Scan 118
The violin & its story : or, the history & construction of the violin, 1905
6 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 102. See the scan on archive.org.
1But if the violin maker wishes to work neither on Bagatella's model nor yet upon one of his own, he can still—and this is by far the best course—take an established pattern, so long as he is careful to assure himself that his pattern is genuine, and has not been "tinkered" or tampered with. In our day the model of Stradivarius is the one which, with proper care in following it, yields by far the best results.
3We must here say, yet once more, that the selection of good wood is, and remains, of the very greatest importance. Without this, all patterns and all rules are useless, and the most skilful and careful worker cannot attain to excellence without an intimate knowledge of the materials upon which he works. Our greatest masters are known not merely by the exterior splendour of their instruments, but more than all by their intimate knowledge of their wood; and they never wasted their art upon inferior materials. The instruments of the Italian makers were eagerly sought, and well paid for. Thus they achieved a prosperous position, and could well afford to use only the very best materials. On this point a well-known author says:—
5"Vuillaume journeyed almost every year to Switzerland and the Tyrol in search of the best wood. Wherever he found a door, a table, or a bench likely to serve his purpose, he straightway bought it; and by means of hard cash, despoiled the instrument makers and timber dealers of their best stuff. Who then amongst our own people, or amongst existing Italian makers, is able to do as Vuillaume does, enjoying as he does an assured independent annual income of £1,200 a year? What avails if our makers copy the great masters? The secret lies not in the outward shape. I have seen so many imitations, made with wondrous skill, but at the finish I can only say—Stradivarius would never have touched these materials. The copyist cuts everything in strict accordance with all the rules; but his copy is still only a copy."
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