorem, Typis G. A. H:oller: 
1698], p.21)∪
.end;

Falck implies a French grip of the bow,
.begin
.xquote;
"Above all, one must learn to correctly hold and support the bow in
such a manner that the right thumb squeezes the hair near the frog....
Then, one must grasp and hold the wood of the bow between the two
foremost joints of the finger..."∪∪"Vor allen Dingen muss er den Bogen recht
fassen und halten lernen/solcher massen/dass der rechte Daum die Haar n:achst 
bey dem H:arpflein etwas eindrucke...dernach muss er das Holz 
dess Bogens zwischen die zwey vordere Gelaich der Finger fassen und halten..."
(Falck, //Idea/, p.190-191)∪
.end;

Monteclaire describes a French grip in his tutor: 
.begin
.xquote;
"The bow is held in the left hand the four fingers placed on the wood,
and the thumb under the frog which supports the hair."∪∪L''Archet se 
tient de la main droite les quatre doits posez sur le bois et le pouce dessous
la hausse qui `el`eve le crin." (Monteclaire, //M'ethode/, p.3)∪
.end;

A comment by Roger North, an 18th century writer on music is revealing.
In his praise of Italian violinist Nicola Matteis he states, "He taught
ye English to hold ye bow by ye wood only & not to touch ye hair which
was no small reformation."∪∪Roger North, //The Musicall Grammarian/,(1728),
edited by Hilda Andrews, London [1925], p.35-36.∪

Corrette, whose treatise gives instructions on playing in the French and 
Italian styles also includes fairly detailed descriptions of the French
and Italian bow trips.  He even includes a picture of a bow:
.skip 7;
.begin
.xquote;
"The Italians hold the bow at three quarters [of its length], putting the 
four fingers at letter A and the thumb underneath at B; and the French
hold it at the side of the frog, putting the first, second, and third finger
above the wood at CDE, the thumb underneath the hair F and the small finger
at the side of the bowstick at G.  These two ways of holding the bow are 
equally good, depending on the master who teaches.  The eighths and
sixteenths are played at the end of the bow at HJ."∪∪Les Italians le tiennent
aux trois quarts en mettant quatre doigts sur le bois, A, et le pouce dessous,
B, et les Fran,cois le tiennent du c∧ot'e de la hausse, en mettant le premier,
deuxieme et troisieme doigt dessus le bois, C, D, E, le pouce dessous le crin
F, et le petit doigt acost'e du bois, G.  Ces deux fa,cons de tenir l''Archet
sont 'egalement bonne cela d`epend du Ma∧itre qui enseigne." (Corrette,//L'''Ecole
D''Orph'ee/, p.7.  Translation from  Boyden, //The History of the Violin/, p.371)∪
.end;

Geminiani simply instructs,
.begin
.xquote;
"The bow is to be held at a small Distance from the Nut, between the Thumb
and Fingers, the Hair being turned inward against the Back or Outside of the
Thumb, in which Position it is to be held free and easy, and not stiff."
∪∪Geminiani, //The Art/, p.2.∪
.end;

Tartini is also quite brief, "The bow should be held firmly between the
thumb and forefinger and lightly by the other three fingers in order to
produce a strong sustained tone.∪∪"L''Arco v`a tenuto con forza ne''primi
due dita, e gl''altri tre leggieri per cavar voce di polso..."
(Tartini, Giuseppe, //Regole per arrivare
a saper ben suonar il Violino col vero fondamento di saper sicuramente
tutto quello che si fa;/copiate da Giovanni Francesco Nicolai, p.3.  
Translation by Erwin Jacobi in his edition of Tartini''s //Trait'e
des Agr'ements/, p.57.)∪

Mozart gives the most extensive and detailed instructions.
.begin
.xquote;
"The bow is taken in the right hand, at its lowest extremity, between the
thumb and the middle joint of the index-finger, or even a little behind it.
 ...The little finger must lie at all times on the bow and never be held freely
away from the stick, for it contributes greatly to the control of the bow and
therefore to the necessary strength and weakness by means of pressing or relaxing.
 ...The first, namely the index finger, must, however not be stretched too far over
the bow or too far from the others.  One may, at times, hold the bow with the first
or second joint of the index-finger, but the stretching out of the index-finger is
at all times a serious error.  For in that way the hand stiffens because the nerves
are taut, and the bowing  becomes laboured and clumsy;  yea, right awkward, as it
must then be performed by the whole arm."∪∪"Der Bogen wird an seinem untersten
Theile in die rechte Hand zwischen den Daumen und zwischen, oder auch ein wenig
hinter das mittlere Glied des Zeigefingers genommen. ...Der kleine Finger soll 
allezeit auf dem Bogen liegen bleiben, und niemal vom Bogen weg frey hinaus 
gehalten werden: weil derselbe zur M:assigung des Bogens, folglich zur n:othigen
St:arke und schw:ache durch das Nachdr:ucken oder Nachlassen sehr vieles beytr:agt.
 ...Man muss aber auch den ersten, n:amlich den Zeigefinger nicht zu sehr auf dem
Bogen austrecken, und von den :ubrigen entfernen.  Man mag alsdann den Bogen mit
dem ersten oder zweyten Gliede des Zeigefingers alleqeit ein Hauptfehler.  Denn
dadurch wird die Hand steif: weil die Nerven angespannet sind.  Und der Bogenstrich
wird schwerm:uthig, plump, ja recht ungeschickt: da er mit dem ganzen Arme gemacht
wird." (Mozart, //Versuch/, p.54-55.  Translation, Knocker, //A Treatise/, p.58.)∪
.end;

By the time L''Abb'e le fils publishes his method, the French bow grip
seems to have gone out of use;
.begin
.xquote;
"It is necessary to place the tip of the little finger on the part of the bow 
which holds the frog.  The index [finger] should be positioned in such a way
that the bow is in the middle of the second joint of this finger which, in
order to have more force should be a bit removed from the others.  The thumb
should be opposite the middle finger and sustain all the weight of the bow.
In placing the bow on the strings the rod should not be perpendicular to the
hair but it should tilt a bit toward the side of the fingerboard."∪∪"Il faut
poser le bout du petit doigt sur la partie de l'Archet qui tient `a la Hausse;
l''Index doit ∧etre plac'e de fa,con que l''Archet se trouve au milieu de la
seconde phalange de ce doigt, lequel, pour avoir plus de force, doit ∧etre un
peu 'eloign'e des autres.  Le pouce doit ∧etre vis-`a-vis le doigt du milieu,
et so∧utenir tout le poids de l''Archet: en posant l'Archet sur les Cordes, la
baguette ne doit pas se trouver perpendiculairement au dessus du Crin, mais elle
doit pancher un peu du c∧ot'e de la Touche."  (L''Abb'e le fils, //Principes/,
p.1)∪
.end;

.SS|Summary -- Bowing|
Instructions on bowing are often amusing, particularly in the elementary 
tutors.

Mersenne suggests  "...the hand which holds the bow ought to be at least 
equal in speed to the left..."∪∪"...la main qui tient l''archet doit estre
du moins esgale en vistesse `a la gauche..." (Mersenne, //Harmonie/ p.183.
Translation, Chapman, //The Books on Instruments/, p. 241)∪

Falck's observations seem a bit obvious,
.xgenlines←xgenlines-1;
.begin
.xquote;
"The stroke lasts the note's value long, satisfying and even on the
strings, not too close to the bridge, but also not too far from it."
∪∪"die Striche nach der ⊗⊗Not⊗en ⊗⊗Valor⊗ und Geltung fein lang/satt und
gleich auf den Saiten/nicht zu nahe am Steeg/auch nicht zu ferne davon
f:uhren"∪
.end;
He suggests playing coloratura passages and quick runs at the tip where the
bow is light.∪∪"die ⊗⊗Coloratur⊗en und geschwinde L:aufflein vornen/wo der
Bogen leicht ist/machen und streichen." (Falck, //Idea/, p.191)∪
He also gives the most common rules on where to use upbows
and downbows.

Muffat states: 
.begin
.xquote;
"...all the finest masters, regardless of their nationality agree with
each other that the longer, steadier, sweeter, and more even the bow
stroke is, the finer it is considered;"∪∪"De plus quoyque tous les meilleurs
ma∧itres de quelle nation qu''ils soient, tiennent d''un commun consentement,
que plus le trait est long, ferme, egal, et doux, plus il est a estimer..."
(Muffat, //Florilegium Secundum/, p.45)∪
.end;

Prelleur gives no instructions on holding the bow or on the bow stroke.
He merely includes a section (very similar to that of Falck) on various
common bowings.
Monteclaire adds his plea to that of Mersenne stating,
.begin
.xquote;
"It is necessary to coordinate well the two hands together in order that the 
bow does not go more quickly or more slowly than the fingers of the left hand,
for it is this which comprises the beauty and difficulty of the violin"∪∪"Il
faut bien acorder les deux mains ensemble afin que l'Archet n'aille ni plus
v∧ite ni plus lentement que les doits de la main gauche, car c''est en cela
que consiste la dificult'e et la beaut'e du Violon." (Monteclaire, //M'ethode/,
p.3)∪
.end;

Corrette instructs:
.begin
.xquote;
"To draw the sound of the violin it is necessary to pull and
push with large strokes of the bow, but in a gracious and agreeable
manner....In sarabandes, largos, and other pieces of taste, it is
necessary to play whole notes, half notes,and quarter notes with large 
strokes of the bow
and swell the sounds at the end.  But for the ends of songs it is
necessary to begin the bow strokes with sweetness, strengthen it at 
the middle, and finish, dying."∪∪"Pour tirer du son du Violon, il
faut tirer et pousser de grands coups d''Archet, mais d''une maniere
gracieuse et agr'eable....Dans les sarabandes, Adagio, Largo; et autres
Pieces de go∧ut, il faut faire les Rondes, Blanches, et Noires avec de
grands Coups d''Archet et enfler les sons sur la fin. Mais pour les
finalles et terminaisons de chants, il faut commencer le coup d''Archet
avec douceur le fortifier au milieu et le finir en mourant." (Corrette,
//L'''Ecole/, pp.7, 34.)∪
.end;

Tartini has much to say on various aspects of bowing.  In tone production
.begin
.xquote;
"To draw a beautiful tone from the instrument, place the bow on the strings
gently at first and then increase the pressure.  If the full pressure is
applied immediately, a harsh, scraping sound will result."∪∪"Per cavare
dall''Istromento buona voce bisogn'' appoggiare l''Arco con delicatezza
prima, e poi calcar lo, altrimenti appoggiandolo subito con forza si
cavarebbe voce cruda e stridola." (Tartini, //Regole/, p.2)∪
.end;
He gives no rules for beginning a passage with an upbow or a downbow 
but suggests practicing 
all passages both ways to increase facility with the bow.  (He does, however,
later suggest bowings for some situations).∪∪"Intorno all'Arco no vi `e regola
determinata del cominciare l''Arcata in gi`u o in s`u, anzi bisogna esercitarsi
in tutti li passi per dritto, e per rovescio, per essere franchi dell''Arco
con la stessa prontezza tanto in gi`u, come in s`u;" (Tartini, //Regole/, p.2)∪

L''Abb'e le fils includes fairly extensive instructions:
.xgenlines←xgenlines-1;
.begin
.xquote;
"The bow should be drawn with firmness without, however, stiffening the fingers.  
On the contrary, all their joints should be very free;  in observing this, the
fingers will make naturally imperceptible movements which contribute much to
the beauty of the sounds.  The wrist must also be very free. It should guide the
bow straight and direct it over the f-holes of the violin.  The forearm should 
only act and follow the wrist in all the operations.  The arm, properly speaking,
should only yield in the cares when one uses the bow from beginning to end;  the
elbow should always be away from the body.

One can call the bow ``The Soul of the Instrument'' which it touches, since it
serves to give expression to the sounds, to spin them out, to swell them, and
to diminish them.

To spin out a sound is to sustain it for a certain [amount of] time through
the same degree of force.

To swell and diminish the same sound it is necessary to start feebly, sweln	
by degrees to the point when it fully explodes, then soften it in a similar
manner by degrees in such a fashion that it finishes imperceptibly."∪∪"L''Archet
doit ∧etre tenu avec fermet'e, sans cependant roidir les doigts, toutes leurs
jointures doivent ∧etre au contraire fort libres, en observant cela, les doigts
feront naturellement des mouvemens imperceptibles qui contribueront beaucoup `a
la beaut'e des sons:  le Poignet doit aussi ∧etre tr'es libr'e, il doit conduire
l''Archet droit, et le diriger toujours sur les ⊗⊗Ouies⊗ du Violon. L''avant-bras
doit seulement agir, et suivre le Poignet dans toutes ses op'erations, le bras
proprement dit, ne doit se pr∧eter que dans les cas, o`u l''on employe l''Archet
d''un bout-`a-l''autre;  le Coude soit toujours ∧etre d'etach'e du Corps.

On peut appeller l''Archet, ⊗⊗l''Ame di l''Instrument⊗ qu''il touche, puis qu''il
sert `a donner l''expression aux sons, `a les filer, `a les enfler, et `a les
diminuer. 

Filer un son, c''est le so∧utenir un certain tems au m∧eme d'egr'e de force.

Pour enfler et diminuer le m∧eme son, il faut le commencer foiblement, l''enfler
par d'egr'e, jusqu''`a ce qu''il 'eclate pleinement, et ensuite l''addoucir de
m∧eme par d'egr'e, de fa,con qu''il finisse insensiblement." (L''Abb'e le fils,
//Principes/, p.1)∪
.end;

In conclusion, the handling of the violin and bow shows definite trends through
the late 17th and early 18th centuries corresponding to the demands of more
advanced technique.  The need for stability in virtuosic passages prompted the
move of the instrument from a chest to a shoulder support steadied by the
chin. The same need demonstrated the superiority of the Italian bow grip over
the French.

The expansion of the range of the violin through shifting shows a gradual
merging of theory and practice as the treatises go from description to
actual use of the technique in exercises and pieces.