Books › Voice and violin, 1898 › scan 211
Scan 211
Voice and violin, 1898
10 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 191. See the scan on archive.org.
1life," and constructed "violins of super-eminent beauty and quality," with yellow varnish of a golden hue. There were sixteen, one of which was presented to each of the twelve Electors, and the remaining four to the Emperor."
3"Unfortunately," says Pearce, "thirteen of these appear to have been lost, and the remainder have all been in royal hands, the Empress Maria Theresa, the Duke of Orleans (grandfather of King Louis Philippe), and Frederick William of Prussia, and been presented by them (except the last) to eminent violinists."
5I am sorry to say that some German writers at present look upon that romantic story as a myth. But the life of the monk, Marcus Stainer, is worth looking into. Nothing, or scarcely anything, is known about him at present.
7Otto, the German violin-maker, and author of a little treatise on the subject, assures us that Stainer's violins were quite equal in elegance, finish, and tone to those of the greatest makers of Cremona. They, naturally enough, have the most resemblance to those of Nicolo Amati, his master, but they are somewhat more raised in the table. The purfling is beautifully executed, narrow, and placed very near the borders; the sound-holes are shorter and not so elegant as those of Stradivari.
9All those who have played upon a genuine
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