Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Violin Restoration And The Unsung Heroes

By Marsha Silva


Classical music has led to the creation of one of its most priceless instruments, the violin. It is often considered invaluable by collectors, people who play the instrument, and music enthusiasts alike not just for the beauty of its sound but with the art that it is crafted. This is especially true for those that have been created by the great artisans themselves. The masters of the art of creating this instrument. In the present times, making sure that these instruments do not lose the quality of both its shape and sound is important. And so we do violin restoration.

The people who are tasked in the preserving this work of art are called craftsmen or artisans. It is their main function to keep the instruments in good shape. They must make sure that the good condition of the body and the sound it produces are maintained.

Artisans employ the use of wood sculpting. They are involved in crafting the body and making sure that it will produce the most excellent sound quality. Passion and diligence is required to perform this and much more in preserving the instrument's former shape.

An important task is also making sure that the parts are well-kept. Checking the elasticity and length of the string is one good practice. The state of the strings and the type of the strings being used will equally affect the sound quality that will be produced.

People involved in restoring the instrument need to have a great sense of sound. Having a good ear for music helps accomplish this task. Natural instinct, memory, and attention to even the slightest difference in the notes produced by the instrument are valuable assets. Violin restoration is never an easy feat, after all.

Artisans must be able to appreciate art at its finest to perform the task well. Playing the instrument alone is not an easy feat. To preserve this great work of art, they must be able to study the works of the masters, the great ones.

Only through constant learning and research will they be able to perform the job well. Craftsmen are musicians. They need to play the instrument to know how to restore it to its olden glory.

Most people are not be able to appreciate the art of violin restoration. After all, not all people are exposed to the beauty of the high arts. But for the master artisans who are the unsung heroes behind this feat, moving forward is what they continue to do. One of these days, people will learn appreciating the essence of this one of a kind instrument.




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