Performance Practice of Violin Vibrato: An Artist-Level Case Study

We investigated performance practice of vibrato with an artist-level violinist whose credits include positions as concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic, Cincinnati Symphony, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. The main questions of this case study were to determine mean width, rate, and directional intent of an artist-level violinist. Additionally the present study sought to determine if an artist-level violinist consistently initiated vibrato in an upward or downward direction and whether vibrato was used continuously when performing slurs. We measured pitch levels of vibrated and non-vibrated tones, direction and magnitude of change when initiating vibrato, and duration of non-vibrato when performing slurs. Analyses indicated that the mean rate of the artist-level violin vibrato was approximately 5.7 Hz in first position and 6.3 Hz in fifth position. The mean width of vibrato was approximately 40 cents in first position and 108 cents in fifth position. Pitch oscillations during vibrato were alternations both above and below the conceived pitch, rather than oscillations only above or only below the conceived pitch. The artist initiated vibrato toward the scroll (in a downward direction) and stopped vibrating during the transition between slurred notes. Mean duration of non-vibrato portions of slurred notes was (33 seconds). Implications for future research are discussed.