Stradivari's Genius
The book Stradivari's Genius by Toby Faber Follows the life and work of Antonio Stradivari, a famous violin maker that lived from 1644 to 1737. The book also follows the story of five of his violins, and a cello through their three hundred years of existence. This non-fiction book is based on years of research and meticulous detective work. The work of Stradivari is the work of a master, his violins are revered for their sonorous quality, and sweet tone.
One of the stories in the book is about The Messiah a violin made by Stradivari in 1716. The Messiah is the most famous violin in the world, however, it has hardly been played. This violin has been the template for countless copies, and now resides in Oxford's Ashmolean Museum. The Messiah was rediscovered when the world of the amateur orchestra was just emerging. This meant many violins were being produced very fast, but of lesser quality than the old masters. In 1872, this violin became the star attraction of a museum in London.
One of the most amazing facets of The Messiah is the fact that it's in pristine condition. In fact, it's condition was so amazing that many critics thought it was a forgery. Many thought that a famous Strad copier, Vuillaume, was the culprit in charge of making the so called forgery. However, the defense of The Messiah's validity was shown in every detail that was so magnificently, and meticulously completed. It was simply to good to be a copy. Even so, many were still dismayed by the initials "PS" or "PG" that were inscribed in a portion of the pegbox on the violin itself, which was not a common practice for Stradivari's other violins.
Again, questioning The Messiah's validity, it was decided that scientists would calculate the age of the wood by measuring the width of the rings in the violin. The first experiments concluded that the last of the growth rings was from a year after Stradivari died. However, more scientific tests concluded that the wood was the same as other Stradivari violins from 1717.
One of the most amazing things about Stradivari's work, is that even today it is matchless. Countless copies have been made, but none comes close to matching the artistry and detail of the master himself.