A real violinist to play Sherlock Holmes?

January 12, 2020, 9:30 PM · Just for fun: Nominate a real amateur string player to be the next Sherlock Holmes in a TV series.

Sherlock is written as a talented amateur violinist and he is brilliant in everything that matters. The nominee needs to give that appearance and, with coaching, be able to convincingly act the part on screen; what he plays on the violin is what you see from the first take; and it is not edited to perfection. Oh yes, he needs to have or develop a proper English, Scottish or Welsh accent to be convincing.

I am tired of actors trying to mime a violinist over Joshua Bell’s lovely music; except for Daniel Bruhl in Ladies in Lavender. Actors always carry the bow with their hands on the bow hair.

The violin used, a period correct hundred year old instrument at the turn of the last century. (No shiny new vso’s!) Interesting because the violin used is from a real obscure, excellent, yet not well known maker around the end of the 18th century. Sherlock has stories about his treasured violin. When not in use, it is wrapped in its own special blanket inside the rough period case. He will not throw his violin around carelessly!

Steel E strings only became available in 1919 therefore no fine tuner on the tail piece. (Wound synthetic A, D, G and wound steel E string all dyed gut color; geared pegs won’t be noticed on film. The crew wouldn’t have time to mess with gut.) To tease V,commers, no two episodes will use the same brand of strings. Good shots of the peg box and tail piece required for string identification!

Should a new series be created, Holmes carefully explains and demonstrates one technical aspect of the violin or playing technique in frequent episodes. Elementary, Watson. But only give facts known before Carleen Hutchins and the research of her disciples. Also they are to be facts known by less than a quarter of string players.

This represents only one small facet supporting a rich new series of Sherlock Holmes stories recorded in UHD TV.

Who do you believe meet these criteria?

ABL