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
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