The violin is one of the most popular instruments in classical music but has failed to gain a comparable popularity among jazz musicians. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed in a short history of the first jazz musicians in New Orleans during the 1910s.

Dixieland jazz, the New Orleans jazz style was superceded by swing music during the 1930s. It is swing music which has most influenced the musical style of jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli.

Grappelli is one of the most well known jazz violinists. His violin technique is analysed in detail in the areas of bowing and left-hand technique (position work, harmonics, left-hand pizzicato, double and multiple stopping, vibrato, and pitch and intonation).

Transcriptions of performances recorded at different times in Grappelli's career and Tape Examples are used to illustrate various points.

Grappelli's violin technique is compared to classical technique. These comparisons illustrate the peculiarities of his style as well as basic differences between jazz and classical playing.

01_violin_as_a_jazz_instrument.pdf 7.32 MB