Four Stradivarius instruments, some of the most prized musical instruments in the world, are visiting the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign this month. About 650 of the famed Stradivarius instruments survive, four of which are currently on display in Krannert Art Museum and Kinkaed Pavilion (KAM).
The four visiting instruments -- the Greffuhle Violin (1709), Ole Bull Violin (1687), Axelrod Viola (1695), and Maryleborn cello (1688) -- are on loan from the Smithsonian; they were all designed by Antonio Stradivari, of Cremonia, Italy, who has influenced violin-making for over 250 years. While he was famous in his time, it was in the late 1700s and 1800s that his instruments became prized for their sound quality and gained popularity among virtuosos. In fact, the instruments tend to be named after famous performers who owned and played them. There is still much mystery around the design of the instruments and they have been the subject of chemical and physical investigations to determine how Stradivari created such masterpieces.
Besides being on display in the museum, there were performances at KAM and the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Some may be surprised and shocked that instruments over 300 years old, with such a rich history, are allowed to be removed from secure cases, let alone played. However, others consider periodic performances to be a type of "preservation in action." By playing and listening to these instruments, we are preserving not just the artifact itself, but the Stradivarius sound -- ephemeral and unique.
A brief introduction of the instruments at the KAM performance revealed that they have had some major repairs over the years, including neck replacement. The instruments have also been restrung with metal strings, forgoing their original material. There is no way to know how similar they sound to their younger 17th century days; it is known that the sound quality has changed with repairs to the instruments, however, they are still considered among the most vibrant in the world.
If you missed it, hear the KAM concert on WILL 90.9 FM on Sunday, November 26th, 2006 at 7:06 p.m.
How do you feel about the changes/repairs to these instruments over the years and that they are still occasionally played? What is the balance between hearing the music and saving the instruments from the stress of use? Would a sound recording be a sufficient alternative?
Sources
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. "Smithsonian Chamber Players." Marquee Chamber Music Series. Performance Announcement.
http://www.krannertcenter.com/performances/details.asp?elementID=20937
La France, Robert and Scott W. Schwartz. "A Quartet of Ornamented String
Instruments by Antonio Stradivari" in the program for Stradivarius Concert at the Krannert Center entitled "Smithsonian Chamber Players" http://www.krannertcenter.com/shared/uploads/21621_smithsonian_prgm_cond.pdf
Lynn, Andrea. Famed Stradivari instruments coming to U. of I. for display and performances. News Bureau: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign News Index. http://www.news.uiuc.edu/news/06/1011music.html
Smithsonian. Stradivarius Violins. http://www.si.edu/resource/faq/nmah/stradv.htm
Image from Getty Images. Image# 57443053. http://creative.gettyimages.com/
1 comment:
Some thoughts on the subject (warning: long):
The fame and fortune of these instruments, their near mythical status, is due much more to their sound than their look. The Strads which were displayed at Krannert were decorated, but most are not (indeed, the cello's decorations were commissioned, long after Stradivari's death, by Mr. Axelrod, from whom the Smithsonian bought the instruments). If they're not played, the instruments are nothing more than pieces of wood (albeit pretty ones). And without their being played, the sounds of Yo Yo Ma or Jascha Heifetz (and all others who play on Strads) would be diminished somewhat.
In order to keep the instruments playable, they must be played. This is especially true of brass instruments. They do not need to be played often, and it is certainly possible to over play them (some of the Cleveland Orchestra's older cymbals are reputed to have suffered due to over use), but they do need to be played.
Some changes are unavoidable, even if they are not played. Gut strings will never last 300 years whether they're played on or not. The bridge, strings and tuning pegs all would need periodic replacement if the instruments are used. The sound post (inside the instrument) needs to be moved because since it can not be glued down, it shifts.
Lengthening necks and adding new finger boards is a bit trickier, since it is true that they change the sound. Most music written since 1800 would be difficult or impossible to play on a Strad in its original condition. The neck lengthening was necessitated by the use of steel strings, and the finger board lengthening is required by nearly every violin concerto since Beethoven. A choice to keep it unaltered would be a choice to play only period music on it. I believe there are some unaltered Strads in Italy...
There is no substitute for the instruments being played. Sound recordings are inadequate as a replacement, because you can not preserve an instruments sound in a vacuum: you need a piece of music to play and a musician to play it. If you rely only on a sound recording, you're relying on one person's interpretation of one piece. Some instruments work better with different composers or performers.
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