Anna, this was a beautifully-written post! Your stream-of-consciousness really appealed to me. This made me chuckle: "he meant a Stradivarius which is a rather obscure type of violin that probably nobody has ever heard of."
Not sure why but someone with an instrument seems more approachable than someone without an instrument.
My daughter is learning to play violin! Will keep this in mind if she ever searches for the One. Also, this kind of reminds me of that one time I upgraded my tennis racket from my high school one. I finally had some money and was willing to drop $200 on a racket and tried out five different ones and I went with the one that just "felt right." Sounds like yours was the right one all long :)
I agree about the approachability, one thing I love about busking versus performing on a stage is that all kinds of people stop to chat. That's so cool/cute that your daughter is learning violin. Was it her idea? I love searching for "the one" and geeking out on different options--most recently I've been searching for the perfect stereo receiver with the warmest sound (it's the Pioneer SX1010) and don't even get me started on violin bows!
Jillian got her into it! She’s been playing for two years. I never played any instrument as a kid or adult but watching her play is magical. I’ll look forward to your piece on the violin bow 😂
All the best stories are always the wizard of oz story. What you need and love--it's in your own backyard, always. But you know, the journey first. And then, home.
I love this so much! I dream of walking down a sunny street in Lisbon and hearing the opening, resonant, soaring notes of a violin, and following my ear which turns out is attached to my heart with a string I round the corner and it is you, and I put 100 euro in your case - all the cash I have after visiting the tattoo studio - and sit on the warm calcadas and listen to you for the next 2 hours.
Great storytelling, and the farmers' market luthier story made me happy. Human interaction at its best. I didn't cotton on that ”Josh” was Joshua Bell until reading it in the comments!
What a good story. I don't think you will sell your mom's violin. It is a sacred thing for you. It will stay with your family even if your child (ren) doesn't play it. Stradivarius -such a famous name that not playing violin (or any musical instrument) but loving listening to it, we knew the name. Maybe Oistrach or Vengerov even owned his violins.
This reminds me of my mum's story about leaving her childhood violin behind at her parents' house when she was evacuated to Wales during WWII and finding later that it had been broken. In old age when she told me the story, she was convinced that it was a small Stradivarius. I presumed that was wishful thinking, but who knows! She had another violin later and when my siblings and I sorted out the house after she and my dad died, it went with a bunch of items to a vintage shop. None of us play violin, so it was a pragmatic decision, but I regretted it afterwards. I hope it "went to a good home", as my mum would have said.
What a story, and now I want to read more about your mom’s childhood. It’s hard not to anthropomorphize (if that’s the word I want) a beloved instrument, and exactly why I can’t sell the one that belonged to my mom. Not yet at least.
Anna, this has prompted me to delve into more of my mum's papers, saved from when I cleared hers and dad's house after their deaths, and I've found her violin story – she wrote it down in 1987, thank goodness. I'd remembered some of the details wrongly. The 3/4 size violin was her constant companion during her time in Wales during the war and destroyed later. What I thought might have been wishful thinking in her much older age, when it was a memory she couldn't shake, regarding it being a Stradivarius, appears to be true! I'll write it up!
What a great read, Anna! It’s like you’re curating a late-night film—a soundtrack that’s been quietly playing all along, reminding us that the real art is the familiar score we never knew we needed.
I have a violin, my grandfather's second best violin (his best violin was made in 1752 and was sold after his death).
He took over from his father as conductor of an orchestra that played in various music halls.
As a member of the musical conductors association, he was once sat next to Sir Edward Elgar. After a short conversation Sir Edward said to him "I certainly couldn't do your job, playing a new repertoire every week with only one rehearsal". I thought, what a generous thing to say.
Anna, this was a beautifully-written post! Your stream-of-consciousness really appealed to me. This made me chuckle: "he meant a Stradivarius which is a rather obscure type of violin that probably nobody has ever heard of."
Hee, never heard of 'em.
Thanks Sheila, and thanks for laughing at my joke.
Not sure why but someone with an instrument seems more approachable than someone without an instrument.
My daughter is learning to play violin! Will keep this in mind if she ever searches for the One. Also, this kind of reminds me of that one time I upgraded my tennis racket from my high school one. I finally had some money and was willing to drop $200 on a racket and tried out five different ones and I went with the one that just "felt right." Sounds like yours was the right one all long :)
I agree about the approachability, one thing I love about busking versus performing on a stage is that all kinds of people stop to chat. That's so cool/cute that your daughter is learning violin. Was it her idea? I love searching for "the one" and geeking out on different options--most recently I've been searching for the perfect stereo receiver with the warmest sound (it's the Pioneer SX1010) and don't even get me started on violin bows!
Jillian got her into it! She’s been playing for two years. I never played any instrument as a kid or adult but watching her play is magical. I’ll look forward to your piece on the violin bow 😂
crazy you got to play a strad but i understand the reluctance. great as usual anna. you’ve had such an interesting time
Thanks! I'm glad some of my not-always-super rad escapades could end up being stories.
Great read Anna.. old friends are often our best!
Thanks Susie, it's so true
Love this. i’m ready for you take the viola or cello just so you can write another one!
You always slay me with the music pieces and i always tell you that
Thanks Tommy. We're on a roll.
All the best stories are always the wizard of oz story. What you need and love--it's in your own backyard, always. But you know, the journey first. And then, home.
I love this so much! I dream of walking down a sunny street in Lisbon and hearing the opening, resonant, soaring notes of a violin, and following my ear which turns out is attached to my heart with a string I round the corner and it is you, and I put 100 euro in your case - all the cash I have after visiting the tattoo studio - and sit on the warm calcadas and listen to you for the next 2 hours.
The tattoo studio, ey? Thanks Sandra!
yeah, I like ink, what can I say
Great storytelling, and the farmers' market luthier story made me happy. Human interaction at its best. I didn't cotton on that ”Josh” was Joshua Bell until reading it in the comments!
Thanks Maria!
What a good story. I don't think you will sell your mom's violin. It is a sacred thing for you. It will stay with your family even if your child (ren) doesn't play it. Stradivarius -such a famous name that not playing violin (or any musical instrument) but loving listening to it, we knew the name. Maybe Oistrach or Vengerov even owned his violins.
Thanks Larisa. Oistrakh definitely did play some Stradivari!
Thank you, Anna. You are an artist; I am only a listener.
I just love this essay. You made the relationships with your violins so poignant and funny. I was certain Dnd was Dungeons and Dragons too!
The mystery of the provenance your one true violin remains. As does the lousy dentist who took such an interest. What did he know?
Thanks David. And maybe it's good to have a mystery or two in one's life, I'm thinking.
This reminds me of my mum's story about leaving her childhood violin behind at her parents' house when she was evacuated to Wales during WWII and finding later that it had been broken. In old age when she told me the story, she was convinced that it was a small Stradivarius. I presumed that was wishful thinking, but who knows! She had another violin later and when my siblings and I sorted out the house after she and my dad died, it went with a bunch of items to a vintage shop. None of us play violin, so it was a pragmatic decision, but I regretted it afterwards. I hope it "went to a good home", as my mum would have said.
What a story, and now I want to read more about your mom’s childhood. It’s hard not to anthropomorphize (if that’s the word I want) a beloved instrument, and exactly why I can’t sell the one that belonged to my mom. Not yet at least.
Anna, this has prompted me to delve into more of my mum's papers, saved from when I cleared hers and dad's house after their deaths, and I've found her violin story – she wrote it down in 1987, thank goodness. I'd remembered some of the details wrongly. The 3/4 size violin was her constant companion during her time in Wales during the war and destroyed later. What I thought might have been wishful thinking in her much older age, when it was a memory she couldn't shake, regarding it being a Stradivarius, appears to be true! I'll write it up!
Holy Cannoli!! Can't wait to read it Wendy.
What a reflection!
Leaves me with so much to think about…
What a great read, Anna! It’s like you’re curating a late-night film—a soundtrack that’s been quietly playing all along, reminding us that the real art is the familiar score we never knew we needed.
That is such a cool way to describe it, and means a lot coming from you
It was Mary Stuart Masterson the whole time. I loved this.
Haha. It was.
I have a violin, my grandfather's second best violin (his best violin was made in 1752 and was sold after his death).
He took over from his father as conductor of an orchestra that played in various music halls.
As a member of the musical conductors association, he was once sat next to Sir Edward Elgar. After a short conversation Sir Edward said to him "I certainly couldn't do your job, playing a new repertoire every week with only one rehearsal". I thought, what a generous thing to say.
Wow, thanks for sharing this Tom
Did you really play a Stradivari? Cremona is about one hour drive from Milano, where I live.
Lucky you! I definitely spent some time lurking around the violin shops when I was there