December 13th is National Violin Day, a time to honor one of the most difficult instruments to play. Although when you consider how many calories you burn while playing the violin for an hour (170 calories), it seems well worth the effort, doesn’t it?
Violins are complex instruments, not only in playing them but in building them. Each violin is composed of over 70 different pieces of wood. Originally, the strings of a violin were made of sheep gut which had been stretched and dried. Today, most strings are made of metal or synthetic material, like high-tech nylon.
You can learn even more about violins and other string instruments at the Maine Science Festival in March. The Bangor Symphony Orchestra string quartet will team up with a scientist to explain the science behind their instruments.
Visit our website for more information about the festival, our partners and collaborators, and other programming notes.