Books › Old Violins And Their Makers, 1883 › scan 137
Scan 137
Old Violins And Their Makers, 1883
4 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 123. See the scan on archive.org.
1may think £1000 a somewhat absurd sum as the price of an instrument for which its maker was content to accept £3 16s., and on which rate of payment he was even enabled to grow rich, but it is unlikely now that any of the four potent figures will recede, even if it were proved that modern violin makers can come perilously near the degree of excellence attained by these high-class instruments, being, as they are, almost all in the possession of those who are quite beyond the reach of merely commercial influences. It is the search for second and third-rate violins that does most of the mischief. Many of these latter are not one whit better than the best class of modern-made fiddles, and numbers of them are much inferior. Many an eager struggle for the possession of a violin with a name would have repaid the expenditure of energy a hundredfold and at a tenth of the money cost, had the search been prosecuted among modern makers and the object been a violin with a tone. I, for one, hope the time may soon come when this hunting after shadows will be discontinued, and when an increased general knowledge of the subject will result in the prevalence of more rational counsels.
3Judging from outward appearances, we are on the eve of becoming a great musical nation, if the important movement which has been started under the most illustrious auspices yield those results which, I think, we are fairly justified in expecting from it. Is it too much to suggest that a portion of that influence which is being exerted in this direction, and a small part of the funds to be appropriated for its support, be set aside for the foundation and nurture of a national school of violin making?
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