A violinist performs on the violin, the highest-pitched member of the string quartet and one of the most expressive instruments in the orchestra. Violinists must master bowing techniques including legato, spiccato, col legno, and pizzicato, as well as left-hand techniques like vibrato, double stop, and harmonics. In an orchestra, the violinists form the largest section, divided into first and second violins. The concertmaster — the principal first violinist — leads the ensemble and tunes the orchestra. Solo violinists perform concerti and recital works by composers such as Bach, Paganini, and Brahms. The violin also features prominently in folk music, bluegrass, and jazz, where it is often called a fiddle.
Niccolò Paganini was so technically dazzling that audiences genuinely suspected he had made a deal with the devil.