Scan 13
Famous Violinists and Fine Violins: Historical Notes, Anecdotes, and …, 1896
12 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1PREFACE
3There was, sure enough, a magnificent violin, with a brilliant golden varnish which would have shamed Joseph Guarnerius filius Andreae himself. The strings were perfectly new and clean, and the bow, of a lovely crimson colour, with its white hair and ivory nut, appeared splendid. According to my father's instructions, the bow was passed several times over the rosin before being drawn across the strings, and when at last this operation was performed, there issued from the instrument, which had been carefully tuned, the most extraordinary sound; it was something between that of an Eolian harp and the buzzing of a bumble-bee.
5It pleased me exceedingly, and I was delighted at the ease with which it was produced; but, at the same time, a feeling of powerlessness came over me as the sounds on the open strings were repeated several times, and the want of variety took possession of my mind. It was like the music of some composers I could name—mostly fifths, and decidedly monotonous.
7My excellent father grasped the situation at once, and showing me how to hold the instrument properly, he placed my fingers on the finger-board, pressing them down and pulling them up alternately, whilst I drew the bow across the strings, and caused it to scrape out a simple little melody.
9That was my first lesson on the violin.
11In a few days, sitting up in bed, and grasping the
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