Strads and other good fiddles

[Richard Moody]

Had the pleasure of hearing four 18th century violins at a concert at
Univ of South Dakota.
    In the second half of the program Eugene Fodor played all four in
the Vivaldi's Four Seasons, "the youngest first" in "Spring" to the
oldest played in "Winter".     Interesting concept and comparison. The
two Strads were the Harrison (1693) from the Shrine to Music Museum on
the USD campus, and the Jackson (1714) on loan to the show.    The two
other violins were, quoting from the program notes, "The 'Fodor' by
Guiseppe Guarneri del Gesu (1740), and the 'Sloan' by del Gesu
(1742)."  Fodor referred to them as "deljesu" (he said it real fast)
and described them in words similar to "something to die for".
     The Strads had a darker more mellow tone, I thought rich, while
the Del Gesu seemed "brighter"  but still toward rich.  I thought each
(name) had its own character.   However both sounded "bright" in the
upper resigers.  I wonder If I could pick them out in a blind
listening?   I think so.
    The Sloan was perfect for "Spring", the Fodor great for "Summer",
the Jackson fitted "Autumn" and the Harrison put a mellow warmth of
the fireside to "Winter".
    Not being a violinist I wondered what players or violin
technicians would have said.
Someone said the program was recorded but no details were given.
---==ric



From: Don <pianotuna@accesscomm.ca>
To: <caut@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2002 5:34 PM
Subject: Re: tapping pins (wapin)


| Hi Richard,
|
| I've been fortunate enough to play 5 Strads and one Guarnarius. The
Strads
| were all "ok" but nothing fabulous. The Guarnarius on the other hand
was
| one of those instruments "to die for". On that *very* limited and
subject
| basis I can say that my own fiddle "out played" the 5 Strads, and
was NOT
| even in the same building (maybe on even on the same planet) as the
| Guarnarius.
|
| I do believe that choice of instrument is a totally subjective
phenonima.
|
| My single point was that just because an instrument has a "name" it
does
| NOT mean it is good.
|
| Regards,
| Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.M.T., R.P.T.
|
| mailto:pianotuna@accesscomm.ca
| http://us.geocities.com/drpt1948/
|
| 3004 Grant Rd.
| REGINA, SK
| S4S 5G7
| 306-352-3620 or 1-888-29t-uner