Good wood

I recently stumbled across an interesting website for a Texas violin maker who has made some progress figuring out why Stradivari violins are so remarkable.

According to Dr. Navygary, a retired Texas A&M biochemist, one of the main differences between Stradivarius instruments and others is the wood and varnish used by the maker. He determined through chemical analysis that the wood Stradivari chose was submerged in water for a long period of time, which opened its pores. One of the ingredients in the varnish applied after the violin was constructed was a compound of a crystalline powder with borax, which, partially due to the opened pores, bonded closely to the wood and gave it a particularly resonant quality. Navygary uses a similar process to make new instruments. One of his violins went toe-to-toe with the da Vinci Strad in a blind test and the result was a draw. A panel of 600 experts could not determine whether the instrument they they heard was of Navygary or Stradivari make!

As my skill (and ear) improves, I may eventually acquire one of these instruments. I think they will likely increase in value over time, plus I would love to own and regularly play an instrument of such remarkable tonal quality.

Gallant Lady

In November, 2005, Richmond Folk Music hosted a concert by Rhiannon Giddens. At the concert, I bought Out on the Ocean, a CD by the Celtic band Gaelwynd, of which Rhiannon is a member. Track #11 on this CD is a beautiful waltz titled Gallant Lady, composed by Gaelwynd fiddler Nora Garver. I remember thinking that this moving tune would make a wonderful film soundtrack for historical dramas in the vein of Last of the Mohicans.

I phoned Nora to ask for a copy of the music, since I don't learn by ear very well and this tune is not a simple one for a novice fiddler. I left the request, my phone and e-mail on her voice mail, not sure whether I would hear back from her. A few days later, Nora phoned and said that she was on vacation, but would be happy to send the music when she returned. I was delighted when a JPG of the handwritten music appeared in my inbox a few weeks later as an e-mail attachment. I have begun working through this music and look forward to accompanying Nora on my fiddle as the CD plays this tune at some point in the not-too-distant future.

As a small token of my appreciation for her kindness, I entered Gallant Lady into my PrintMusic 2006 software and emailed a PDF version of the finished product to Nora.