History and Development of Violin Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

History and Development of Violin - Term Paper Example While the violin is generally associated with European classical music, the instrument itself first emerged in the 9th century Byzantine Empire. In terms of the first written records of the instrument Persian geographer Ibn Khurradadhbih is noted as the first to write about the instrument. Khurradadhbih noted that the instrument was a bowed Byzantine lira; this geographer compared the violin to a rabab, a similar stringed instrument used by the Byzantines during this time (Sandys 2006). From these early incarnations the violin steadily gained popularity. During the 11th and 12th centuries the instrument gradually gained popularity throughout Europe and general western regions. This period also contains increased written reference to the violin. While it had not yet taken on the contemporary articulations, writers during these centuries frequently referred to the instrument as a fiddle or lira. While the violin would later become the predominant stringed instrument, its acceptance dur ing the 11th and 12th centuries was greatly aided by the spread of a variety of stringed instruments throughout Europe; for instance, rabab gained great prominence during this period of European history (Sandys 2006). Indeed, the modern incarnation of the violin would emerge from a hybridization of many of these stringed instruments. ... While the lira da braccio was originally regarded as the less aristocratic way of playing the instrument, holding the device in the hands would later become the accepted practice, ultimately giving way to the modern incarnation of the violin. The first incarnation of the modern violin emerged in 16th century Italy. The most prominent area for the violin during this period was the Brescia area, as existing documents from the late 16th century note that Brescia was home to hotbed of musical talent. Still, the word violin is recorded as early as 1540 in Italian documents (Sandys 2006). Although there are no surviving violins from this period, there do exist considerable visual depictions of the instrument from the mid-16th century Italian era. In terms of the first maker of the violin, there continues to be considerable debate on the subject. The most pervasive theory is that Andrea Amati constructed the first violin on order from the Medici family who desired the construction of an ins trument that could be used by street musicians. There are a number of prominent considerations when examining the violin’s construction and mechanics. The typical violin consists of a spruce top. This is also referred to as the soundboard. The violin is then composed with maple ribs, a back, two endblocks, a neck, a bridge, a soundpost, four strings, and then a chin rest (Stowell 1993). The violin has an hour-glass shape and is accompanied by a series of other smaller components. In these regards, the violin contains a neck with a fingerboard. The neck is the area where the musician manipulates the strings with their fingers as a means of playing different chords (Stowell 1993). The top of the violin contains what is referred to

Fibromyalgia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fibromyalgia - Essay Example It was observed there is high aggregation of Fibromyalgia in families of Fibromyalgia patients. The mode of inheritance followed is probably polygenic. An association between Fibromyalgia and polymorphisms of the genes in the serotoninergic, dopaminergic and catecholaminergic systems was observed in research. However these polymorphisms are not specific for Fibromyalgia and are associated with a range of somatic disorders and with depression (Buskila 332-8). Stress is often considered as a risk factor for Fibromyalgia It has also been hypothesized that because exposure to stressful conditions can alter the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the development of fibromyalgia may stem from stress-induced disruption of the HPA axis (McBeth et al . R992-R1000) There is strong evidence that major depression and fibromyalgia are associated with each other. The symptoms of fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive disturbances that are characteristic of Fibromyalgia are also present in depressive illness. Patients with Fibromyalgia often improve with antidepressant medications. Although current major depression was found in only about 18-36% of Fibromyalgia patients, a lifetime history of depression was observed in 50-70% of the cases in a study (Goldenberg 778-779). Gender and age are the other important risk factors in Fibromyalgia as Fibromyalgia is 10 times more prevalent in women than in men and is most likely to be diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50 (Chakravarty and Zoorob 247). The most important signs of Fibromyalgia are pain in multiple sites, fatigue, and poor sleep. Patients often complain of low back pain, which may radiate into the buttocks and legs. Also common are complaints of pain and tightness in the neck and across the upper posterior shoulders. The pain may be described as a burning or gnawing soreness, stiffness, or aching. Many patients awaken frequently at night and have difficulty falling back to sleep. Upon waking, many patients feel exhausted and complain of stiffness, which improves as the day passes by. Pain must last for more than 3 months in all four quadrants of the body.Fibromyalgia is diagnosed if there is a history of widespread pain lasting more than three months-affecting all four quadrants of the body and presence of 11 tender points among the nine pairs of sites specified by the American Rheumatology College (Chakravarty and Zoorob 248-249) Many patients with fibromyalgia complain of cognitive difficulties (known as "brain fog" or "fibrofog") such as short and long-term memory problems, groping for words, and poor vocabulary. Headaches, including migraine type, also are common. A feeling of swollen joints without actual swelling, and paresthesias without objective neurologic findings, are considered two important features of Fibromyalgia (Chakravarty and Zoorob 248). As a medically unexplained syndrome, there is no known cure or universally accepted treatment for fibromyalgia, and treatment is typically aimed at symptom management. Along with pharmaceutical treatment, research was done on a variety of alternative treatments for Fibromyalgia with varying results. Short-term exercise programs for individuals with fibromyalgia have consistently improved physical function, especially physical fitness, and reduced tender point pain; however the exercise must be done at moderate intensity and consistently. The exercise should start at intensities below the