Books › The reminiscences of a fiddle dealer, 1925 › scan 52
Scan 52
The reminiscences of a fiddle dealer, 1925
8 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 28. See the scan on archive.org.
1The Fiddle Dealer
3artistes sat, was practically the lid of a hollow wooden box. M. Servais was in the habit of using a wooden rest pin, which has an injurious effect on the tone of any instrument when placed on a wooden floor, and when, as in this case, there was a hollow space under the flooring, the effect which would have been tubby on any instrument was of course exaggerated in the Strad. 'cello.
5Thinking that it might not have occurred to M. Servais to do without his rest pin I went into the artistes' room, where the quartette were, and after some general conversation I introduced the subject. M. Servais, however, had been trained to use the rest pin, as indeed nearly all artistes outside England are, and would not hear of giving it up. I mentioned that Piatti, for whom I knew he, like his father, had a great admiration, had been taught to play without the rest pin and never used it. M. Servais was much interested in hearing this, but said frankly he was so accustomed to it that he simply could not do without it. Of course, the belief is that with the rest pin the volume of tone is greatly increased and without doubt this is so; but it would never make up to me in volume what it takes away from the quality of the tone. My persuasions having no effect, I let the matter rest.
7M. Servais was greatly esteemed as a teacher, he was a thoroughly well-grounded and cultivated musician. He had enjoyed many advantages
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