Violon

As Printed on a Score

French for violin; the plural labels the sections in a full score — 1ers Violons and 2ds Violons on the first system, shortened on later systems to forms such as 1ers Vons or 2ds Vons. Divisions are marked divisés (div.) and cancelled with unis.; one player is Solo or un seul.

Abbreviations: Vl., Vln., Vons

Also spelled: Violons

How Composers Use It

Written in treble clef at sounding pitch, from the G below middle C upward. A French label signals that the part’s directions will be French too — sourdine, sur la touche, au talon, près du chevalet — and Debussy and Ravel used them with great precision, so read each one literally rather than translating it into habitual Italian shorthand.

Example

Ravel, Boléro, full score: the first and second violin staves are each labelled “VIOLONS” in capitals, with their section numbers.

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