The Violin: Its Famous Makers and Their ImitatorsHart, George
History
The Violin: Its Famous Makers and Their Imitators
Hart, George
Violin -- History; Violin makers -- Biography
"In my warm anticipations of future improvement, I have sometimes
almost convinced myself that music will in time be brought to such a
climax of perfection as to supersede the necessity of speech and
writing, and every kind of social intercourse be conducted by the
Flute and Fiddle. The immense benefits that will result from this
improvement, must be plain to every man of the least consideration. In
the present unhappy situation of mortals a man has but one way of
making himself understood: if he loses his speech he must inevitably
be dumb all the rest of his life; but having once learned this new
musical language, the loss of speech will be a mere trifle, not worth
a moment's uneasiness. This manner of discussing may also, I think, be
introduced with great effect into our National Assemblies, where every
man, instead of wagging his tongue, should be obliged to flourish a
Fiddle-stick; by which means, if he said nothing to the purpose, he
would at all events 'discourse most eloquent music,' which is more
than can be said of them at present.
"But the most important result of this discovery is, that it may be
applied to the establishment of that great desideratum in the learned
world--a universal language. Wherever this science of music is
cultivated, nothing more will be necessary than a knowledge of its
alphabet, which, being almost the same everywhere, will amount to a
universal medium of communication. A man may thus--with his Violin
under his arm, a piece of resin, and a few bundles of catgut--fiddle
his way through the world, and never be at a loss to make himself
understood.--I am, &c.,
"DEMI-SEMIQUAVER."
SPOHR AND HIS GUARNERI.
"Shortly before my leaving Brunswick I had a case made worthy of the
splendid Violin I had brought from Russia, viz., a very elegant one;
and in order to protect this from injury, I had packed it up in my
trunk, between my linen and clothes. I therefore took care that this,
which contained my whole estate, should be carefully fastened behind
the carriage with cords. But, notwithstanding, I thought it necessary
to look out frequently, particularly as the driver told me several
trunks had been cut down from behind carriages. As the carriage had no
window at the back, this continual looking out was a very troublesome
business, and I was therefore very glad when, towards evening, we
arrived between the gardens of Gottingen, and I had convinced myself
for the last time that the trunk was still in its place. Delighted
that I had brought it so far in safety, I remarked to my
fellow-traveller: 'My first care shall now be to procure a good strong
chain and padlock, for the better security of the trunk.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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