The Naming of My Violin

May 26, 2012 at 9:31 PM

As long as I could remember, I've named inanimate objects. I guess I'm just silly like that. My favorite car was a midnight blue Toyota Celica, and I named her Celeste. I miss her. Sigh.

My violin and I have been together now for about two months. It's been an interesting courtship and marriage...we spent a couple weeks getting to know each other before making a commitment. There were times that I thought this could not possibly work, I'm so old...I know nothing about this violin, its history, its likes and dislikes, how to communicate with it. But that all-consuming passion that can no longer be contained within won. We are a "thing" now.

I had to find a name for my new love. Something that embodied the spirit of our relationship. Something that speaks of our purpose together. Something fitting and right.

And then...a kairos moment, one word spoken and defined, and I knew your name.

Tehillah...although it does not sound masculine, as your presence seems to me, the meaning is exactly fitting. It is one of seven Hebrew words for "praise", and a particular type of praise. A new song, "the residual song of the spirit", unrehearsed, spontaneous songs, praise that comes from your spirit, to be attuned to Him and His presence.

I've realized that the reason you, my dear Tehillah, are the voice of my soul is because there is a song deep within me that longs to get out, because I was made to praise my Creator. Oh, how I wish we'd met years ago...we could have been singing together for so much longer. But I am thankful we have met, for I now know what is my purpose. I know why I must play, and why we have been brought together.

Meet Tehillah...

I am also an amateur photographer, and intrynsic is my name on streamzoo, hence the copyright.

From Skylar Nguyen
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:35 PM

He(she?) look beautiful. I named my violin Annae, inspired by the Red Violin movie. Annae is actually a real life copy of the violin only with a nice red varnish and a wonderfully flamed one piece back. She cost me $1560 but is worth every cent

From Diana Rumrill
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:25 PM

Beautiful. Tehillah came along at just the right time in your life, not too late or too early. :)

From Dawn Yoder
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:44 AM

@Skylar Nguyen, thanks! This violin just has a masculine sense about it so I'd say 'he'...but the name sounds like a girls name LOL. Oh well, it's the meaning that is most important to me. I LOVE that movie! Have you seen (I'm guessing you probably have) videos of Elizabeth Pitcairn playing the Red Mendellsohn (sp?). Even a so-so quality youtube video of her playing that, you can tell it's just simply an amazing instrument. I would love to hear it in person some time, and dare I dream to ever be able to play it? Sigh...

How wonderful that you have found your violin soulmate (: that is priceless!

From Dawn Yoder
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:48 AM

@Diana Rumrill thank you! Yes, you are right. I just sometimes wish the "right time" would have been years ago, I'm impatient learning all these basic, foundational things (which are absolutely critical for playing well later on). I just want to pick up my darling Tehillah and just PLAY, you know? but, I try to pour myself into every practice session, no matter whether it's bowing or Twinkling, because it's all I can do at this moment. Some day...some day...

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The Naming of My Violin

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