What makes the Stradivarius violin so special?
Stradivarius violins are renowned for their supposedly superior sound when compared to other instruments. For example, one study argued that a “little ice age” which affected Europe from 1645 to 1715, was responsible for the slow-growth wood used in the construction of the violins that gives them a particular quality.
What was Stradivarius secret?
New research confirms the work of a Texas A&M professor that showed the chemicals used to soak the wood of violins and other instruments produced their amazing sound. A 300-year-old violin by Antonio Stradivari known as “The Taft.”
Do Stradivarius violins actually sound better?
Sound projection of 17th and 18th century Italian violins, notably those of Stradivarius, is often considered better than more recent violins. The results of the study showed that on average the listeners preferred the recent instruments to the Stradivarius violins and found that they had better projection.
Why can’t we replicate the Stradivarius violin?
Originally Answered: Why is it not possible to reproduce the unique sound quality of a Stradivarius violin today? The simple answer is that we have no idea how violins back then were made.
What wood is a Stradivarius made of?
The woods used included spruce for the top, willow for the internal blocks and linings, and maple for the back, ribs, and neck. There has been conjecture that the wood used may have been treated with several types of minerals, both before and after construction of a violin.
Why do Stradivarius sound good?
“Some Stradivari violins clearly possess female singing qualities, which may contribute to their perceived sweetness and brilliance,” he said. Female singers tend to have higher-frequency formants than males because their vocal tracts are shorter. Born in 1505, Andrea Amati is credited with inventing the modern violin.
Who owns Stradivarius violins?
The heir of a wealthy American industrial family acquired the violin in 1990, before passing it down to his then 16-year-old granddaughter Elizabeth Pitcairn, who still owns it today.
How much is a real Stradivarius violin worth?
Antonio Stradivari is widely considered the greatest violin maker of all time, and his instruments sell for as much as $16 million.
Why are Stradivarius so expensive?
Supply and Demand: One reason the value of a Stradivarius violin is so dear is because there are so few of them left, and they are no longer being made. The Quality: Musicians have long believed that the Stradivarius violin is superior to other violins in quality and sound.
Does anyone play a Stradivarius?
Several world-class soloists play violins by Antonio Stradivari, but those instruments are not universally cherished as one might think. Christian Tetzlaff, for example, stopped playing a Stradivarius and switched to a violin from 2002. Here are the world-class performers currently playing a Stradivarius.
Can we recreate Stradivarius?
A Stradivarius violin has been “recreated” using an X-ray scanner normally used to detect cancers and injuries, according to researchers. The US-based group used a computerised axial tomography (CAT) scanner on the 307-year-old instrument to reveal its secrets.
What makes the Stradivari violin sound?
The Secret Of The Stradivari Violin Revealed New research confirms the work of a Texas A&M professor that showed the chemicals used to soak the wood of violins and other instruments produced their amazing sound. By Keith Randall, Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications August 12, 2021
Is this the secret behind the best violins ever made?
The violins made by the Italian masters Andrea Amati and Antonio Stradivari are celebrated as the finest ever made, but the secret behind their perfect sound has mystified experts for centuries. Now scientists in Taiwan believe they have hit on an answer.
Why do violins sound so different from other instruments?
Joseph Nagyvary, professor emeritus of biochemistry at Texas A&M who first proposed the theory that chemicals used in making the violins – not so much the skill of making the instrument itself – was the reason Stradivari and others, such as Guarneri del Gesu, made instruments whose sound has not been equaled in over 200 years.
Did Stradivari and Guarneri have their own proprietary methods of wood processing?
“This new study reveals that Stradivari and Guarneri had their own individual proprietary method of wood processing, to which they could have attributed a considerable significance,” he said.