The treble violin is in many ways the most troublesome of the new family due to its small size and the tremendous tension required for the top string. Yet it was the first member of the new family to be adopted as a solo instrument by several players who were willing to train themselves to cope with its extremely short string length. In Western Europe, Russia, and Asia, the treble is almost universally called the "piccolo" violin, in some ways a better name.

That this instrument exists at all is a tribute to its creators, who made a number of astute compromises in its design. Among the options rejected were a four-string violin tuned down a whole step, and a three-string instrument as described by Michael Praetorius. Ergonomic considerations dictated that a full-size scroll and a full-width neck be used for an adult player's hand, and the result is effective and not unattractive.

As the smallest and highest member of the new violin family (the soprano violin is the next lowest in pitch), the treble violin was designed to fulfill Henry Brant's request for a violin-type instrument that could effectively play to the highest notes of the piano. In fact, in the hands of a competent player it even can play above the piano's highest notes, a remarkable accomplishment.

The tiny treble violin presents formidable challenges to even the best players. Above third position, the short string length makes playing rapid chromatic passages quite difficult. The player must remove a finger from the note and move it away before putting the next finger down. It requires many hours of practice, and the result is all the more remarkable since many treble players must switch back and forth between it and their conventional violin. On the other hand, tremendous leaps are possible with just a flick of the wrist, and single and double-stopped trills may be accomplished over a range not possible on any other violin.

Only a few other instruments can play in this range, and they have severe limitations. The piccolo flute is shrill and piercing, and composers must write for it with deference. The piano in the top octave is very brittle and percussive, with lots of hammer noise and very little sustain to the notes. Tiny organ pipes sound like, well, tiny organ pipes. The piccolo violin, on the other hand, is the only instrument in the world that can play in the extended upper register and do so sweetly, with a full range of dynamics, expression, and all the bowing techniques available on traditional violins. The piccolo violin's potential is so remarkable that contemporary composers have not yet figured out how best to use it.

Last updated August 24, 2008