1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:04,280 Speaker 1: Welcome to you stuff you should know from house stuff 2 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:13,319 Speaker 1: works dot com. Hey, welcome to the podcast. I'm Josh Clark, 3 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: there's Charles W Chuck Bryant, and there's Jerry Rolling. Yeah, 4 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: Jerry said right before she press record, I'm sleepy three one. 5 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 1: Oh really, Yeah, I didn't hear you. Didn't you notice that? Did? 6 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: I was just memorizing. I was practicing what I was 7 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,560 Speaker 1: gonna say. Oh, that's right, I'll go ahead. I just did. 8 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 1: Oh I was successful. You're practicing. Help. Hey, welcome to 9 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: the podcast. Uh should we talk fiddles? Uh? Yeah, chuck 10 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: fiddle d D. Let's do I bought one a few 11 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 1: years ago. By the way, I took one lesson. Uh huh, 12 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:52,239 Speaker 1: and you became an expert. No, that's just me, man, 13 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: That's how things go with me. I have a lot 14 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 1: of things that I've been like, I'm gonna do this, 15 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: go allow of balls in the air. Yeah. Specifically musically, 16 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 1: I bought a steel guitar and I didn't learn to 17 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: play that. I bought a keyboard and was gonna learn 18 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:10,960 Speaker 1: to play piano. Didn't do that. The violin. I'm keeping 19 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: a violin though. So you're stimulating the economy, Yeah, pretty much, 20 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: and I usually keep just like sell that and use 21 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: that money to buy the next thing. I don't play, 22 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:23,279 Speaker 1: but I don't know, like I know how to play guitar. 23 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 1: So I'm kind of realizing at my age, like maybe 24 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 1: that's all it's gonna be. You're a guitar man, like 25 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 1: Bread said. Yeah, but used I used to want to 26 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: be like man by the time I die. I want 27 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,399 Speaker 1: to be able to play all the stringed instruments. That 28 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 1: was my goal, and I've learned one. I mean that's 29 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: more than some people. I don't. I don't know how 30 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: to play any stringed instruments. So but you don't care 31 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 1: to it sounds like no. I mean, well, so you 32 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 1: consider the piano stringed instrument. Uh it's got strings so yeah, 33 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 1: as a percussion or is it stringers? It both? Well, 34 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 1: a little hammer hits the strings percussion interesting, um, whereas 35 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 1: a harpsichord is plucked. Yeah, talking piano, I wish I 36 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 1: could play the piano. I'd like to learn that one day. 37 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:10,640 Speaker 1: My brother took lessons as a kid and my sister, 38 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: but I didn't. Oh yeah, Scott can still play a 39 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:18,639 Speaker 1: little bit today of course. Hey Scott super bro. Uh 40 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 1: so the fiddle. A little history here before we get 41 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 1: into the man um the fiddle or violin. There's no difference, 42 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: by the way, is that right? Yep? One pronounced one 43 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: way and the others pronounced the other way. Yeah, it's 44 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: a little and I thought there was a difference when 45 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 1: I bought mine. I was like, well, what's the difference, 46 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 1: And it's just and how you play it. They're like 47 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 1: kill billies play fiddles. Yeah, other people play violin exactly. 48 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: So the fiddle at first was not a well regarded instrument. 49 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 1: It was thought of as a sort of a cheap 50 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,839 Speaker 1: tavern instrument, you know, like you'd get drunk and hop 51 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:54,359 Speaker 1: up on the table at the tavern and beat out 52 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: a little Irish jig. Uh yeah, And it didn't have 53 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: a good reputation. Win well, I mean this is uh 54 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: the sixteenth century, Okay. So then initially yeah, okay, yeah, 55 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 1: I'm with you, I'm okay hang uh. And then even 56 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 1: in parts of Italy, at first the church ordered the 57 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,919 Speaker 1: destruction of violins. They were so like look down upon. 58 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 1: And then a lady named Catherine de Medici got on 59 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 1: board and she's like, this thing is wonderful. I'm gonna 60 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 1: order thirty eight of them for my court from this 61 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 1: guy named Nicholas Amati who was the grandson of the 62 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 1: great violin maker Andrea Amadi. Actually she probably bought them 63 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 1: from Andrea if it was and um, yeah, it was 64 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: fifteen sixty four, and uh, that was it. Things started 65 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: to change and that's literally what kind of led the 66 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: violin down a path of respectability. Yeah. Once you introduced 67 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: it into court, people tend to follow suit. Yeah. Um yeah. 68 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 1: So the the Amadi's lived in a place called Cremona, Italy, right, 69 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 1: and Cremona because the Amadis lived there, who were basically 70 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 1: the de factor inventors of the violin, cello and viola 71 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: as we recognize them today. Because that's where they were from, 72 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:22,040 Speaker 1: Cremona became the center of violin production, stringed instrument production, 73 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: plain and simple. Yeah, which is pretty neat, like the 74 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:28,600 Speaker 1: the idea that that's where violence came from and that 75 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 1: they're that recent in origin, and of course that goes 76 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: further back than that, like lutes were obviously around long 77 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 1: before the violin. But again, if you look at a 78 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 1: violin today and say, oh, it's a violin, you can 79 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 1: thank the Amadis of cremona for for making that recognizable 80 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 1: to you. Yeah, and here's another cool little fact. The 81 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 1: uh the you know, the fancy beautiful shape of a 82 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 1: violin is not for aesthetics. It is all about the 83 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:58,360 Speaker 1: sound that it makes. The violin doesn't give a damn 84 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:00,800 Speaker 1: whether you think that looks good. Well, it turned out 85 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: to look beautiful. But all those curves allow for equal 86 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 1: resonance of all the notes, which if it was more 87 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 1: basically shaped, certain notes would be sound better than others. 88 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:17,159 Speaker 1: Huh so um. That allowed the entire fingerboard to sound 89 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:20,239 Speaker 1: wonderful well. Plus Also, if you look at a violin 90 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 1: face on, sure, uh, if you go down the sides 91 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: in the middle, it's cut in. Those are called seabouts. 92 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 1: Those actually have a practical purpose, I'm sure, in addition 93 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: to helping produce sound. But it allows the bow to 94 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 1: play the strings on either side without hitting the body 95 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:41,479 Speaker 1: of the violin. Pretty clever. It's really hard to play. 96 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:47,280 Speaker 1: I can't stress that enough. It's like I thought, this 97 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 1: is not so different than the guitar. Like I'm just 98 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 1: holding it under my neck and using a bow instead 99 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 1: of fingers. That's got to be a pretty big difference. 100 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 1: It's a huge difference fingers bow totally different. You're born 101 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 1: with one the other. You have to like buy well, 102 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:05,239 Speaker 1: it's it's a combination of pressure on a string, angle 103 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:08,160 Speaker 1: of the bow on the string, pressure from your parents, 104 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:13,440 Speaker 1: placement of the bow on like as far as how 105 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 1: far down it is, up and down the violin um speed. 106 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:22,039 Speaker 1: It's like there's like ten different things that go into 107 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 1: making a sound on a violin that you have to 108 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:29,160 Speaker 1: do successfully all at once. It's really really hard. Like 109 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 1: I was intimidated and went in the closet. You go, 110 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: maybe my daughter will play one day and it will 111 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:37,359 Speaker 1: be waiting for her. So we'll see. But should we 112 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 1: go over the parts? I know you mentioned the sea about? Sure, 113 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 1: sea about is my favorite, so you take it from there. Well, 114 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:45,479 Speaker 1: if you look at the violind you got the very 115 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:48,839 Speaker 1: above those little tuning pegs which are contained in the 116 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:51,600 Speaker 1: peg box. You've got the scroll, which is that kind 117 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 1: of curvy, lovely fancy piece at the top. Uh. Then 118 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:58,840 Speaker 1: you have the neck and the fingerboard. The neck goes 119 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: from basically down to the body of the violin, but 120 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:06,039 Speaker 1: the fingerboard continues on through it. Uh the upper bout, 121 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:08,679 Speaker 1: the lower about and then that sea about You mentioned, 122 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 1: which is also called the waist. Then you have your 123 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: two f holes cut on either side, the fancy holes. Yeah, 124 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 1: they look like f's. Uh. Then you have your bridge, 125 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: which is the very thin piece of wood that keeps 126 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 1: the strings you know, off of the violin body itself 127 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 1: and taught. Then you have your tailpiece at the bottom 128 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:31,240 Speaker 1: where the strings end, and then the all important chin rest. 129 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: And that's a violin. Bam, go make one now I'm leaving. 130 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 1: So again, there was the amadis that came up with 131 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: the the violin you just described. That's right. And one 132 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 1: of the amadis the grandson of Andrea Amati, who I 133 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 1: think is credited with inventing the violin basically. Um, but 134 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 1: his grandson, Nicola uh, taught a young man by the 135 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: name of Antonio and and only a Strativiry. That name 136 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 1: sounds familiar, Yeah, Uh. Antonio Stradivari was born in Cremona. 137 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 1: They're not sure when they think, probably about sixty four. 138 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 1: Life is a bit of a mystery, his young life 139 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 1: at least, right, not a lot of great records on it. 140 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: Do you know what? This just a jog my memory. 141 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 1: We never explained why Alexander Hamilton would shave two years 142 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 1: off of his age, even though we specifically said we 143 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 1: were going to. Well that's awesome. Should we follow up now? 144 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:34,560 Speaker 1: Probably not. I think people would get mad. Yeah, if 145 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: you want to know, right in and we'll tell you, 146 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 1: or maybe we'll post it on such means. I think 147 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 1: that's better. Yeah, but who cares. We're talking Stradivaria now. Yeah, 148 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:46,680 Speaker 1: we've moved on all right. So Stradivari. Uh, there's not 149 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 1: very good records, um about his his youth. I think 150 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: as you said, um, but he pops up in sixteen 151 00:08:53,960 --> 00:09:00,960 Speaker 1: sixty six at the very latest. That's right. Violin pops 152 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 1: up in sixteen sixty six. I should say. It has 153 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:07,560 Speaker 1: an inscription on it and a label actually uh, And 154 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: if you translated to English, it says made by Antonio 155 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 1: Stradivari of cremona pupil of Nicolo Amati in sixteen sixty six. 156 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 1: Well done a year of satan. Uh. And that means 157 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 1: he was either a pupil, which it clearly says, or 158 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 1: a bit of a bit of a stretch of the truth, 159 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 1: in a bit of a ruse in a career move. Really. Yeah, 160 00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 1: there's some people that say, and that's why I was wondering. 161 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: It says people believe some people believe he was a pupil. Yeah, 162 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 1: I didn't the well it says he was a pupil 163 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 1: and the inscription. But the other thought is that maybe 164 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 1: it was a bit of a career move to say 165 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: I was taught by the grade Amati um who's dead 166 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 1: now and can't say otherwise. Maybe, but who knows. I 167 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: bet he was probably a pupil. Actually he wasn't dead, 168 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:57,200 Speaker 1: so that would have been pretty uh gutsy to have 169 00:09:57,280 --> 00:10:00,319 Speaker 1: done that, because um Amati didn't die for many years, 170 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:03,080 Speaker 1: many more years after sixteen sixty six. So I think 171 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 1: the common consensus is that he was a pupil of 172 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 1: the body. He would have said, he's stealing in my business, 173 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 1: So what up with that? Man? This thing is gonna 174 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:16,040 Speaker 1: be lousy with that, alright. So sixteen sixty six, you 175 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 1: are correct, he builds his very first violin on his own. Uh. 176 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: He continues to build violens on his own in his attic, 177 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 1: which was apparently the tradition attic violin building? Was it? 178 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 1: That's what it said. I guess that was just like 179 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 1: where you would put your workshop. Who knows, maybe it 180 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 1: I don't know. Have you ever seen the movie The 181 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:43,319 Speaker 1: Red Violin. Yes, great movie, agreed, like stick with it. 182 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 1: I think I might have seen that on your recommendation 183 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 1: years ago, if I'm not mistaken. Uh yeah, really good 184 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:54,199 Speaker 1: movie though. Um so he's making violence. He moves into 185 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: a home in sixteen eighty and um he started to 186 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 1: get some recognition as a great builder and maker of violins, 187 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: a great craftsman. He did, h and he was still 188 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 1: kind of living in the shadow of the Amadi's um 189 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 1: But when uh Nicola Amadi died in sixteen eighty four, 190 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 1: by this time everyone said, this guy is Cremona's best 191 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 1: maker of violins, which since Cremona was the world capital 192 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:24,720 Speaker 1: of violin making and they were made elsewhere, but Cremona 193 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:26,559 Speaker 1: was like the place where the best were made, the 194 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 1: crem of the Cremona Right, that made him the world's 195 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:32,440 Speaker 1: best violin maker. And he hadn't even entered his golden 196 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 1: period yet. Yeah, and he was making more than violins. 197 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:39,840 Speaker 1: He's making cellos and guitars and mandolins and harps uh 198 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:45,559 Speaker 1: pretty much anything with strings except harpsichords. Who knows, he 199 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:47,960 Speaker 1: might have made a harpsichord that that'd be worth a 200 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:51,079 Speaker 1: lot probably. So, Uh, all right, should we take a 201 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 1: break here, Yes, all right, we'll get into more craftsmanship 202 00:11:55,640 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 1: right after this. M alright. So Strativari is following in 203 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 1: Amadi's amati It's footsteps, but he's also like, you know 204 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 1: what I'm gonna, I'm gonna start tweaking this thing, Yeah, 205 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,840 Speaker 1: and craft my own brand of violin. Uh. And he 206 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 1: does so. He said, I'm gonna use some new materials, 207 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: maybe some new finishes. I'm gonna I'm gonna make that 208 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:38,599 Speaker 1: c about a little straighter then you're used to. And 209 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: then f's a little straighter the f holes Is it straighter? 210 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: Was that the deal? I knew? We altered the f 211 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 1: hole some and uh something with the scroll too, Is 212 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:52,440 Speaker 1: that right? He made it more amazing, and he made 213 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 1: the scroll larger, the f holes not only straighter, but longer, 214 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:04,320 Speaker 1: larger scroll, and a and a straighter and stronger seabout 215 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:09,199 Speaker 1: that was like mechanically that those were the biggest differences, right. 216 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 1: But he also crucially came up with his own formula 217 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:15,839 Speaker 1: for a varnish. Um It's a very easily recognized, deep 218 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:21,080 Speaker 1: deep red brown varnish that his violins have. It's very handsome, 219 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 1: but a lot of people, as will see later, believe 220 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:29,439 Speaker 1: that it's possibly the varnish that makes strato various violins 221 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 1: so great because when he made these changes, not only 222 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:37,840 Speaker 1: was he making these changes to the the shape and 223 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: appearance of the violin um, he was also like a 224 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 1: master would in layer like the craftsmanship that his violins 225 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 1: had or just unparalleled. They're flawless, flawless works of art 226 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 1: as musical instruments. So in addition to just being a 227 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 1: flawless work of art, they also sounded better than anything 228 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:04,080 Speaker 1: anything that could possibly um compare to be compared to 229 00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 1: it um. And what's really exceptional about Strata various is 230 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 1: it's not just one of those things where like, oh 231 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 1: the name is actually what what is really driving it? 232 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 1: A strata various violin that's three years old today is 233 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 1: probably better than any violin that's been produced in the 234 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 1: last three hundred years, including a brand new one. Like 235 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 1: they're only now getting to the point where they can 236 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:34,600 Speaker 1: they they've discovered techniques where they can start to replicate 237 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 1: the sound of strativarius. That's how good this guy's violins were. 238 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 1: That that it's not it's not a joke, it's not hyperbole. 239 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 1: Of how great the strata various violins were, they are 240 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:47,080 Speaker 1: still the ones that this guy made by hand are 241 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 1: still the best violins in the world. That's really saying 242 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 1: something considering how much progress we've made in the last 243 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 1: three hundred years on just about everything. And and these 244 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 1: are you know, for the the finest uh tuned ear 245 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 1: is in the world. Like, clearly there are flawless amazing 246 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 1: instruments and violins being produced since then. But for the 247 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: true like aficionado, they can spot the difference. Apparently, Oh yeah, 248 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 1: like you and I can't know. But people whose job 249 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:24,560 Speaker 1: it is to um identifying a praise strata various violence 250 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 1: say that comparing it to a non strut strata various 251 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 1: like a knockoff or something, is like comparing a ferrari 252 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 1: to a school bus. It's like that. Obvious people like 253 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 1: saying things like that, it's a great quote. We're just 254 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:41,320 Speaker 1: a couple of schumps. What do we know? Um, so 255 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:47,040 Speaker 1: it just might be a new gag. So uh. He 256 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 1: and his first wife had six kids. He was good 257 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 1: at having kids. He and his second wife. His wife 258 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 1: sadly died in He got remarried and had five more 259 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 1: kids with wife Number two. He was great at making 260 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 1: violins and making children, yes, crafting children's great at crafting 261 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:13,200 Speaker 1: little babies. They called them the mice jo in the bedroom, 262 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:15,480 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. And I think a couple 263 00:16:15,520 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 1: of his sons even went on to follow in his footsteps. 264 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: Is that right from his first marriage? Right? They were 265 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 1: second line. They were smumps, though they couldn't hold a 266 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 1: candle to their father's work. So let's talk about the 267 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 1: golden period from seventeen hundred to seventeen twenty five. Depending 268 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 1: on who you talked to, this was the golden period 269 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: where these violins. I mean he had really honed his 270 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 1: design at this point, and the materials that he used 271 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 1: and everything kind of all coalesced into making the best 272 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 1: violins in the history of the world. It was like 273 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 1: Lebron's tenure at the Heat. Oh well, we'll see his 274 00:16:54,920 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 1: career is not over yet. Yeah you're calling it now, huh? 275 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: I mean he he he made a case for a 276 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:07,239 Speaker 1: resurgence this past season. But we'll see if he can 277 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: repeat it. Okay. He was playing on five hundred cylinders 278 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 1: with the heat. It was just perfect because he didn't 279 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:17,160 Speaker 1: have to be the team leader. He could be one 280 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 1: of like the leaders that that team had several leaders 281 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:22,159 Speaker 1: and he could be one of them. It wasn't like 282 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 1: the whole team just pushed upward towards Lebron. See A 283 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 1: lot of people have the opposite view that that was. 284 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:30,200 Speaker 1: You know, anyone can get on a team of superstars 285 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 1: and win championships, but no, not necessarily would be the 286 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:37,080 Speaker 1: one leader is a bigger accomplishment. I'm very curious to 287 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:40,439 Speaker 1: know how, say, like the Golden State Warriors are going 288 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:43,919 Speaker 1: to be next season with Durant and Steph Curry and 289 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:46,560 Speaker 1: Clay Thompson on there. Thompson knows so much, but like 290 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:49,040 Speaker 1: stef Curry and Kevin Durant, they're like two of the 291 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 1: greatest players that have ever lived, ever lived, not just 292 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 1: they're playing right now. How are they going to gel 293 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 1: the idea that Duane Wade and Chris Bosh and Lebron James, 294 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:01,440 Speaker 1: we're all a well to keep their egos in check 295 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 1: and come together to work together and lead a team together. 296 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:08,399 Speaker 1: That I think that's harder than that's just being like 297 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 1: forget it, I'll do it myself, you know. Yes, all right, 298 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:15,879 Speaker 1: So strata vari is uh making his mark on the world, 299 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:20,960 Speaker 1: getting his reputation and he's making a lot of money. 300 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 1: He wasn't one of these. It's like after he died 301 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:25,919 Speaker 1: they later realized how great he was. He was a 302 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 1: rich man making and selling these violins. Yeah, apparently there's 303 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:32,879 Speaker 1: a phrase richest strata vari Yeah, like richer than an 304 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:35,399 Speaker 1: astronaut is what we would say today. Yeah, he was 305 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:37,680 Speaker 1: one of the more famous guys in Italy at the time, 306 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 1: for sure. Yeah, and rightfully so. His crowning achievement, supposedly 307 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:47,360 Speaker 1: is uh in seventeen sixteen when he built the Messiah Uh. 308 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 1: And this is the only violin that he never sold 309 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:52,480 Speaker 1: that he kept in his workshop till the day died. 310 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:58,199 Speaker 1: It was his head stash violin. And um he this 311 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:01,880 Speaker 1: this violin has rarely been played. Apparently. One of the 312 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:04,960 Speaker 1: sort of things unspoken rules when this thing has been 313 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 1: sold and passed down is that don't even play it. 314 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 1: This one should remain pristine. Yeah. It's basically as close 315 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: to a mint conditioned strata various as you can find 316 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: in the world. Oh, it's not close, it's meant yeah, 317 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:20,119 Speaker 1: but I mean a couple of people have played it. 318 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:27,439 Speaker 1: It's it's not been unplayed. Okay, Yeah, a couple of 319 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 1: bad eggs in there, a couple of super lucky violin 320 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:34,119 Speaker 1: plays that screw your unwritten rules. This is before the 321 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 1: Ashmolean got their hands on it. Okay, um, so post seventy, 322 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 1: post Golden period, he still produced violins and things, but uh, 323 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:47,000 Speaker 1: apparently his eyesight was going, his hands were not as steady, 324 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 1: and they weren't quite what they were during the Golden period. 325 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 1: I'm sure they were still wonderful violence. Oh yeah, he's 326 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 1: still turning out the good stuff, but nothing like that 327 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 1: Golden period. And he worked into his nineties, so he 328 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:02,240 Speaker 1: was building violence for you know, seventy years. He worked 329 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 1: up to his death, as far as I understand, I 330 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 1: think so, um so yeah, but that Golden period stuff 331 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 1: that was there was the Messiah from seventeen sixteen, the 332 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 1: Large from seventeen fifteen, the Bets from seventeen o four. Um. 333 00:20:17,160 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: Those are just a few of the ones that he 334 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:21,919 Speaker 1: made during this period that are still around today. He 335 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:26,720 Speaker 1: made I saw a thousand alysis of hundred stringed instruments 336 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:31,879 Speaker 1: during his career, About six hundred and fifty survived today. Um. 337 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 1: And there they tend to have names, especially the ones 338 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 1: from his Golden period. As you just heard. Um, they 339 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:42,080 Speaker 1: have names, and they're usually the name of the most 340 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 1: famous UH player who owned it. Right, Um, they weren't 341 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 1: like Skippy and old Roy right barnabas violin So Um, 342 00:20:55,119 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: there's a there's a superstition among violinists that the more 343 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,719 Speaker 1: you play a violin, the more a particular person plays violin, 344 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:08,920 Speaker 1: the more that violin takes on the character of that player. Right, 345 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:12,400 Speaker 1: so much so that a violinist or even a cellist 346 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:15,919 Speaker 1: or of the oldest can come along afterward and play 347 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:21,720 Speaker 1: that person's violin and it will it will sound much 348 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 1: more like the person who's violin it is than the 349 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:28,240 Speaker 1: person playing it. And there's there's a further superstition that 350 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:31,480 Speaker 1: the more you play of violind the better it sounds. Well, 351 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:34,439 Speaker 1: that's not a superstition, that's fact in any instrument. So 352 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:37,679 Speaker 1: there is a study, um from I think that I 353 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:42,720 Speaker 1: came across that that found that the more violin would 354 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:50,439 Speaker 1: is vibrated, the more the dampening coefficient is lowered. The 355 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:54,639 Speaker 1: lower the dampening coefficient. The longer a note resonates, the 356 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 1: longer a note resonates, the richer the sound. And so 357 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,760 Speaker 1: just playing it right because you're you're vibrating the wood 358 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 1: when you're playing a violin. The more you do that, 359 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:06,440 Speaker 1: the more frequently you do that, the better the violin 360 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 1: is actually gonna sound so astoundingly. The more you play 361 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:11,159 Speaker 1: a violin, the better it sounds. Well, that's true for 362 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 1: any instrument. Yeah, it's called breaking it in. It's like 363 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 1: a pair of jeans that you can identify with that. Sure, 364 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:23,600 Speaker 1: I love jean and you know a pair of jeans 365 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:26,719 Speaker 1: five years in or better than there when you take 366 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:29,640 Speaker 1: them off the shelf. Yeah, it's the same thing. It's 367 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:33,719 Speaker 1: breaking it in, especially strings with anything with a fingerboard. 368 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:37,520 Speaker 1: That fingerboard just you know, wears in. Those frets wear 369 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:39,920 Speaker 1: down little, and it does get a little bit tuned, 370 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:45,280 Speaker 1: I think to your style. Yeah for sure. Yeah, very interesting. Um, 371 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 1: I'd like to do more on musical instruments here and there. Okay, 372 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:49,919 Speaker 1: I'm putting it out there, all right, all right, Well 373 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:52,920 Speaker 1: let's take another quick break and we will get into 374 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:58,399 Speaker 1: all the controversies surrounding just why these things sounds so 375 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:15,920 Speaker 1: good and all those theories. Pretty interesting stuff. So, Chuck, 376 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:18,239 Speaker 1: I gotta say you did a good job putting this 377 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:24,280 Speaker 1: one together. Mhm, Okay, I'm I'm interested in it. You know, 378 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:27,400 Speaker 1: we I had that stuff from the B Side podcast 379 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:31,320 Speaker 1: for like two months back in the day. People still 380 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:35,560 Speaker 1: call for it and we uh covered this very briefly. Yeah, 381 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:38,000 Speaker 1: and not we didn't do right by it. So that's 382 00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:39,800 Speaker 1: I was like, you know what, that's a good topic. Nice, 383 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:44,359 Speaker 1: I mean, dust that one off. Um. So there have 384 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:48,000 Speaker 1: been many many theories over the years, like if the 385 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:54,119 Speaker 1: strata is so revered and legendary that people experts, scientists 386 00:23:54,119 --> 00:23:56,639 Speaker 1: are bound to want to crack that nut. Yeah, like 387 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 1: why yeah, like what's the deal? And it's not. Again, 388 00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:03,639 Speaker 1: this is it's objectively better than other violence. The ones 389 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 1: that strat Stratavari made correct some of the theories. The 390 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 1: old theories back then was that he would soak the 391 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:15,560 Speaker 1: wood in salt water, not true. That the wood was 392 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:20,360 Speaker 1: coated with volcanic ash not true. Dragon's blood was used 393 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:25,959 Speaker 1: in the varnish. That may have been true. Uh, George R. 394 00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:29,000 Speaker 1: Martin came up with that one. Probably so, and then 395 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 1: I'll you know, we'll get into the more modern theories. 396 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:38,320 Speaker 1: There's really well, there's a couple of leading theories. One 397 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:43,240 Speaker 1: is the wood Yeah, this ice age would which we'll 398 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:48,480 Speaker 1: talk about and the others the varnish. Okay, well there, 399 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:53,000 Speaker 1: Strata Varia was working during what's known as Europe's Little 400 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:57,760 Speaker 1: Ice Age, which is a period of unusually, very unusually 401 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 1: colder temperatures. Um, and I think they're still trying to 402 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:04,600 Speaker 1: figure out what the heck happened, And as a matter 403 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:06,560 Speaker 1: of fact, we need to do like an irregular Ice 404 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:09,199 Speaker 1: Age podcast and we'll talk about it then. But the 405 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 1: upshot of it was that because of the colder temperatures, 406 00:25:13,119 --> 00:25:18,119 Speaker 1: the spruce that was used by strativerari Um in the 407 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:23,720 Speaker 1: manufacture of these violins grew slower but more evenly steadier, 408 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:26,360 Speaker 1: so that the wood that was harvested from these spruce 409 00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 1: trees was much more um uniformly grained. Right, So just 410 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:36,919 Speaker 1: basically really high end wood is was produced by this 411 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 1: little ice age. The problem with that being the reason 412 00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:44,159 Speaker 1: that Stratovarias violins were so great is that that wood 413 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:48,280 Speaker 1: was also available the violin makers elsewhere in Europe, and 414 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:51,520 Speaker 1: their violence don't sign anything like a stratovarry. So the 415 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:55,120 Speaker 1: Little Ice Age theory, while still I think um out 416 00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:57,960 Speaker 1: there has I think that really kind of goes a 417 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 1: long way to undermining it. Yeah, like they were. People 418 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:03,720 Speaker 1: were really excited about that at first, and I think 419 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:06,119 Speaker 1: they're like, yes, not proof. It's a cool theory. It 420 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:10,119 Speaker 1: is cool, little sage. There's another dude at Texas A 421 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 1: and M I named Joseph uh Naga Varry Nagy Varry. 422 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:20,600 Speaker 1: What a unique name, uh. And he said, it's all 423 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:27,680 Speaker 1: about this varnish, this cremonese, cremin varnish. Is that not right? Yeah? 424 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:31,679 Speaker 1: I think that's what they say, start your warning right with. 425 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:37,120 Speaker 1: So he published an article in Scientific Journal Public Library 426 00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:42,040 Speaker 1: of Science one. It's capitalized for some reason, and he says, 427 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:45,120 Speaker 1: you know what's going on here, it's this it's this 428 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:50,000 Speaker 1: varnish that he used. Let me analyze it chemically, and 429 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 1: what he found out was it's very unique and that 430 00:26:54,840 --> 00:26:57,760 Speaker 1: it has these things in there that you would not 431 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:02,800 Speaker 1: expect to be being a varnish, like borax and chromium. 432 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:04,360 Speaker 1: And he said, so, what I think is going on 433 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:08,040 Speaker 1: is this stuff. He added this stuff to the varnish 434 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:12,639 Speaker 1: to protect it that would against damage an infestation, But 435 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:15,919 Speaker 1: what it really did was actually weakened the wood and 436 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:19,760 Speaker 1: made it porous, uh, where it should not be. And 437 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:25,040 Speaker 1: that created more tone, a more booming, rich, powerful tone, 438 00:27:25,560 --> 00:27:28,040 Speaker 1: and a lot of pushback his well, his theories not 439 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:30,760 Speaker 1: entirely out of left field, Like it's it's pretty much 440 00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:34,120 Speaker 1: accepted that if you put the wrong kind of varnish 441 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:37,200 Speaker 1: on a violin, it's going to ruin the sound. So 442 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:40,440 Speaker 1: his whole thing was, well, why couldn't you stumble upon 443 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:43,359 Speaker 1: some varnish that actually enhanced the sound? And that was 444 00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:47,399 Speaker 1: his idea, that that's that accounted for strata varies violin 445 00:27:47,520 --> 00:27:50,360 Speaker 1: sounding like that. Um, yeah, I think he did get 446 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:52,920 Speaker 1: a lot of pushback. There seems to be even if 447 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:57,040 Speaker 1: he's right, there seems to be a desire among the 448 00:27:57,080 --> 00:28:01,439 Speaker 1: people who collect and play strata various vi lens is 449 00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:04,480 Speaker 1: that it will never understand what makes it special. We 450 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:07,920 Speaker 1: don't really want to know what will make it special. Um. 451 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:11,000 Speaker 1: There's a guy who was widely quoted, Um, he's a 452 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:21,600 Speaker 1: violinist from America's names, James EANs Ends EANs Man. Uh, Well, James. 453 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:25,119 Speaker 1: His whole his whole view is that he's played a 454 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:29,199 Speaker 1: number of strativarious violins and other stringed instruments, and he 455 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:32,640 Speaker 1: said that there's probably a thousand things that make them 456 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:36,000 Speaker 1: special and we can never possibly know what all those 457 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 1: thousand things are and there's never just gonna be just 458 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 1: this one thing. That is the key to what made 459 00:28:41,240 --> 00:28:45,760 Speaker 1: Strata various violence so great. Yeah, I think, Um, I 460 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:48,880 Speaker 1: watched the BBC documentary that was really pretty great and 461 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:52,959 Speaker 1: um they interviewed another violin maker and he said, you know, 462 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:55,920 Speaker 1: it was the right place, right time. Thing like this 463 00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:58,680 Speaker 1: guy came along. Maybe they had this good wood that 464 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 1: was special, maybe had this varnish that was special. Um. Yeah, 465 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:05,280 Speaker 1: but they were in the hands of somebody special too. Well. 466 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:09,040 Speaker 1: That was his point was was that other people were 467 00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 1: using some of these same things and they turned out 468 00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:14,600 Speaker 1: very different. He said he was so good at what 469 00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:18,200 Speaker 1: he did, Like that's the secret. He was just better 470 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:21,080 Speaker 1: at doing this than other people. Right, Like how Chris 471 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:25,240 Speaker 1: Bosh and Dwayne Wade brought the best out of Lebron James. Well, 472 00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:28,280 Speaker 1: where I think this Texas A and M Professor um 473 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:31,320 Speaker 1: aired was that he was so bold as to even 474 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:34,760 Speaker 1: posit the idea that it may have been an accident, 475 00:29:35,560 --> 00:29:39,320 Speaker 1: and that like I would say, bold is an appropriate term. Yeah, 476 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:41,680 Speaker 1: Like they turned out this good on accident. He didn't 477 00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:43,280 Speaker 1: know this varnish was going to do that, or the 478 00:29:43,320 --> 00:29:46,240 Speaker 1: wood may have been even pre treated with these chemicals, 479 00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:49,120 Speaker 1: and he kind of looked into what it ended up being, 480 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:52,000 Speaker 1: and not that he wasn't talented, but like that's why 481 00:29:52,080 --> 00:29:56,240 Speaker 1: they are what they are. And people were like, who blasphemy, Yeah, 482 00:29:56,400 --> 00:30:01,040 Speaker 1: out heretic. So how much of these things cost a lot? 483 00:30:01,040 --> 00:30:03,800 Speaker 1: The end I saw, I mean, the numbers are all 484 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:06,520 Speaker 1: over the place, Like one thing will say that the 485 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:10,840 Speaker 1: the record was three point five four four million dollars, 486 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:14,320 Speaker 1: and then later on the record was broken with three 487 00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:17,960 Speaker 1: point six million dollars with the monitor Strata Various, owned 488 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:22,760 Speaker 1: famously by Milwaukee brewer Paul Mollitor. That's where that one 489 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:25,280 Speaker 1: got its name. Well, yeah, I agree, And then this 490 00:30:25,320 --> 00:30:28,120 Speaker 1: says in June two thousand fourteen, the creates Are had 491 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:30,160 Speaker 1: a pre sale estimate of seven and a half million 492 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:33,239 Speaker 1: to ten million, but it failed to reach the reserve price. Right, 493 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:36,480 Speaker 1: But then later on another one sold in two thousand 494 00:30:36,560 --> 00:30:41,360 Speaker 1: eleven for sixteen millions. So apparently nobody's really keeping tabs here. 495 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:45,080 Speaker 1: I looked down the internet. I couldn't find anything approaching 496 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:48,600 Speaker 1: a comprehensive list of how much these things have gone for. 497 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:52,640 Speaker 1: But the fact is millions of dollars, tens of millions 498 00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:55,920 Speaker 1: in some cases from what I understand, and there are collectors, 499 00:30:56,080 --> 00:30:58,680 Speaker 1: very very wealthy collectors who are driving the price of 500 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:03,000 Speaker 1: strata various viol It's another streams through the roof where 501 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:04,920 Speaker 1: if you were smart enough to buy one for a 502 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:09,560 Speaker 1: few hundred thousand dollars thirty years ago, it's worth easily 503 00:31:09,640 --> 00:31:12,520 Speaker 1: ten twenty times that now. Yeah, and it's kind of 504 00:31:12,520 --> 00:31:14,080 Speaker 1: a shame that these aren't in the hands of the 505 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:16,120 Speaker 1: great players of the world. You know, Well, they're in 506 00:31:16,160 --> 00:31:18,120 Speaker 1: the hands of the great players of the world who 507 00:31:18,240 --> 00:31:21,360 Speaker 1: come from very wealthy families. Yeah, or who like you said, 508 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:24,120 Speaker 1: bought one twenty or thirty years ago, right, and that's there, 509 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:26,560 Speaker 1: you know, their go to But yeah, it's just it's 510 00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:30,720 Speaker 1: just another fat piggy thing to to buy and own 511 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:36,320 Speaker 1: and possess. The one I have is the most expensive one, um. Fortunately, 512 00:31:36,440 --> 00:31:40,960 Speaker 1: the one that's so it's so valuable that it's frequently 513 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:44,040 Speaker 1: cited as priceless is the Messiah and that is owned 514 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:47,160 Speaker 1: by the Ashmolean at Oxford University, so that one's not 515 00:31:47,280 --> 00:31:50,160 Speaker 1: up for grabs, which is cool because all the other 516 00:31:50,200 --> 00:31:53,640 Speaker 1: ones are just operating under that level. Yeah, And the 517 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:56,040 Speaker 1: lady in the BBC documentary is of violin. It's since 518 00:31:56,040 --> 00:31:58,480 Speaker 1: you got to hold the Messiah with gloves, and it's 519 00:31:58,520 --> 00:32:00,800 Speaker 1: called that because there's a Nativity seen in laid on 520 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:03,880 Speaker 1: the back. I believe. Oh, I don't think it's the back. 521 00:32:03,920 --> 00:32:07,000 Speaker 1: I think it's in the little tail piece. Um. But 522 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:09,040 Speaker 1: this thing is gorgeous and she was allowed to hold 523 00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:12,240 Speaker 1: it with gloves is like white cotton gloves. And the 524 00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:15,080 Speaker 1: whole time, even though I knew that wouldn't happen, I 525 00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:18,520 Speaker 1: was like, don't drop it, you know, those slippy little 526 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:21,640 Speaker 1: cotton gloves, And it just made me nervous watching it. 527 00:32:21,720 --> 00:32:23,880 Speaker 1: Did you ever see that video of things that were 528 00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:26,880 Speaker 1: very expensive things that were accidentally broken that I made 529 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:30,320 Speaker 1: years back? I remember that. It's just like it was 530 00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:36,520 Speaker 1: tough to tough to make to uh So over the years, 531 00:32:36,560 --> 00:32:41,719 Speaker 1: there's been many, many, many many fakes. Uh As as 532 00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:46,200 Speaker 1: soon as he died, they started pumping out um forgeries 533 00:32:46,720 --> 00:32:50,760 Speaker 1: and not even forgeries, like just mass produced violins that 534 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:53,120 Speaker 1: they would throw a label on that at the time, 535 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:57,320 Speaker 1: in the nineteenth century, eighteenth and nineteenth century, the people 536 00:32:57,360 --> 00:33:02,760 Speaker 1: buying the violins knew that they were like knockoff manufactured fakes, 537 00:33:03,240 --> 00:33:08,360 Speaker 1: largely in Germany, right, right, But they weren't like, um, yeah, 538 00:33:08,440 --> 00:33:10,760 Speaker 1: they weren't. They weren't being duped. It was like this 539 00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:14,360 Speaker 1: is this is in the style of Strativarius or whatever. Yeah, 540 00:33:14,440 --> 00:33:18,120 Speaker 1: largely in Germany, in Czechoslovakia. And the thing is, though, 541 00:33:18,200 --> 00:33:22,600 Speaker 1: is over time these what are now pretty old violins 542 00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:25,360 Speaker 1: because they were again made in the eighteenth and nineteenth century, 543 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:29,560 Speaker 1: they had labels on them that would say like Strativarius 544 00:33:29,720 --> 00:33:36,440 Speaker 1: crimonisis facto and then say like sixteen seventy nine or 545 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:39,000 Speaker 1: something like that. Right, So, if you find one of 546 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:42,800 Speaker 1: these violins and your attic and it looks pretty old, 547 00:33:43,200 --> 00:33:47,160 Speaker 1: it literally says an Italian this violin was made by 548 00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:51,360 Speaker 1: Strativarius in sixteen seventy nine, you could be forgiven to 549 00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:55,400 Speaker 1: think that you have just found a Strativarius violin and 550 00:33:55,480 --> 00:33:58,120 Speaker 1: all of your money problems are over. You can go 551 00:33:58,200 --> 00:34:00,680 Speaker 1: buy more meth than you'll ever be able to do 552 00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:04,280 Speaker 1: in your entire life. It might say made in Germany too, though, 553 00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:07,040 Speaker 1: that's a big giveaway, it is. And apparently, if you're 554 00:34:07,040 --> 00:34:09,160 Speaker 1: an appraiser of this kind of thing, you are so 555 00:34:09,200 --> 00:34:12,040 Speaker 1: sick of people calling you that you can't even hide 556 00:34:12,040 --> 00:34:14,759 Speaker 1: it when you're interviewed in an article. Yeah. The one 557 00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:17,880 Speaker 1: guy even said that. Um, he's like, people get angry 558 00:34:18,200 --> 00:34:20,239 Speaker 1: when you tell them it's not he said, because they 559 00:34:20,239 --> 00:34:22,799 Speaker 1: think they got a lottery ticket and you have to 560 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:24,359 Speaker 1: break it to him. And he said they get mad 561 00:34:24,400 --> 00:34:26,799 Speaker 1: on these phone calls and they're like, well, do you 562 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:33,160 Speaker 1: have tony bucks from men? That's pretty funny. Uh, do 563 00:34:33,160 --> 00:34:36,400 Speaker 1: you got anything else? Yeah. If you find a violin 564 00:34:36,840 --> 00:34:39,120 Speaker 1: and you look it over and it says strativarius, and 565 00:34:39,120 --> 00:34:42,440 Speaker 1: you look even further and it doesn't say Maide in Germany. 566 00:34:42,760 --> 00:34:44,920 Speaker 1: If it doesn't say that, I know, but it's still 567 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:48,400 Speaker 1: probably a fake. Well you can. Um, there's a Smithsonian 568 00:34:48,520 --> 00:34:51,279 Speaker 1: article about it that has basically step by step what 569 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:54,160 Speaker 1: you can do and who you can submit photos to 570 00:34:54,160 --> 00:34:57,600 Speaker 1: to get it basically pre appraise, well not appraise, but 571 00:34:57,719 --> 00:35:00,759 Speaker 1: just looked at. And they can usually tough from the 572 00:35:00,760 --> 00:35:03,279 Speaker 1: photos like, no, that's a fake. E step one. Uh, 573 00:35:03,400 --> 00:35:05,359 Speaker 1: leave it out in the sun and let it let 574 00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:07,800 Speaker 1: it get rained on a couple of times if ants 575 00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:12,799 Speaker 1: are attracted to it exactly. Um. Yeah. But one of 576 00:35:12,840 --> 00:35:17,200 Speaker 1: the appraisers makes the point like they're about six and 577 00:35:17,239 --> 00:35:20,239 Speaker 1: fifty in the world and they're all basically accounted for. 578 00:35:20,800 --> 00:35:22,600 Speaker 1: We know where they are. Yeah, and even when we 579 00:35:22,640 --> 00:35:25,520 Speaker 1: don't know where they are, we know we would know 580 00:35:25,640 --> 00:35:27,600 Speaker 1: the ones that we don't know where they are when 581 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:31,040 Speaker 1: they surface. The stolen one. Yeah, there was one that 582 00:35:31,080 --> 00:35:34,960 Speaker 1: was famously stolen um thirty something years ago from a 583 00:35:34,960 --> 00:35:38,200 Speaker 1: concert violinist and it was a strato various and uh 584 00:35:38,239 --> 00:35:41,480 Speaker 1: it was in the attic of a Milwaukee thieves house 585 00:35:42,040 --> 00:35:43,880 Speaker 1: and I guess he died and his girlfriend took it 586 00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:46,440 Speaker 1: to an appraiser who's like, uh, this is stolen. I 587 00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:49,400 Speaker 1: know who's this is. So it's a very small community. 588 00:35:49,480 --> 00:35:52,080 Speaker 1: So the idea that somebody's just gonna walk up with 589 00:35:52,120 --> 00:35:56,360 Speaker 1: like a real strata varius that had previously been unknown 590 00:35:56,920 --> 00:36:01,080 Speaker 1: is is most likely not gonna happen. Yeah. The one 591 00:36:01,120 --> 00:36:04,440 Speaker 1: of the other appraisers said, it's like finding a new rembrand. 592 00:36:04,560 --> 00:36:07,239 Speaker 1: He said, we know what he painted, we know where 593 00:36:07,239 --> 00:36:11,680 Speaker 1: they are. Um, now they've got computers painting rembrands. Oh yeah, 594 00:36:11,719 --> 00:36:14,480 Speaker 1: I remember that. I think a guy left his strata 595 00:36:14,520 --> 00:36:17,120 Speaker 1: in the cab a few years ago too, was it, 596 00:36:17,200 --> 00:36:20,880 Speaker 1: Joshua Bell? It sounds like something that I would do. Way, 597 00:36:21,040 --> 00:36:23,880 Speaker 1: I can't remember. I believe that happened, though, remember you 598 00:36:23,920 --> 00:36:28,000 Speaker 1: get it back. I think so only in New York, right, jeez? 599 00:36:28,080 --> 00:36:32,640 Speaker 1: Can you imagine no, because again like these are concert 600 00:36:32,719 --> 00:36:37,239 Speaker 1: violinists who have almost been entrusted by humanity with these 601 00:36:37,239 --> 00:36:39,960 Speaker 1: things like here, this is a very expensive violin. Yes, 602 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:42,600 Speaker 1: but we are giving this to you because we think 603 00:36:42,680 --> 00:36:46,319 Speaker 1: you will enrich this and with your playing, um and 604 00:36:46,360 --> 00:36:49,880 Speaker 1: maybe someday it'll be called your last name Strata various. 605 00:36:50,800 --> 00:36:53,000 Speaker 1: Play it well, don't leave it in the back of 606 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:55,120 Speaker 1: a cab. And then that guy had to get on 607 00:36:55,120 --> 00:36:59,239 Speaker 1: craig'list and by hundred dollar fiddle right yep to play 608 00:36:59,320 --> 00:37:07,840 Speaker 1: first chair at the Philharmonic. Uh, chuck, Yes, you got 609 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:09,839 Speaker 1: anything else? I got nothing else. I don't either. Good 610 00:37:09,920 --> 00:37:12,560 Speaker 1: job putting this together, man. Thanks. Uh. If you want 611 00:37:12,560 --> 00:37:15,960 Speaker 1: to know more about Strata Barius, you can search the internet, fork, 612 00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:18,240 Speaker 1: because we don't have an article on how stuff works. 613 00:37:18,680 --> 00:37:22,960 Speaker 1: Since I said, uh, Internet, it's time for a listener, 614 00:37:23,000 --> 00:37:27,120 Speaker 1: mel Ah. This is what we call this from my 615 00:37:27,160 --> 00:37:32,080 Speaker 1: good buddy Becks. Rebecca Bloomfield. She's uh, one of my 616 00:37:32,080 --> 00:37:34,319 Speaker 1: my pin pals from the stuff you should not want 617 00:37:34,320 --> 00:37:37,400 Speaker 1: see in prison over the years. She sure is. No, 618 00:37:37,600 --> 00:37:40,840 Speaker 1: she's not. She's a delight though, h and she backed 619 00:37:40,880 --> 00:37:44,440 Speaker 1: me up on my comments about women in science, so 620 00:37:44,680 --> 00:37:46,560 Speaker 1: I felt good about it, so I wanted to read it. 621 00:37:47,760 --> 00:37:49,680 Speaker 1: She made me feel better. I hope you guys had 622 00:37:49,719 --> 00:37:51,319 Speaker 1: a great time in the UK. By the way, she 623 00:37:51,440 --> 00:37:55,400 Speaker 1: just missed our show and uh, I think in London 624 00:37:55,440 --> 00:37:57,200 Speaker 1: by a couple of days, since she was very bummed out. 625 00:37:57,200 --> 00:37:59,280 Speaker 1: Does she live there? Was she visiting? I think visiting? 626 00:37:59,320 --> 00:38:02,480 Speaker 1: She now lives some rounds. Uh, So she said, I 627 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:04,600 Speaker 1: know you did. I just listened to the delightful history 628 00:38:04,600 --> 00:38:07,960 Speaker 1: of steam. Anyway, I'm righting to say bloody well done. 629 00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:13,480 Speaker 1: Uh is that a curse word? I think like it's like, um, 630 00:38:14,719 --> 00:38:18,640 Speaker 1: very okay, great? Uh, well done Chuck on your comment 631 00:38:18,760 --> 00:38:21,480 Speaker 1: on what we could have achieved of women had been 632 00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:24,319 Speaker 1: allowed into the stem fields from the start. I know 633 00:38:24,400 --> 00:38:26,000 Speaker 1: this sort of comment could be a mine field for 634 00:38:26,040 --> 00:38:28,359 Speaker 1: a guy, but I can assure you you made your 635 00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:30,520 Speaker 1: point really well. I'm normally the first to jump on 636 00:38:31,040 --> 00:38:33,960 Speaker 1: non feminist comments or man splaining. That's what I was 637 00:38:33,960 --> 00:38:36,360 Speaker 1: afraid of. So she said, I'm usually the first to 638 00:38:36,400 --> 00:38:38,200 Speaker 1: jump on the man splaining, And when you said it, 639 00:38:38,239 --> 00:38:41,680 Speaker 1: I just said, yes, yes, Chuck, very loudly. In my office. 640 00:38:41,880 --> 00:38:45,080 Speaker 1: I even startled the dogs. Raising children is very important, 641 00:38:45,080 --> 00:38:47,600 Speaker 1: but men can do it too. All humans of any 642 00:38:47,640 --> 00:38:49,000 Speaker 1: gender should have a choice as to what they do 643 00:38:49,080 --> 00:38:51,480 Speaker 1: with their lives that should not be predetermined because of 644 00:38:51,480 --> 00:38:54,040 Speaker 1: their gender. So good on you, Chuck. Makes me happy 645 00:38:54,040 --> 00:38:55,839 Speaker 1: to know that the next generation of women are being 646 00:38:55,880 --> 00:39:01,160 Speaker 1: raised by men like you. And that's from Beck's Bloomfield 647 00:39:01,400 --> 00:39:03,720 Speaker 1: and she is a graphic designer for Little Red Robot 648 00:39:03,840 --> 00:39:08,120 Speaker 1: Design shout out and just a nice lady. Nice. Well, 649 00:39:08,160 --> 00:39:10,600 Speaker 1: thanks a lot, Bex. Can I call her that? Or 650 00:39:10,640 --> 00:39:14,520 Speaker 1: should I just call her Rebecca? You're you're in the club? Okay, Well, 651 00:39:14,560 --> 00:39:18,680 Speaker 1: thanks a lot, Becks for that email and for um shouting. 652 00:39:19,719 --> 00:39:22,520 Speaker 1: We appreciate that kind of thing. If you want to 653 00:39:22,520 --> 00:39:24,319 Speaker 1: get in touch with us, you can tweet to us 654 00:39:24,360 --> 00:39:27,200 Speaker 1: at s Y s K podcast or Josh Underscore um 655 00:39:27,280 --> 00:39:30,880 Speaker 1: Underscore Clark. You can hang out with us at Charles W. 656 00:39:31,080 --> 00:39:34,840 Speaker 1: Chuck Bryant on Facebook or Super Josh Clark on Facebook 657 00:39:35,160 --> 00:39:38,000 Speaker 1: or Facebook dot com slash Stuff you Should Know. You 658 00:39:38,040 --> 00:39:40,360 Speaker 1: can also send us an email to Stuff podcast at 659 00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:42,560 Speaker 1: how Stuff Works dot com and is always joined us 660 00:39:42,560 --> 00:39:44,279 Speaker 1: at at home on the web. Stuff you Should Know 661 00:39:44,360 --> 00:39:52,320 Speaker 1: dot com For more on this and thousands of other topics. 662 00:39:52,560 --> 00:40:00,160 Speaker 1: Is It How stuff Works? Dot com one