Books › British violin-makers classical and modern; being a biographical and critical dictionary of British makers of the violin from the foundation of the classical school to the end of the nineteenth century, 1904 › scan 79
Scan 79
British violin-makers classical and modern; being a biographical and critical dictionary of British makers of the violin from the foundation of the classical school to the end of the nineteenth century, 1904
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1of fire wherever the oil varnish has chipped or worn. Not that it has chipped much, for even now it is perfectly tender and elastic. The composition of his varnish is as (or nearly as) described in the above-named book. Mr. Heron-Allen is of opinion, however, that no one can give a perfect recipe for varnish; it is, he says, just like making claret-cup or punch, one begins with a rough formula, and tastes and adds this and that as it seems required, until it is all right. No varnish worth the name, he further maintains, can be made on a set-fast formula—varnishes so composed vary at various seasons and in various climates. It is interesting to note that the Rev. H. R. Haweis appears to hold an identical opinion (see "Old Violins," p. 149). Mr. Heron-Allen's fiddles have matured very rapidly, considering that they are left very thick in wood. The tone is reported to be large and mellow, and of great equality on all the strings. Joachim, Wilhelmj, Johannes Wolff, Simonetti, and a host of other great violinists have played upon the Joseph copy (Mr. Heron-Allen's favourite instrument), and have expressed some astonishment and a great deal of kind admiration at it.
3Mr. Heron-Allen has ceased to make fiddles, but is keener than ever on Fiddle Lore. Since 1885 he has continued to amass books on the subject, and he is proud to possess a good many works which are not represented in the British Museum, the Bibliothèque Nationale, nor in the Bibliothèque Royale in Brussels. He published a catalogue of them in 1891–94, in two volumes, quarto, under the title of De Fidiculis Bibliographia, comprising about 1400 items. For his first book he was sent by the Commissioners of the Inventions and Music Exhibition of 1885 to collect ancient musical instruments, and he received a certificate of merit and a silver medal; for his Bibliography he was elected Socio Onorario e Benemerito of the Academia di Santa Cecilia in Rome. His further publications have been "Hodges v. Chanot—the History of a Celebrated Case," "Fidiculana," and a book of essays on the violin, "The Letters of de Beriot," "The Seal of Roger Wade," a curious early document upon the Welsh Crwth, and "The
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