Books › Voice and violin, 1898 › scan 212
Scan 212
Voice and violin, 1898
10 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 192. See the scan on archive.org.
1Stainer instrument are enthusiastic in their praises. The tone is described as sweet, powerful, round as that of a flute, and especially brilliant and sparkling on the first string. The pattern of these violins is somewhat smaller than those of most Cremona instruments, and the scroll is marvellously well cut; in some of his violins it terminates in the head of a lion, most beautifully carved. The wood is also handsome and well chosen. Otto says, "The colour of the varnish is reddish yellow; but some have the back and sides dark brown, and the table yellow."
3It is wonderful to relate that poor Jacob Stainer often could not obtain more than about twelve shillings for one of these excellent instruments! Nevertheless, his fame as a violin-maker gained for him the distinguished title of "Violin-maker to the Emperor."
5On the 7th October 1645, Stainer married, none too soon, a village belle of Absom, named Marguerite Holzhammer. This occurred when he was twenty-four years of age, so that he could not have been more than a few years at Cremona. His family increased quite as rapidly as his renown.
7On the 29th October 1658 he was appointed "Court Violin-maker to the Archduke Leopold" of Austria, and on 9th of July 1669, "Violin-maker to the Emperor."
9But misery overtook him in spite of everything,
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