Description
Maybe you’ve heard of the famed violins by Stradivarius. But why are these violins so coveted? Take a minute to get the scoop!
Fun Fact
What about the best-preserved Stradivarius? Tellingly nicknamed “the Messiah,” it sits in a climate-controlled case in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England, receiving the kind of curatorial attention and care reserved for precious works of art.
About Steven
Steven is a Canadian composer living in Toronto. He creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his website for more.
A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.
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What makes Stradivarius a Stradivarius?
Well, these violins were made by Antonio Stradivari and his family dating back to the 17th and early 18th centuries.
More than 1,200 instruments were built by Stradivari over his 60-year career, of which 500 are still kicking around today. Most of these are violins, but there are also a few violas, cellos, guitars, mandolins, and harps.
Stradivari was considered a master craftsman of his time, but in the early 19th century his reputation really took off as violin performances shifted to large concert halls, where a bigger sound and better projection could be truly appreciated.
What’s interesting is that even today, musicians and scientists still search for an explanation as to what makes a Stradivarius so special.
Some of the theories have included the varnish used to the wood itself. Others have claimed that its superiority is actually an illusion.
Whatever the theory, these instruments have inspired incredible performances by top musicians from around the globe.