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Scan 15
An Encyclopedia of the Violin, 1925
12 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1AUTHOR'S PREFACE
3While literature relating to the violin has been far from meager, there has never been projected, within the knowledge of the author, an encyclopedia covering adequately the matters of historical, mechanical, technical, critical and biographical importance which have profound interest for teachers, students and lovers of the "King of Instruments."
5In endeavoring to produce such a comprehensive work in my Encyclopedia of the Violin, I have based my labors on personal experience, and upon that of the numerous famous violinists with whom I have lived on a footing of friendship and intimacy; while in transcribing my thoughts I have been careful to bear in mind that clearness and exactness are essential, in view of the marked difference between "feeling" and "expression" in the elucidation of aesthetic matters.
7Were a work of this character to attempt to cover at length all the numerous subjects of vital interest, it would of necessity become a publication of many volumes. I have deemed it wiser to treat each topic with clarity and brevity, rather than exhaustively from the scholastic point of view, thus rendering it possible to produce the work in a single volume.
9A certain degree of systematic procedure has been adopted in the construction of the work, beginning with important matters such as the origin of the violin, its mechanical construction and famous makers. An at least elementary knowledge of these subjects is essential in the intelligent study of the instrument, thereby laying a foundation for clearer understanding of essays upon technical and aesthetic matters which follow.
11It would consume many pages of the book were I to attempt to enumerate by name all those broad-minded and kindly disposed virtuosos, pedagogues and scientific authorities on the violin who have encouraged me in the preparation of the manuscript and have aided with wise counsel and experience. I thank them one and all, and in particular my former teacher and life-long friend, Eugène Ysaÿe, who so whole-heartedly sponsors the work. May it be known to all those who derive instruction and pleasurable reading from this book that it was the constant encouragement and enthusiastic faith of this great artist which enabled me to labor unceasingly for many years toward its completion.
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