Editing Violin octet

{{Short description|String instrument family}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox Instrument
 | name          = Violin octet
 | names         = The New Violin Family
 | image         = Cmh8tet.jpg
 | image_capt    = From left to right: 
*Baritone violin 
*Small bass violin
*Contrabass violin
*Tenor violin
*Alto violin
*Mezzo violin
*Soprano violin
*Treble violin 
 | classification=
*[[Bowed string instrument]]s
 | related       =
* [[Violin]]
* [[Viola]]
* [[Cello]]
* [[Double bass]]
}}

The '''violin octet''' is a family of stringed instruments developed in the 20th century primarily under the direction of the American [[luthier]] [[Carleen Hutchins]]. Each instrument is based directly on the traditional [[violin]] and shares its acoustical properties, with the goal of a richer and more homogeneous sound. Unlike the standard modern stringed instruments, the main resonance of the body of the violin octet instrument is at a pitch near the two middle open strings, giving the instruments a more balanced, clearer sound.

The instruments were proposed by composer [[Henry Brant]] in 1957 and the first octet was completed in 1967.

==Instruments==

The instruments of the violin octet are:
{| class="wikitable"
! width="20%" | Instrument
!Range
! width="40%" | [[Musical tuning#Basic tuning (open strings)|Tuning]]
! width="40%" | Notes
|-
| Treble violin
|[[File:Treblerange.gif|thumb]]
| G<sub>4</sub>–D<sub>5</sub>–A<sub>5</sub>–E<sub>6</sub>, tuned an [[octave]] above the [[violin]], like the [[Kit violin]] or pochette<ref>which were however three string instruments</ref> or the two "kleine Poschen" of the [[Syntagma Musicum]] of [[Michael Praetorius]]<ref>two types are shown both having three strings: see [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Syntagma12.png Syntagma Musicum, vol. 2, page XXI]</ref>
| About the size of a {{1/4}} violin
|-
| Soprano violin
|[[File:Soprrange.gif|thumb]]
| C<sub>4</sub>–G<sub>4</sub>–D<sub>5</sub>–A<sub>5</sub>, tuned a [[perfect fourth|fourth]] above the [[violin]], like the [[violino piccolo]]
| About the size of a {{3/4}} violin
|-
| Mezzo violin
|[[File:Mezzo_violin's_range.png|thumb]]
| G<sub>3</sub>–D<sub>4</sub>–A<sub>4</sub>–E<sub>5</sub>, tuned the [[unison|same]] as the [[violin]]
| The body is slightly longer ({{cvt|368|-|381|mm|disp=semicolon}}) than a conventional violin ({{cvt|355|mm|disp=semicolon}}) but the strings are about the same length ({{cvt|328|-|338|mm|disp=semicolon}})
|-
| [[Vertical viola|Alto violin]]
|[[File:Altorange.gif|thumb]]
| C<sub>3</sub>–G<sub>3</sub>–D<sub>4</sub>–A<sub>4</sub>, tuned the [[unison|same]] as the [[viola]]
| Similar to a viola but larger, and is often played upright, like a cello
|-
| [[Tenor violin]]
|[[File:Tenorrange.gif|thumb]]
| G<sub>2</sub>–D<sub>3</sub>–A<sub>3</sub>–E<sub>4</sub>, tuned an  [[octave]] below a standard [[violin]], like the historical [[tenor violin]]
| The body is similar to a {{1/2}} cello but with thinner ribs and a longer neck
|-
| [[Baritone violin]]
|[[File:Barirange.gif|thumb]]
| C<sub>2</sub>–G<sub>2</sub>–D<sub>3</sub>–A<sub>3</sub>, tuned the [[unison|same]] as a [[cello]]
| Larger than a conventional cello
|-
| Small [[bass violin]]
|[[File:Smbassrange.gif|thumb]]
| A<sub>1</sub>–D<sub>2</sub>–G<sub>2</sub>–C<sub>3</sub>, tuned a [[perfect fourth|fourth]] above a [[double bass]] ''or'' G<sub>1</sub>–D<sub>2</sub>–A<sub>2</sub>–E<sub>3</sub>, tuned a [[perfect fourth|fourth]] below a cello.<ref>The existence of two basses, a smaller one and a larger one, was also a feature of the [[viol]] family, which had two types of [[violone]] tuned one fourth apart</ref>
| About the size of a {{frac|5|8}} double bass; played like a double-bass or sitting down (like a cello)
|-
| Contrabass violin
|[[File:Cbassrange.gif|thumb]]
| E<sub>1</sub>–A<sub>1</sub>–D<sub>2</sub>–G<sub>2</sub>, tuned the [[unison|same]] as a [[double bass]] ''or'' C<sub>1</sub>–G<sub>1</sub>–D<sub>2</sub>–A<sub>2</sub>, tuned an [[octave]] below a cello.
| Larger than a conventional double bass; played like a double bass
|}

Note: While the ''Small Bass'' and ''Contrabass'' violins were designed and originally meant to be tuned in fifths, most bassists find the required extra shifting impractical. The former<ref>{{cite web |title=The Hutchins Consort - History|url=https://www.hutchinsconsort.org/nvfa}}</ref> [http://www.nvfa.org/ New Violin Family Association] listed tunings for these instruments in fourths, while the Hutchins Quartet retains the original fifths tuning.

==Bows==
Carleen Hutchins did not design specific bows for the instruments of the violin octet. This is important research which still has not been completed.{{according|date=April 2024}} Players of these instruments use a variety of violin, viola, cello and double-bass bows, looking for the best fit they can at the moment.

==Performing groups==
Currently, there are three performing groups which play and record on the instruments of the violin octet.{{dubious|Performing groups|date=March 2024}} The Hutchins Consort (based in [[San Diego, California]]) plays on Carleen Hutchins' instruments. The Hutchins Consort Quartet is a subset of the consort and plays on soprano violin, tenor violin, baritone violin and contrabass violin. The Albert Consort (based in [[Ithaca, New York]]) uses a set of instruments made by Robert Spear and the New Violin Family Orchestra, organized by the association [http://octavivo.org/ Octavivo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516110940/http://octavivo.org/ |date=2013-05-16 }}, which also uses instruments made by Robert Spear.

==Use in traditional roles==
The instruments of the violin octet do not necessarily have to be used in the context of the consort and for playing music written especially for them. They can also be used as alternatives to members of the usual [[violin family]]: for example any [[string quartet]] could be played by an ensemble consisting of two mezzo violins, one alto violin and one baritone violin, as an alternative to the two violins, viola and cello of the usual string quartet.

The best-known use of a member of the New Violin Family in this sort of role is that of an [[vertical viola|alto violin]] by [[Yo-Yo Ma]] to perform and record [[Béla Bartók]]'s [[Viola Concerto (Bartók)|Viola Concerto]].

==Notes==
<references/>

== References ==
#[http://www.usd.edu/smm/Archives/NewViolinFamily/NewViolinFamily.html Carleen Hutchins' Instruments and Archives at the National Music Museum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050309063424/http://www.usd.edu/smm/Archives/NewViolinFamily/NewViolinFamily.html |date=2005-03-09 }}
#[http://www.hutchinsconsort.org Hutchins Consort], a performing group that uses the violin octet
#Lipsett, Fred (2006). [https://archive.today/20130105144008/http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/viola/message/42682 Yahoo!Groups Viola list message 42682 "Alto Violin"] Retrieved March 24, 2006.

==External links==
;Associations
* [http://www.nvfa.org/ New Violin Family Association]
* [http://octavivo.org/ Octavivo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516110940/http://octavivo.org/ |date=2013-05-16 }} (similar to the NVFA but on the East Coast; organizes the "New Violin Family Orchestra")
;Instrument makers
* [http://singingwoodsviolin.com/ Robert J. Spear] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416054417/http://singingwoodsviolin.com/ |date=2013-04-16 }}, New Violin Family instrument maker (Ithaca, NY)
* [http://www.lacorda.be Luthier Joris Wouters], New Violin Family instrument maker (Westerloo, Belgium)
* a list of [http://www.nvfa.org/luthiers.html luthiers] making instruments of the New Violin Family (all but one in the U.S.)
;Performances
* {{cite web |url=https://vimeo.com/404882177 |title=Hutchins Consort with Winifred Horan |website=Vimeo |date=6 April 2020 }}

{{Violin family}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Violin family instruments]]