violins and age

Don drose@dlcwest.com
Sat, 13 Dec 1997 18:11:32 -0600


Hi All,

This thing with violins is *I* believe measureable...not sure if there is
any *hard* data or not.

At 05:55 PM 12/13/97 -0600, you wrote:
>Hi Don,
>
>I'm in the midst of reading a book called The Universe Within, by Morton
>Hunt about the cognitive functions of the human brain. One of the many
>interesting points made is something we all already know whether we know
>that we know it or not. The memory of virtually anything is different than
>the original experience. We process the original event into the internal
>storage format, which consists mostly of impressions rather than minute
>details, and store the result in long term memory. On retrieval, we find
>we're operating on a "lossy" compression system because we not only don't
>remember the details, but the person we were with remembers a considerably
>different scenario altogether! Memories with pleasant connotations are
>enhanced with recollection. We all remember something from our past which,
>on later examination, wasn't really anywhere nearly as wonderful as we
>thought we remembered it. Trying to find the magic sound we remember from
>long ago may be just the result of the inefficiency of memory as much as a
>deterioration of the product. Of course the old beater may be failing fast
>too. With all this in (alleged) mind, it's inevitable that something ancient
>enough to be beyond memory of anyone living will just naturally have to have
>been transcendental in it's God-like qualities. So there! Now, if I can
>remember how to post this...  
>
>Ron
>
>At 01:23 PM 12/13/97 -0600, you wrote:
>>At 10:22 PM 12/10/97 -0800, you wrote:
>>
>>>I hear the same things about violins. Except with violins we get even
>>sillier. We seem to be of the opinion that they get
>>>better with age. Who knows?
>>
>>It has been thought for many years that a violin *plays* in after about ten
>>years of being *played* 3 to 6 hours per day. I do know that my violin which
>>is rarely played now does not sound as well *even* when played by another
>>violinist as it once did.
>>
>> Can anyone out there prove that? Talk about sentiment overpowering reason!
>>Antonio Stradivari (or
>>>Stradivarius) died in 1737. Who of us was there to judge what any of his
>>instruments sounded like when he finished them?
>>
>>They most certainly do *not* sound the same. First the *neck* is longer
>>today, and both the bass bar and sound post will have been changed. There is
>>only *one* Strad in original condition...and it is *not* played.
>>
>> 
>>Regards,
>>Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.M.T., R.P.T.
>>"Tuner for the Centre of the Arts"
>>drose@dlcwest.com
>>3004 Grant Rd.
>>REGINA, SK
>>S4S 5G7
>>306-352-3620 or 1-888-29t-uner
>>
>
>
> Ron Nossaman
>
>
Regards,
Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.M.T., R.P.T.
"Tuner for the Centre of the Arts"
drose@dlcwest.com
3004 Grant Rd.
REGINA, SK
S4S 5G7
306-352-3620 or 1-888-29t-uner



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