A string instrument crafted with utmost care and grace, the Stradivarius violin, is the result of genius craftsmanship by one of the most gifted violin makers in history, Antonio Stradivari.
This beautiful stringed instrument is nothing less than a musical masterpiece.
For more than 300 years, violin makers have used his perspective of geometry and violin design as a conceptual guide.
Violins crafted by Stradivari have a unique mystique in the world of classical music, they are famous for their sound of perfection and the Stradivarius violin is one of them.
But where did it all start? What is the history of stradivarius violins? Who plays stradivarius violins today? Can you still find an original Stradivarius violin?
If you would like to learn more about the rich history of Stradivari’s life work and why his violins are so cherished you have arrived at the right article. We will be exploring all there is to know about the Stradivari family and Stradivarius violins.
The History of The Stradivarius Violin
This original stringed instrument was born during the 17th and 18th century by the hands of the famous Italian Luthier, Antonio Stradivari, during his “long pattern” period from 1690 to 1700.
The Stradivarius violin maker was born in 1644 in Cremona, Italy. He established his shop there and continued to live in Cremona until his death in 1737.
Did you know that Cremona has been known as the Italian capital of virtuoso violin makers?
Antonio Stradivari set up his workshop in the late 1660’s. Before then he was an apprentice of Nicolò Amati - a leading luthier who played a significant part in the evolution of the violin we know and play today.
During his apprenticeship he started to create his own instruments while he worked for Amati.
The modern violin’s details such as the size, shape and bridge were carefully designed by Antonio Stradivari.
Did you know Antonio also created other stringed instruments like the harp, cellos, violas, guitars and mandolins?
By knowing this fact, I think it’s safe to say that he owned a true artistic gift. He made over a 1000 stringed instruments in his lifetime and 650 of them are still in circulation today.
Stradivari had six sons and two of them, Francesco Stradivari and Omobono Stradivari, continued the Stradivari legacy. Although they continued to produce stringed instruments under the renowned Stradivarius label, they each developed their own artistic signature in the violin inlays.
The Stradivari family contributed to the development of many different types of violins and string instruments that we know today.
What Makes Stradivarius Violins Unique?
Why was Stradivari's violins the best collection ever crafted? The New York Times article explains a study by Dr Dan Chitwood, a researcher.
He used photographs of the front and back of many different violins and comparing them to plant species. He statistically mapped out the comparison of Stradivari violin designs throughout history with those of other luthiers.
The result? The shape of the violin does not influence the sound as much as the type of wood or varnish used to create such an iconic piece.
An interesting study in 2003 conducted by scientists in the United States found something worth mentioning. They said that the colder winters and summers of the 17th century could have led to slower tree growth. This means the wood during those times was more dense.
See where this is going?
The wood used to carve the violins during that time was denser which is believed to make it more distinct.
Another reason why this instrument is so original is due to the size of the ‘f’ holes.
A study conducted at MIT discovered that the size of the ‘f’ holes in the front of the violins might be the reason for the iconic Stradivari sound. The longer the holes the more sound an instrument can produce. Therefore, Stradivari's violin’s ‘f’ holes were longer and narrower than previous instruments.
It is also believed that Stradivari and many other luthiers added a mystery ingredient into the wood they used.
Did you know that the Nazis stole a Stradivarius violin from the National Museum in 1944? But 78 years later the instrument was found by an unnamed owner in France.
Stradivarius violins are far from perfect and this might be the very reason why they are so special.
Dr Franco Zanini, a physicist, claimed that what makes a Strad is its tiny imperfections. During an interview with The Telegraph he commented, “We noticed there were a lot of asymmetries in the instruments. In principle they have no reason to be there, but it is possible these imperfections were made to remove the unpleasant harmonics that you get in symmetrical instruments.”
Beautiful designs and carved details is one of the signature elements about a Stradivari instrument. The ‘Messiah’ Stradivarius in particular is one of the most well known violins in the world and can be found at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, London, England.
Who Plays Stradivarius Violins?
Stradivarius violins are priceless. But even though one cannot put a price on such a masterpiece there are those willing to pay a substantial amount of money for these infamous violins at auctions.
The highest price paid for a Stradivarius violin is $16,000,000 (that’s R240,000,000).
The sky is the limit when it comes to auctioning a Stradivari made violin. There was an attempt on auctioning a viola at a minimum bid of an outstanding $45,000,000 (R675,000,000). Needless to say, the minimum bid wasn’t reached and remains in anonymous hands.
You will be happy to know that a beginner violin comes at a much more affordable price.
Those who plays stradivarius violins can confirm the priceless nature of this instrument and those listening to them playing, too. The famous virtuoso André Rieu is one of them. He plays with the sobriquet ex-Captain Saville.
Many violinists in the classical music world stand in awe of a Stradivarius violin and if they could describe them in only three words these would be:
- Brilliant
- Depth
- Character unlike anything else
Collectors, aristocrats and specialized violinists owns Stradivarius violins and some of them are safely adorned in museums.
Where Can I Find a Stradivarius Violin in South Africa?
Since the 19th century there have been thousands and thousands of replicas made of the Stradivarius violin. Until today, violin makers try to make certain ‘Strad’ models as accurately as possible. Hoping that they will revive the ‘sound of perfection’ once more and even though the built is almost identical, no amount of tuning can replicate the Stradivarius sound. This means you will be able to buy a violin that looks and sounds similar, but would never be an authentic Stradivarius. The copied models are more affordable and much easier to find.
The chances of finding a real Stradivarius in South Africa are very rare. The lucky few that own such a piece of history prefers to stay anonymous. Therefore, there is no way of knowing if there actually is someone that owns a real ’Strad’ in South Africa. Your best bet would be to attend an auction.
Only an expert can determine a violin’s authenticity. They look at the design, varnish texture and model wood characteristics. These specialists have gained their expertise by examining thousands of instruments.
If you are lucky, your grandfather might have an old violin that was stored away and forgotten about. Turns out it was a Stradivarius or very closely related and might need some repairs to restore it to its original state.
Did you know that you can learn to play the violin in the comfort of your own home? At Superprof, you can find beginner violin lessons for adults to help you learn how to play this magnificent instrument. Even better, your first lesson will be absolutely free.
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