String instruments

~ ~ ~ ~
range
~
empty strings
4 ~~~~~~
&4 ~ ~ ~ ~
. ~~~~~
Violine

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
B 44
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~~~ &
. ~~~
Viola

? 44 ~ ~ ~ ~
~
~~~~~ & ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. ~~
Cello

~ ~ ~
~~~~ ~ ~
? 44 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~
. ~~~~~
Kontrabass

Sounds one octave lower!

The string instruments are built in relation to a choir:

Violine = Soprano / Viola = Alto / Cello = Tenor / Contrabass = Bass.
The lowest String is called 4th string, the highest 1st string.
Each string has an own sound quality, the 1st string is the brightest, often used for melodies and solo.
The main playing techniques are "arco" (bowed) and "pizz" (picked with finger).
The normal position of the bow is named "ordinario", for sharper sound the bow is moved closer to the
bridge "sul ponticello", for softer sound the bow is moved away from the bridge "sul tasto".
Normally the sounds are played with vibrato. If this is not wished you need to write "senza vibrato".
Other playing techniques are "tremolo" (fast movements of the bow) or "flageollet" (playing harmonics of
the string).
The creation of sound and melody on the string instruments is very flexible, they have a huge dynamic
range and figures and runs can be played realla fast. In addition to that the tuning in fifths (and fourths)
makes is easy to jump fast through the registers.
In the orchestra you usually have two groups of violins and one group of violas, celli and contrabass.
But you can devide each group in two voices, if necessary. So you end up with a maximum of 10 voices
in the string orchestra (in most cases) - plus there can be a solo instrument in each group.

For the orchestra of the conservatory the range might be to big (especially the high notes).