This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1916 edition. Excerpt: ... Rare Old Violins Joseph Guarnerius Del Gesu, Cremona, i742 Number 4620. So rare are the really great violin masterpieces that it is not our privilege every year to be able to offer a specimen which, in every respect, stands at the very top of the violin world. Through circumstances brought about by war we ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1916 edition. Excerpt: ... Rare Old Violins Joseph Guarnerius Del Gesu, Cremona, i742 Number 4620. So rare are the really great violin masterpieces that it is not our privilege every year to be able to offer a specimen which, in every respect, stands at the very top of the violin world. Through circumstances brought about by war we were able to purchase, from a French collector, the "Wieniawski," date i742, one of the greatest violins Guarnerius ever made. This instrument belongs to that period of Guarnerius' life when he turned out work which has made his name as great a household term as that of Stradivarius. Violinists, ever since Paganini's time, have sought the instruments of this particular period. Because of their broad pattern and large size, the exquisite wood selection and superb workmanship, they possess power and virility which is unequalled; at the same time, the greatest purity and tenderness form a distinct characteristic of their voice. This violin is the greatest in point of tone of any instrument by this maker that has ever come into our possession--of which there have been many. It is primarily a concert artist's instrument; it is especially adapted, on account of its sweet quality of tone and power, to the use of an artist demanding the maximum of power and richness of quality which a violin can give. The back is formed by one piece of curly maple, having a broadish figure extending slightly upward from left to right; the top is of spruce of the choicest selection known to this maker; the scroll is in his best style; the varnish, of which there is a plentiful supply, is of a beautiful brownish yellow color. Its remarkable condition is one of its most noteworthy features. It is free from cracks and blemishes, and is in practically a perfect state of...
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