Books › Musical instruments, 1925 › scan 172
Scan 172
Musical instruments, 1925
10 lines. Read by computer on 21 September 2026. Printed page 158. See the scan on archive.org.
1family, a great command of all shadings from pp to ff is possible, which implies great emotional expressiveness. This dynamic range and the facility of transition from one extreme to the other is scarcely equalled by any other type of instrument. When the entire string group give voice to an appealing theme, the effect is sometimes overwhelming.
3In referring to the Violin of Cremona as a perfect instrument, the term is not employed casually, but with a full realization of its import, for although many later instrument makers have labored conscientiously, and have sought to improve upon the old models, no vital betterments have been introduced, and the greatest claim that can be made in behalf of a given modern Violin is that it equals one of those fashioned by the old masters, which are ever in demand.
5The high valuation placed upon these ancient instruments serves to emphasize the significance of the word "perfect," which we know is an adjective admitting of no comparison. When any feature or detail of a perfect work is altered or over-accented, a lack of proportion ensues, and it is no longer perfect. This is true not only of a work of art, but also of a style of architecture, poetry or music.
7THE STRING QUARTET
9Seeing that the Violin family possess the gift of portamento, employing the delicate transitions from
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