Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
There was a classical violin player, I wish I could remember his name, who secretly played a rare strad nearly al his life that was stolen. It was a big story at the time when, on his death bed, he confessed.
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
Don't know about raising the dosh for the Gibson, but it wasn't the only Strad he owned!!
The Gibson is now in the hands of Joshua Bell http://www.jose-sanchez-penzo.net/stIn_G-I.html
Fascinating story
Norbert Brainin was the leader of the Amadeus String Quartet, then the world's premier classical quartet, so it doesn't surprise me that he would have been able to get hold of that instrument. He would very likely have sold another fine quality fiddle in a similar price range as part of the deal. Violinists at that level would be after an instrument with the particular tone colour they want, so it's not all that uncommon for a soloist to "exchange" a Guarneri for a Strad, or vice versa. Another scenario would be a consortium buying the instrument on behalf of the player.
In Brainin's youth top quality old instruments were easier to get hold of in the UK than they are now - they hadn't yet all disappeared overseas into the hands of rich investors or collectors. For instance, when I was at school in the '50s I remember seeing an Amati cello for sale in a local violin shop (the shop's is still there, but now under a different name). As I recollect, the asking price was £400. A lot of money in those days for the average person, but in the price range of a good quality car, so it would have been affordable to a professional who needed it.
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
At £200K I'd be holding that fiddle next to my chest all the way home! What on earth was he thinking of? Me mum's old fiddle? What time's me dinner? Must put diesel in the car? Unbelievable...or am I being uncharitable?
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
Even the sharpest people get preoccupied at times. And I'm not sure the monetary value makes much of a difference--I'd not trade my current $3k fiddle for any I've played costing 10 times as much, so it's just as irreplaceable (for me). Sure, I baby it and keep a close eye on it, but lapses do happen. Although I think the worst I've ever done so far is to open the case at my session and realize I've left all my bows at home in another case....
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
Apparently the guy was doing his best to just look like any other passenger and so took a conscious decision to just place it in the luggage rack:
"I've relived the moment. I think when I put it on the luggage rack I thought I couldn't possibly forget it, and I didn't want to appear different. I was trying to behave normally."
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
There is the story of another lost Strad that a musician at UCLA lost. He may have left it on the roof of his car and it fell off onto the Ventura Freeway. Where it was found by of all people a violin teacher. She kept it and kept it a secret till she died, even though an APB had been put out on it.
She had to know it was the missing Strad. After she died it left to a nephew and ended up wife his ex-wife. Here's whe whole story:
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
Another senior moment ... an elderly lady violinist in my chamber orchestra came out of a concert we did out in the sticks, put her fiddle case down by her car, got in, and drove off back home. Fortunately, another member of the orchestra saw what happened, picked up the case and chased after her all the 15 miles back to Bristol, only just in time to catch her as she was opening the back door of the car to get her fiddle out. It wasn't a Strad, or anything like it, but still a good instrument worth 4 figures.
If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
You in the UK, keep your eyes peeled for a nice old fiddle:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080415/ap_on_fe_st/odd_lost_violin;_ylt=ArGzdRTqkJBQQrhcXojsPqes0NUE
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
There was a classical violin player, I wish I could remember his name, who secretly played a rare strad nearly al his life that was stolen. It was a big story at the time when, on his death bed, he confessed.
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
The stolen Strad confession story.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9505E3DA1038F935A35752C1A960958260
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by joesmith
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
blimey, what a sad sad story.
(And I wonder where that British violinist Norbert Brainin got $1.2 million from. And as he's now dead, where the fiddle is now?)
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
Don't know about raising the dosh for the Gibson, but it wasn't the only Strad he owned!!
The Gibson is now in the hands of Joshua Bell
http://www.jose-sanchez-penzo.net/stIn_G-I.html
Fascinating story
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by domnull
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
See also http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/16934.
Norbert Brainin was the leader of the Amadeus String Quartet, then the world's premier classical quartet, so it doesn't surprise me that he would have been able to get hold of that instrument. He would very likely have sold another fine quality fiddle in a similar price range as part of the deal. Violinists at that level would be after an instrument with the particular tone colour they want, so it's not all that uncommon for a soloist to "exchange" a Guarneri for a Strad, or vice versa. Another scenario would be a consortium buying the instrument on behalf of the player.
In Brainin's youth top quality old instruments were easier to get hold of in the UK than they are now - they hadn't yet all disappeared overseas into the hands of rich investors or collectors. For instance, when I was at school in the '50s I remember seeing an Amati cello for sale in a local violin shop (the shop's is still there, but now under a different name). As I recollect, the asking price was £400. A lot of money in those days for the average person, but in the price range of a good quality car, so it would have been affordable to a professional who needed it.
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by lazyhound
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
There's a 16th century italian job just gone missing on the English railway (sic) system ......
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by Ebor_fiddler
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
Hmmm....there's an echo in here.....
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
That's a 17th century Italian job.
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by Pirate-Fiddler
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
At £200K I'd be holding that fiddle next to my chest all the way home! What on earth was he thinking of? Me mum's old fiddle? What time's me dinner? Must put diesel in the car? Unbelievable...or am I being uncharitable?
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by john knoss
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
Even the sharpest people get preoccupied at times. And I'm not sure the monetary value makes much of a difference--I'd not trade my current $3k fiddle for any I've played costing 10 times as much, so it's just as irreplaceable (for me). Sure, I baby it and keep a close eye on it, but lapses do happen. Although I think the worst I've ever done so far is to open the case at my session and realize I've left all my bows at home in another case....
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
Is that how you took up the mandolin?
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by lazyhound
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
LOL, let's just say it was a pizzacato night....
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
Apparently the guy was doing his best to just look like any other passenger and so took a conscious decision to just place it in the luggage rack:
"I've relived the moment. I think when I put it on the luggage rack I thought I couldn't possibly forget it, and I didn't want to appear different. I was trying to behave normally."
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by triplet
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
There is the story of another lost Strad that a musician at UCLA lost. He may have left it on the roof of his car and it fell off onto the Ventura Freeway. Where it was found by of all people a violin teacher. She kept it and kept it a secret till she died, even though an APB had been put out on it.
She had to know it was the missing Strad. After she died it left to a nephew and ended up wife his ex-wife. Here's whe whole story:
http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/pearl101794.htm
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by Pirate-Fiddler
Re: If Your Local Scrapey Fiddler Suddenly Sounds Better....
Another senior moment ... an elderly lady violinist in my chamber orchestra came out of a concert we did out in the sticks, put her fiddle case down by her car, got in, and drove off back home. Fortunately, another member of the orchestra saw what happened, picked up the case and chased after her all the 15 miles back to Bristol, only just in time to catch her as she was opening the back door of the car to get her fiddle out. It wasn't a Strad, or anything like it, but still a good instrument worth 4 figures.
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by lazyhound