Not Played Since the 1930s

My father and his sister, both accomplished violinists, were offered the opportunity to become part of conductor Leopold Stokowski‘s refreshed Philadelphia orchestra. They declined, choosing instead to pursue law and pharmacology degrees, respectively.

Sadly, I never heard my father play and only remember him mentioning his violin once. And then, in a non-musical context. He recounted some neighborhood kids harassing him and his sister as they were carrying their instruments home from school. He walked his sister and their violins the rest of the way home, returned to the bullies, beat them up, and neither he nor his sister were bothered again. Some time later he’d summarily set aside his violin.

Now, released from decades of case confinement my father’s violin gets some long-overdue attention. I dusted it off, had it set up by an LA luthier, and asked a friend to have his friend, Deborah — a professional violinist —, find out how it plays & sounds.

Pedigree

This violin could have 1) been handed down to my Dad by his father, as he was known as a “fiddle player from Europe.” Perhaps it was 2) of Austrian or German pedigree, purposefully purchased. Or maybe it was 3) crafted right there in Philly, as they had some outstanding luthiers at the time. Hard to say since there is no label nor inscription identifying its maker. Someone with a keen eye for such items might be able to determine its true origin, but not all that likely (not here on the West coast, anyway). It has been valued — by luthier and local orchestra player — at about $2500, commensurate with others instruments of its vintage.

Update: Just returned from Benning Violins, and have a bit more perspective. The violin is early 1900s, American made (Philly) of big leaf maple, and is slightly larger than typical 4/4 (body ~ 14 3/8, neck ~ 5 1/4). It’s something that a fiddle player might favor, and that a shop might sell for $3500 to $4000. Its quirky dimensions and its unique sound would be the selling points.

Funny, my $500 bass guitars from the ’70s and ’80s are now worth $5000. Or, is it that the US dollar of today is worth comparatively just a dime?

Playability and Timbre

Origin, vintage, and value aside, here’s what really matters — it’s playable and sounds good. Also note Deb’s comments. (Recorded on cellphone. No post processing.)

Early 20th c. violin recorded by cellphone with no post processing. Just press “play.”

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