Don Rickert Musical Instruments

What Are ‘Alternative’ Violin Family Instruments?: Three New Articles On that Topic

Introduction These recent posts on www.RickertMusicalInstruments.com, by luthier Donald Rickert (me), will be of particular interest to players of such instruments as 5-string violins, octave violins, tenor violas, 5-string violas, octave violas and revival instruments such as the violoncello da spalla. With the exception of maybe the violoncello da spalla, classical repertoire is NOT the norm for alternative strings. The violoncello da spalla is becoming common in contemporary Baroque ensembles, which is sometimes thought of... Read more →

Brief Descriptions for Various Alternative Violin Family Instruments

Introduction This post provides brief descriptions of the various alternative and extended range violin family instruments made by D. Rickert Musical Instruments. The descriptions include the normal tuning for each instrument, as well as links to other reference material about each instrument. There are two related posts: Alternative Violin Family Instruments: What Are They For? Alternative Violin Family Instruments: Relative Sizes and Shapes of Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Range Instruments Travel / Backpacker Violin... Read more →

Alternative Violin Family Instruments: Relative Sizes and Shapes of Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Range Instruments

This article, which includes a photo essay, is about the different “form factors” of various “alternative” or “non-standard” violin family instruments, all of which are made by Don Rickert Musical Instruments. With a few exceptions, the images in the photo essay part of this post are of actual instruments made in the workshop of Don Rickert Musical Instruments, located in Hiawassee, Georgia, USA by the hands of me (Donald Rickert). The exceptions are as follow:... Read more →

Alternative Violin Family Instruments: What Are They For?

Related Articles: Alternative Violin Family Instruments: Relative Sizes and Shapes of Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Range Instruments Brief Descriptions for Various Alternative Violin Family Instruments In this context, “Alternative” or “Non-Standard” bowed string instruments refer to the following: Violin Variants 5-string Violins: See 5-String Violins and Fiddles Travel / Backpacker Violins: See Travel and Backpacker Fiddles (and Violas) Octave Violins (aka Tenor Violins): See Octave Violins, 5-string Violas and Octave Violas Travel / Backpacker... Read more →