Happy Father's Day - My Father's Gift
I'm a few days late with this. Father's Day was June 20. The sentiment expressed here, however, is enduring.
Does this violin have a gorgeous varnish or what? It was made some time around the year 1900 in Germany. It belonged to my violin teacher, who lent it to me when I was in high school. It had and still has a beautiful, warm sound. My family didn’t have enough money to buy a good violin like this. After I had played it for a few years, I told my father that I would be very unhappy when I had to give it back to my teacher. “You don’t have to give it back,” my father told me. “It’s yours now.” He had been paying my teacher a small amount of money every week for years. This violin is, in more ways than one, the greatest gift I’ve ever received.
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| From My violin |
Happy Father’s Day.
Reprinted from another blog with the permission of the author.
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Yes, nice story!
Anne-Marie
Pauline -- I can't remember if I've asked you this before. I'm just a bit curious -- do you know if your violin is one of the turn-of-the-century(ish) "conservatory violins" that were imported from Germany and France for the student market? My older violin is German, and has the words "Conservatory Violin" pressed into the wood on the back of the scroll. The word "conservatory" arches (like a rainbow). The word "violin" runs straight across the scroll, underneath "conservatory". These instruments were imported in great numbers, and were usually mail-ordered from firms like Sears & Roebuck and Montgomery Ward after they'd reached the U.S. When I acquired my violin, it was in great need of repairs and replacement parts. My luthier has worked miracles on it, and it sounds absolutely wonderful!!!
Marsha, my violin does not fit your description of a Conservatory violin. I don't think it was made for student use. As I said, my teacher, a professional violinist, played it before I did. Since I've owned it, it has never required any serious work by a luthier. I really love its sound.
Barry and Anne-Marie, I'm glad you enjoyed the story. Yes, my father did some wonderful things for me.
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June 24, 2010 at 07:47 PM ·
what a wonderful story. your father sounds like a great man