Scan 295
The violin: its famous makers and their imitators, 1875
2 lines. Read by computer on 1 October 2026. Printed page 235. See the scan on archive.org.
1when once a demand sets in. Men of enterprise rise with it unnoticed, and lead the way to the desired end. In the case of Italian Violins it was Louis Tarisio who acted as pioneer, a being of singular habits, whose position in the history of the Violin considered as a curiosity, is an important one. This remarkable man was born of humble parents, wholly unconnected with the musical art. In due time he chose the trade of a carpenter, which vocation he followed with assiduity, if not with love. He amused himself during his leisure hours in acquiring a knowledge of playing on the Violin, an accomplishment that was destined to exercise a considerable influence on his future life, far greater than contemplated by the young carpenter. That his playing was not of a high order may be readily imagined: it was confined chiefly to dance music, with which he amused his friends, fiddling to their dancing. His first Violin was a very common instrument, but it served to engender within him that which afterwards became the ruling passion of his life. His study of this little instrument was the seed from which grew his vast knowledge of Italian works. So much was his attention absorbed by the form of the instrument that any skill in playing upon it became quite a secondary consideration. He endeavoured to see all the Violins within his reach, and to observe their several points of difference. The passion for old Violins thus awakened caused him to relinquish his former employment entirely,
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