New CD featuring LvB's Violin

[navneeth]

Saw this news (more like a snippet) at the back of today's paper. A google search came up with this...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5241192.stm

[bignaf]

stupid

[Catmando]

I have to agree with that *ig.

Why would they do such a thing? Shouldn't this be kept in a safe, enclosed environment? A musuem!

[Shapley]

Why? It can be kept in a museum between [rare] performances. Keep in mind, the thing has been restored twice, so one has to question how much of the original remains. Besides, musical instruments are made to be heard, not seen!

I am reminded of the old joke:

Earl: "Say, that's an old axe you're using there!"

Merle: "Yep. This axe used to belong to George Washington."

Earl: "You don't say! It's in really good shape to be so old."

Merle: "Well, it's had five new handles and three new heads put on it since George got rid of it."

V/R
Shapley

[dai bread]

Did Beethoven actually play it? He was a pianist; I know that doesn't preclude violin playing, but I've never heard of him doing it.

[Catmando]

Apparently, by his own admission, Beethoven was not a good violin player, so-so at best.

[barfle]

And then there's the SSB played on Davy Crockett's fiddle.

The idea of a historic instrument being played strikes me as a perfect use for it, whether or not the historic connection implies virtuosity.

[bignaf]

he played some violin and viola in orchestras in his early years, as I recall. but I don't think the fact he owned the violin makes his music special on it. it's likely not very good, and he didn't write his music to be played on it. playing Beehoven on his piano has a point, but this is just a sales gimmick. play the music well, it makes much more of a difference then what you play it on.

[BigJon@Work]

In the vintage racecar collecting world, it is considered a sin by many to turn the race cars into pure museum pieces. Many vintage racecars are still raced in special events designed just for them. And yes, some are crashed, but not often. They are rebuilt and raced again. It brings a tear to my eye sometimes when I go to these vintage events and see 5-10 million dollar cars being driven close to the limits of tire grip. The sights and sounds are incredible. I visited one of the finest collection in the world this year, and the owner proudly told me that he has personally driven every car, but the most modern one, on the track. The most modern one was just too fast and twitchy for his skills.

[bignaf]

that is more comparable to the Messiah or other famous Stradivarius or Guarneri violins. it would be a shame to take some of the best made violins ever, and lock them up in a museum. But Beethoven's violin is not considered a great violin as far as I know. it just has historical, non-intrinsic significance.