Beccy: Woodworms and Pesticides

Yes, Lynness, I had read that article. I know Dr. Tolley--funny how--He taught a kickboxing class that I took after Jared was born. His whole family are black belts and they ran a karate center in Springville. He made the class especially fun because while we stretched or warmed up or cooled down he would tell us about his latest research or passion. He is interested in so many things and his profession takes him into many interesting fields of study. He was also a mentor to a good college friend of mine who graduated in statistics. Anyway, isn't it kind of funny to think woodworms and primtive pesticides could be the reason for the Strad's amazing qualitites?!

Lynness Re: Stradivari's Genius

Just a follow-up to your book post. I remembered reading something about Stradivari in a BYU news email and I went looking for it- here is a news article about it from the Deseret News almost a year ago. Maybe you read it.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20061130/ai_n16909853

Beccy: October's read, November's pick

I loved Stradiveri's Genius. I suppose some might find his conclusion rather anticlimactic—that even with modern science and technology, we have yet to understand or duplicate Stradiveri’s mastery at producing such perfection in string instruments. The book begins in 17th century Cremona, Italy, which was Stradivari’s home and where violins became a dominant musical instrument (pardon the pun). I had never heard of Cremona before, but have added it to my mental list of places I want to visit in Italy!

I enjoyed learning about how violins are constructed and exploring all the abounding theories about why Stradivarius violins (and also others made by lesser-known luthiers of his century) are so superior: Is it his secret varnish recipe? Is it the European mini-ice age that affected the wood of that area and time? Is it the layer of volcanic sand discovered between the layers of varnish (discovered by modern high-power microscopes)?

I enjoyed making connections between history, musical performers, people and places I had heard of (such as the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, who made grandma’s piano) and many I hadn’t heard of. I hope I someday have the now very rare opportunity of hearing a Strad played live. Yo-Yo Ma actually still owns The Davidov Strad cello, but does not play it exclusively. At least I could find some recordings that were made on Strads.

I loved the idea that
“A great violin is alive; its very shape embodies its maker’s intentions, and its wood stores the history, or the soul, of its successive owners. I never play without feeling that I have released or, alas, violated spirits.” – Yehudi Menuhin

As for naming my own violin, I’m still thinking. I have considered The Liahona, since it is to me an instrument of curious workmanship and “works” only by faith on my part. I do often have the feeling that I am trying to coax good sounds out of it. It is really a marvelous instrument—I am reminded of that whenever my teacher plays on it!

I asked Katie today what she has named her violin, and she said, “Bocci.” This really made me laugh, because it sounds Italian and I have no idea where she would have heard that (isn’t it a game?)! I told her she should name it Valentine, because we often need to remind her that it is not pronounced “biolin” but Violin, with a v- as in VALentine!

My November pick is Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke. It’s juvi fiction, but Curt really wants me to read it. I rather liked Inkspell and Inkheart and I’m in the mood for something light after this month’s nonfiction. Cornelia Funke is German and her books are translated from German (though you probably all know that).

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cello names & favorite books

Beccy, Stradivari's Genius sounds really interesting. Maybe I will choose an October book, after all. By the way, I did name my first cello. (Oddly enough, I don't remember the name of the one I actually own...my first was a bruised, sad, old rented one from the elementary school.) For anyone who wants to know, my first cello was Esmerelda. (I should mention that I had very mixed feelings about that cello.)

I also wanted to ask everyone a sort of general question, just out of curiosity.
What's your favorite book you've read this year? Why?
(Sounds like an essay question. Forty points for the first half, ten for the second.)

Sam, I'm excited to finally "read" your face on our blog!

Lulu

Beccy's Octoberread

Sort of like Octoberfest. It counts as a fest when you have lots to read.
Welcome Samantha! I am loving this. It's great to stay in touch, but even more fun when you have a topic besides-"how are ya?"

Mim, Rae: What ever happened to our copy of Tales of Brer Rabbit?! Does Jon have it? Sam, did you ever see it/read from it as a kid? I can't imagine any of us ever getting rid of it. Maybe Jody has it?

Tonight Troy and I went to Borders for our date and I finally made use of my birthday gift card (Thanks Rae)! We topped the evening off with Baskin Robbins, which made me think of Grandpa. Whenever Mom would take Gpa and me (and/or Rae and Matt) with her to run errands, the car would inevitably and inexplicably turn into the B&R parking lot. They would always marvel at this strange phenomenon . . . I was telling Troy how Grandpa almost always got pralines and cream or black walnut, and Mom always got burnt almond fudge. I usually had mint chocolate chip which is how Troy recognized me in our earliest years as his true soulmate--but I digress. (Let no spirit of "disgression" overcome you in the evil hour . . . :)

In the past 48 hours I have planted 155 tulip bulbs, watched 5 episodes of The Upside Down Show and sewed a leprechaun costume (for myself, no less) so I'm feeling a little punchy tonight.

Anyway, I bought 3 books tonight (it was a generous gift card): Stradivari's Genius, and The Art of Practicing and The Complete Book of Running for Women. One of them will not be my October blog-book. :) I guess the titles are pretty self-explanatory, but Stradivari's Genius is unusual. The author (Toby Faber) traces the stories of six of the remaining (some 600 in the world) original Stradivarius instruments (5 violins and 1 cello) and their creator. When I visited Mom on Friday, she asked me if I had named my violin reminding me that Stradivari's violins each had a name. This was an intriguing thought to me and I was wondering what their names were and how they got them. The paragraph on the back of the book piqued my interest with: "Blending history, biography, meticulous detective work, and an abiding passion for music, Faber takes us from the salons of Vienna to the concert halls of New York . . ." I read most of a chapter and was hooked. There are cool photos and illustrations, too.

When I showed Troy the titles, he quoted Inigo Montoya's question to the Man in Black, saying, "Who arrrre you?!" I can happily justify my new interests by remembering Mom's tendency to do the same when were kids--to pick up something completely new and throw herself into it. Ten years ago, if someone had told me that I'd be living in PG, own a violin and love running when I was 40, I would have laughed. Never say never, I guess.

Happy Octoberreading to you all--
love, Beccy