Strads and other good fiddles

[Mary Smith]

Can't resist getting into this conversation. I play trios regularly 
with a cellist and violinist who have fabulous instruments. The 
cellist plays a Grancino (1700, Italian). It looks like hell, but 
what a sound! The violinist switches around a lot, but I've heard him 
play a Strad, a del Jesu, and a violin that his father made (!). It 
is a fascinating learning experience to listen to these various 
instruments. And I heard a great idea this morning, re: wines. It's a 
good thing if you like a given wine, but that doesn't make it great!

>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