Topmusicanswers
- Do violins sound sad?
- Is violin a sad instrument?
- What is melancholy music?
- Why do I cry when I hear the violin?
Do violins sound sad?
The incredible emotional range of the violin
Are violins perfectly suited to producing the sad music and expressing the downstream of human emotions? The sound of a violin echoes warmth and melancholy and the mood changes instantly. It travels you back in time in another land.
Is violin a sad instrument?
Table 1 suggests that the voice and stringed instruments are deemed both most frequently used to convey sadness in music and also most capable of conveying sadness.
...
| Instrument | Mean Sadness Frequency (SD) | Mean Sadness Capacity (SD) |
|---|---|---|
| Violin | 6.00 (1.30) | 6.86 (0.48) |
| Viola | 6.05 (0.87) | 6.81 (0.40) |
| Piano | 5.91 (1.26) | 6.71 (0.64) |
What is melancholy music?
It is more than sadness. It is a nuanced mix of emotions that seems steeped in articulacy. It implies there's something to say about a state of mind and the state of the world. Arguably melancholy is as much a driving force to songwriting as any idea or emotion.
Why do I cry when I hear the violin?
Tears and chills – or “tingles” – on hearing music are a physiological response which activates the parasympathetic nervous system, as well as the reward-related brain regions of the brain. Studies have shown that around 25% of the population experience this reaction to music.
