A Treatise on the Fundamental Principles of Violin Playing

Leopold Mozart's Treatise on the Fundamental Principles of Violin Playing was the major work of its period on the violin and comparable in importance to Quantz's treatise on the flute and P.E. Bach's on the piano. This translation by Editha Knocker was the first to appear in English and remains scholarly and eminently readable.

Note to 1985 reprint by Alec Hyatt King.
Preface by Alfred Einstein.
Index and translator appendix.

Readership: Students and performers of 18th century music; violinists.

CONTENIDO

Note to 1985 reprint, by Alec Hyatt King
Preface, by Alfred Einstein
Translator's introduction
Translator's note to second edition
Author's preface
Introduction to the violinschule
I. Of Stringed Instruments, and in particular the violin
II. Of the origin of music, and musical instruments
- A short history of music

Chapter I
I. Of the old and new musical letters and notes, together with the lines and clefs now in use
II. Of time, or musical time-measure
III. Of the duration or value of the notes, rests, and dots, together with an explanation of all musical signs and technical words
- Musical technical terms

Chapter II. How the violinist must hold the violin and direct the bow

Chapter III. What the pupil must observe before he begins to play; in other words what should be placed before him from the beginning

Chapter IV. Of the order of the up and down strokes

Chapter V. How, by adroit control of the bow, one should seek to produce a good tone on a violin and bring it forth in the right manner

Chapter VI. Of the so-called triplet

Chapter VII. Of the many varieties of bowing
I. Of the varieties of bowing in even notes
II. Of variations of bowing in figures which are composed of varied and unequal notes

Chapter VIII. Of the positions
I. Of the so-called whole position
II. Of the half position
III. Of the compound or mixed position

Chapter IX. Of the appoggiature, and some Embellishments belonging thereto

Chapter X. On the trill

Chapter XI. Of the tremolo, mordent, and some other improvised embellishments

Chapter XII. Of reading music correctly, and in particular, of good execution

Index
Translator's appendix
Table of bowing