Stradivari's Genius

Stradivari's Genius

Author: Toby Faber

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2012-05-09

Total Pages: 298

ISBN-13: 1588362140

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“’Tis God gives skill, but not without men’s hands: He could not make Antonio Stradivari’s violins without Antonio.” –George Eliot Antonio Stradivari (1644—1737) was a perfectionist whose single-minded pursuit of excellence changed the world of music. In the course of his long career in the northern Italian city of Cremona, he created more than a thousand stringed instruments; approximately six hundred survive. In this fascinating book, Toby Faber traces the rich, multilayered stories of six of these peerless instruments–five violins and a cello–and the one towering artist who brought them into being. Blending history, biography, meticulous detective work, and an abiding passion for music, Faber embarks on an absorbing journey as he follows some of the most prized instruments of all time. Mysteries and unanswered questions proliferate from the outset–starting with the enigma of Antonio Stradivari himself. What made this apparently unsophisticated craftsman so special? Why were his techniques not maintained by his successors? How is it that even two and a half centuries after his death, no one has succeeded in matching the purity, depth, and delicacy of a Stradivarius? In Faber’s illuminating narrative, each of the six fabled instruments becomes a character in its own right–a living entity cherished by artists, bought and sold by princes and plutocrats, coveted, collected, hidden, lost, copied, and occasionally played by a musician whose skill matches its maker’s. Here is the fabulous Viotti, named for the virtuoso who enchanted all Paris in the 1780s, only to fall foul of the French Revolution. Paganini supposedly made a pact with the devil to transform the art of the violin–and by the end of his life he owned eleven Strads. Then there’s the Davidov cello, fashioned in 1712 and lovingly handed down through a succession of celebrated artists until, in the 1980s, it passed into the capable hands of Yo-Yo Ma. From the salons of Vienna to the concert halls of New York, from the breakthroughs of Beethoven’s last quartets to the first phonographic recordings, Faber unfolds a narrative magnificent in its range and brilliant in its detail. “A great violin is alive,” said Yehudi Menuhin of his own Stradivarius. In the pages of this book, Faber invites us to share the life, the passion, the intrigue, and the incomparable beauty of the world’s most marvelous stringed instruments.


Book Synopsis Stradivari's Genius by : Toby Faber

Download or read book Stradivari's Genius written by Toby Faber and published by Random House. This book was released on 2012-05-09 with total page 298 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “’Tis God gives skill, but not without men’s hands: He could not make Antonio Stradivari’s violins without Antonio.” –George Eliot Antonio Stradivari (1644—1737) was a perfectionist whose single-minded pursuit of excellence changed the world of music. In the course of his long career in the northern Italian city of Cremona, he created more than a thousand stringed instruments; approximately six hundred survive. In this fascinating book, Toby Faber traces the rich, multilayered stories of six of these peerless instruments–five violins and a cello–and the one towering artist who brought them into being. Blending history, biography, meticulous detective work, and an abiding passion for music, Faber embarks on an absorbing journey as he follows some of the most prized instruments of all time. Mysteries and unanswered questions proliferate from the outset–starting with the enigma of Antonio Stradivari himself. What made this apparently unsophisticated craftsman so special? Why were his techniques not maintained by his successors? How is it that even two and a half centuries after his death, no one has succeeded in matching the purity, depth, and delicacy of a Stradivarius? In Faber’s illuminating narrative, each of the six fabled instruments becomes a character in its own right–a living entity cherished by artists, bought and sold by princes and plutocrats, coveted, collected, hidden, lost, copied, and occasionally played by a musician whose skill matches its maker’s. Here is the fabulous Viotti, named for the virtuoso who enchanted all Paris in the 1780s, only to fall foul of the French Revolution. Paganini supposedly made a pact with the devil to transform the art of the violin–and by the end of his life he owned eleven Strads. Then there’s the Davidov cello, fashioned in 1712 and lovingly handed down through a succession of celebrated artists until, in the 1980s, it passed into the capable hands of Yo-Yo Ma. From the salons of Vienna to the concert halls of New York, from the breakthroughs of Beethoven’s last quartets to the first phonographic recordings, Faber unfolds a narrative magnificent in its range and brilliant in its detail. “A great violin is alive,” said Yehudi Menuhin of his own Stradivarius. In the pages of this book, Faber invites us to share the life, the passion, the intrigue, and the incomparable beauty of the world’s most marvelous stringed instruments.


Antonio Stradivari

Antonio Stradivari

Author: William Henry Hill

Publisher:

Published: 1909

Total Pages: 360

ISBN-13:

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Book Synopsis Antonio Stradivari by : William Henry Hill

Download or read book Antonio Stradivari written by William Henry Hill and published by . This book was released on 1909 with total page 360 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Stradivarius

Stradivarius

Author: Toby Faber

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Published: 2011-07-06

Total Pages: 324

ISBN-13: 033047586X

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'An incredible story of musical instruments, how they're made and what people make of them' - Keith Richards Everyone knows of the legendary quality and unbelievable price tag of a Stradivarius violin. In this, the first popular account of the Stradivari phenomena, Toby Faber explores the life and methods of this unsurpassed craftsman. Following the life of his instruments as they pass through the hands of many of the greatest musicians that have ever lived, we learn how and why they have become objects of such veneration and desire. It is a dramatic tale of grand artistry, fantastic music, shady dealers, forgery and science. 'Fascinating, accessible and enjoyable' - Tracy Chevalier 'A captivating book . . . An extraordinary accomplishment and a compelling read' - TE Cahart, author of The Piano Shop On The Left Bank 'An inspired idea for a book' - Telegraph 'Faber has found in the Strad a delightful leitmotif for an original comedie humaine' - Financial Times 'Faber pitches the story just right, neither patronising nor baffling the reader' - Times


Book Synopsis Stradivarius by : Toby Faber

Download or read book Stradivarius written by Toby Faber and published by Pan Macmillan. This book was released on 2011-07-06 with total page 324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'An incredible story of musical instruments, how they're made and what people make of them' - Keith Richards Everyone knows of the legendary quality and unbelievable price tag of a Stradivarius violin. In this, the first popular account of the Stradivari phenomena, Toby Faber explores the life and methods of this unsurpassed craftsman. Following the life of his instruments as they pass through the hands of many of the greatest musicians that have ever lived, we learn how and why they have become objects of such veneration and desire. It is a dramatic tale of grand artistry, fantastic music, shady dealers, forgery and science. 'Fascinating, accessible and enjoyable' - Tracy Chevalier 'A captivating book . . . An extraordinary accomplishment and a compelling read' - TE Cahart, author of The Piano Shop On The Left Bank 'An inspired idea for a book' - Telegraph 'Faber has found in the Strad a delightful leitmotif for an original comedie humaine' - Financial Times 'Faber pitches the story just right, neither patronising nor baffling the reader' - Times


The Guadagnini Family of Violin Makers

The Guadagnini Family of Violin Makers

Author: Ernest N. Doring

Publisher: Courier Corporation

Published: 2013-08-16

Total Pages: 338

ISBN-13: 0486288234

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This 1949 volume remains the most comprehensive study of G. B. Guadagnini's life, work, and legacy. Includes a catalog of masterpieces and a new Introduction by an authority on musical instruments.


Book Synopsis The Guadagnini Family of Violin Makers by : Ernest N. Doring

Download or read book The Guadagnini Family of Violin Makers written by Ernest N. Doring and published by Courier Corporation. This book was released on 2013-08-16 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This 1949 volume remains the most comprehensive study of G. B. Guadagnini's life, work, and legacy. Includes a catalog of masterpieces and a new Introduction by an authority on musical instruments.


Stradivari

Stradivari

Author: Stewart Pollens

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2010-02-11

Total Pages: 367

ISBN-13: 0521873045

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A highly illustrated biography and study of Stradivari, the greatest violin maker, including colour photographs of his most famous instruments.


Book Synopsis Stradivari by : Stewart Pollens

Download or read book Stradivari written by Stewart Pollens and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2010-02-11 with total page 367 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A highly illustrated biography and study of Stradivari, the greatest violin maker, including colour photographs of his most famous instruments.


Antonio Stradivari

Antonio Stradivari

Author: W. H. Hill

Publisher: Courier Corporation

Published: 2014-05-05

Total Pages: 402

ISBN-13: 0486172600

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Construction methods, woods, varnishes, types of instruments, and special features plus life of the composer. "A rich mine of fascinating information." — American Record Guide. 93 illustrations. 4 color plates.


Book Synopsis Antonio Stradivari by : W. H. Hill

Download or read book Antonio Stradivari written by W. H. Hill and published by Courier Corporation. This book was released on 2014-05-05 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Construction methods, woods, varnishes, types of instruments, and special features plus life of the composer. "A rich mine of fascinating information." — American Record Guide. 93 illustrations. 4 color plates.


Cremona Violins

Cremona Violins

Author: Kameshwar C Wali

Publisher: World Scientific

Published: 2009-11-30

Total Pages: 176

ISBN-13: 9814338338

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Cremona violins occupy a unique and storied place in violin history. This book contains a brief account of that history — the rise and fall of the Cremonese art of violin making that dominated over two centuries. It is primarily devoted, however, to the physics behind violin acoustics, specifically the research of William F “Jack” Fry over the past several decades. The gradual evolution of his ideas leading to a holistic approach is chronicled, in sharp contrast to the conventional “reductionist” analysis. With rare insights, he has come closer than anyone before in reproducing the tonal qualities of the great Italian masters. This historic achievement makes the book extremely valuable for violin makers and violin researchers, enabling young and aspiring violinists to own excellent sounding instruments with the acoustical marvels of the old at affordable prices. The accompanying video features Fry's demonstration of how and why minute changes in thickness graduations make predictable changes in tonal qualities of an instrument.Contents: Luigi Tarisio and the Violins of CremonaThe Rise and Fall of the Cremonese Art of Violin Making Antonio Stradivari (1644c–1737)The Anatomy of a Violin and the Mechanism of Sound ProductionSome Historical Notes on Violin Research Over CenturiesWilliam F Fry and His Quest for the Secrets of Cremona ViolinsMyth and Reality of Cremona Violins, Fry's ViolinsA Convergence of Science and Art Readership: Physicists, musicologists, violin makers and violin researchers.


Book Synopsis Cremona Violins by : Kameshwar C Wali

Download or read book Cremona Violins written by Kameshwar C Wali and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 2009-11-30 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cremona violins occupy a unique and storied place in violin history. This book contains a brief account of that history — the rise and fall of the Cremonese art of violin making that dominated over two centuries. It is primarily devoted, however, to the physics behind violin acoustics, specifically the research of William F “Jack” Fry over the past several decades. The gradual evolution of his ideas leading to a holistic approach is chronicled, in sharp contrast to the conventional “reductionist” analysis. With rare insights, he has come closer than anyone before in reproducing the tonal qualities of the great Italian masters. This historic achievement makes the book extremely valuable for violin makers and violin researchers, enabling young and aspiring violinists to own excellent sounding instruments with the acoustical marvels of the old at affordable prices. The accompanying video features Fry's demonstration of how and why minute changes in thickness graduations make predictable changes in tonal qualities of an instrument.Contents: Luigi Tarisio and the Violins of CremonaThe Rise and Fall of the Cremonese Art of Violin Making Antonio Stradivari (1644c–1737)The Anatomy of a Violin and the Mechanism of Sound ProductionSome Historical Notes on Violin Research Over CenturiesWilliam F Fry and His Quest for the Secrets of Cremona ViolinsMyth and Reality of Cremona Violins, Fry's ViolinsA Convergence of Science and Art Readership: Physicists, musicologists, violin makers and violin researchers.


Trifles Make Perfection

Trifles Make Perfection

Author: Joseph Wechsberg

Publisher: David R. Godine Publisher

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 306

ISBN-13: 9781567920925

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"Wechsberg was a connoisseur in the old Continental sense of the word, a man who valued perfection for its own sake, seeing its quest as worthy and its attainment as eminently possible. Born in 1907 into a wealthy, assimilated Jewish family, he saw his comfortable life threatened by World War I and then extinguished by Hitler's annexation of his native Czechoslovakia. He came to America with only a basic command of English but an impressive understanding of what was happening in Europe. His most powerful essays, describing the tragic political fragmentation of Europe at the end of World War II, are never strident or bitter; his appreciations of Europe's finer offering are a sheer delight."--BOOK JACKET.


Book Synopsis Trifles Make Perfection by : Joseph Wechsberg

Download or read book Trifles Make Perfection written by Joseph Wechsberg and published by David R. Godine Publisher. This book was released on 1999 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Wechsberg was a connoisseur in the old Continental sense of the word, a man who valued perfection for its own sake, seeing its quest as worthy and its attainment as eminently possible. Born in 1907 into a wealthy, assimilated Jewish family, he saw his comfortable life threatened by World War I and then extinguished by Hitler's annexation of his native Czechoslovakia. He came to America with only a basic command of English but an impressive understanding of what was happening in Europe. His most powerful essays, describing the tragic political fragmentation of Europe at the end of World War II, are never strident or bitter; his appreciations of Europe's finer offering are a sheer delight."--BOOK JACKET.


The Violin: A Social History of the World's Most Versatile Instrument

The Violin: A Social History of the World's Most Versatile Instrument

Author: David Schoenbaum

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 753

ISBN-13: 039308440X

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Traces the history of the instrument, from its first appearance in the mid-sixteenth century to its modern use by artists, writers, and Hollywood and discusses how the affordable, portable instrument can be used to play Beethoven, jazz, and indie rock.


Book Synopsis The Violin: A Social History of the World's Most Versatile Instrument by : David Schoenbaum

Download or read book The Violin: A Social History of the World's Most Versatile Instrument written by David Schoenbaum and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 2013 with total page 753 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Traces the history of the instrument, from its first appearance in the mid-sixteenth century to its modern use by artists, writers, and Hollywood and discusses how the affordable, portable instrument can be used to play Beethoven, jazz, and indie rock.


Bach's Works for Solo Violin

Bach's Works for Solo Violin

Author: Joel Lester

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2003-11-27

Total Pages: 197

ISBN-13: 0195171446

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J.S. Bach's sonatas and partitas for solo violin have been central to the violin repertoire since the mid-18th century. This engaging introduction to these works is the first comprehensive exploration of their place within Bach's music, focusing on their structural and stylistic features as they have been perceived since their creation. Combining an analytical study, a historical guide, and an insightful introduction to Bach's style, this book will help violinists, scholars, and other listeners develop a deeper personal involvement with many aspects of these wonderful pieces.


Book Synopsis Bach's Works for Solo Violin by : Joel Lester

Download or read book Bach's Works for Solo Violin written by Joel Lester and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2003-11-27 with total page 197 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: J.S. Bach's sonatas and partitas for solo violin have been central to the violin repertoire since the mid-18th century. This engaging introduction to these works is the first comprehensive exploration of their place within Bach's music, focusing on their structural and stylistic features as they have been perceived since their creation. Combining an analytical study, a historical guide, and an insightful introduction to Bach's style, this book will help violinists, scholars, and other listeners develop a deeper personal involvement with many aspects of these wonderful pieces.