Destroy Silence

View All Blogs

Once in a while, I'm asked, "Why the violin?" Okay, one person asked me and he has been known to take a wee nip of the Irish once in a while. The answer is simple. The violin is the coolest instrument on the entire planet. After one year under the tutorship of the maestro Ellie, I'm in love with the music I can play. The instrument has provided solace in these trying times. During the recent insurrection, it was an insurrection, by the way, I told a Facebook friend that playing concertos on Eddie, that's the name of my fiddle, eased my angst. Yes, folks, rebellions against America can be stressful. I later clarified that I played a concerto for the simple reason, I know only one. I didn't want to exaggerate my talents. For any bachelors out there, the ladies appreciate honesty.

Let me tell you all about my violin, Eddie. I purchased him from a wonderful company in southern Illinois. The Bluegrass Shack is an amazing woman-owned business of impeccable honesty (https://www.thebluegrassshack.com). Chris Talley is the owner and over the internet, I narrowed the choice down to two violins. One violin cost $1800 and the other $950. I only started playing four months prior so I asked her to play both violins and give me a recommendation for which one sounded better. I’m pretty sure she would have made more money on the refurbished expensive violin, but she proclaimed the cheaper one was a bluegrass Cadillac in disguise.

Eddie

Eddie is well over 100 years old and I named him Eddie because most violins have manufacturing labels that can be viewed from the right or left eyelet. My violins label says Salvador de Durro, B&J New York Sole Importer, Special model of Antonius Stradivarius, Cremonensis Fachiat 1901. Man, that sure is a mouthful. I can surmise from the label that my violin is German made, absolutely handsome, and 120 years old. Being of this era, some German violins were made by Eduardo somebody or another. I can't find the article I researched or remember the luthiers last name. Things like this seem to happen much more frequently as you age. Anyway, that's why for my tenure of ownership, my violin is Eddie. Like anything, ownership is a temporary thing. Luthiers are craftsmen that make or repair stringed instruments. Chris Talley is a luthier and a fine one at that.

I sent an email to Miss Talley and she responded within hours.

Dear Miss Talley,

This is far from a complaint. The fiddle I purchased is wonderful. I bought this last April and the label reads: special model of Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis Faciat 1901 B&J New York Sole Importers. I'm also a writer. At 72 years of age my editor says I better get a move on the next book. My violin teacher is much kinder, thank goodness.

An old high school friend has an old violin his great great grandfather brought over from Germany, which I told him to send to you for repairs in order to give someday to his granddaughter who plays the violin. My mind is wandering, it happens when you're old. The new book, a hybrid or possibly a children's book is going to be a centuries-old love story of two violins. I have a feeling the violins, like dogs, will be more advanced than humans. If you have more info on my violin, it would be greatly appreciated. I would love your permission to use some of your blogs on repairs of old violins and any other pertinent info that seems usable in my book.

After my first book, I realize making money is not what is important. If one person is motivated to pick up an instrument, forget about all the worldly craziness and just enjoy the musical journey that's enough. I mentioned you in one of my blogs. You probably don't remember this but I requested your expertise by playing two violins. One was much more expensive, but after playing you said the less expensive one had a smoother sound. Immediately, I understood the money wasn't the main factor for you either.

The response:

I am so glad that you wrote to me! You have my permission to use anything I have written to help you! Pictures as well. If there is something else you need, let me know and I will do my best to help you.

I looked up the fiddle you bought from me and I don't have much information on it at all. I originally bought it in 2012. I tried to look up who I purchased it from, but had no luck. Sometimes I include that information and sometimes I don't. It wasn't part of a large lot. This would have been an instrument that I bought that needed repair, so I wouldn't know how it would sound when I bought it. One of the fun things about repair work is that you get to be the first one to hear what it sounds like after many years of sitting. I think about who would have played this, and I often wonder how much they must have loved it. Did they play every night? For dances? How did they get the fiddle? I also think of my own dad and how he played fiddle until the last two weeks of his life when he was unable to play anymore. My dad's name is Andy, too, and he also loved to write.

Please ask me any questions you want to! And I want to know when your book is available for purchase. Thank you so much for contacting me. I'm sorry I don't have much information to give you about your fiddle.

Yes, there are many things money can't buy, and more money doesn't always mean something better.

Not many places of business take the time to respond in a heartfelt manner anymore. In these times of mass division amongst us, maybe a little of this would prevent that.

https://www.thebluegrassshack.com/ Check it out!