June 25, 2005 at 1:07 PM

The name of a violin is a precious thing,
If you speak it or even sing,
I would have to give you everything.
My violin's name is --ah, but that would be telling!
(adapted)

I read somewhere that in some religions, it is believed that a thing's power is closely linked to its name and that anyone who speaks the name gains control over the thing in question --be it a sword, a demon, or even a god.

Relatedly, when a warrior's sword broke in battle, it was believed that an enemy had learned the blade's secret name.

Speaking of names and breaking things, fellow violinist.com blogger and kababayan Putch Panis posted a blog entry recently on the gut-wrenching feeling that probably all violinists get when their instruments fall apart.

We share a close bond with our violins, not unlike the relationship that warriors of old had with their weapons.

Giving something a name makes it unique and personal. It's a verbal affirmation of the object's intimate connection and endearment to its owner.

Oh, there's magic involved all right. But not necessarily supernatural.

So, one day, I set about giving my violin a name. It's old and brown, and one of my teachers used to joke that it looked like a cockroach. So, occasionally, even today, I affectionately refer to it as "my ipis." (from the Filipino word for cockroach).

I did try giving it a proper name, though, but nothing seemed to stick.

And then I realized that my violin is so much a part of me that I just couldn't name it. It's like a hand, or a foot, or a nose... (Of course, it's quite possible that there's someoune out there with an appendage named "George" or something, LOL)

And so, my violin has remained nameless.

Now if only I could actually get to PLAY it better...

From Danielle Gauthier
Posted on June 26, 2005 at 2:52 AM

*looks around suspiciously* what's wrong with having a foot named George?!? Kidding.

But i guess i can relate to your "bug".
About a year ago, my sister tied a peice of twine to my violin so that it hung off of the scroll. I kept it there to remind me of her and her courage (especially after she passed). Now, everyone who sees my violin and doesn't know the story laughs at it and asks why i have cat gut hanging off my violin. After I tell them why, they follow suit.
What I'm getting at is that, even though people laugh at you and your *ahem* named appendages, they really want to have something like it...or this is just a coffee-induced response with rambling going nowhere.

From Timothy James Dimacali
Posted on June 26, 2005 at 7:25 AM

Danielle,

Hehehe.

From Claire Madarang
Posted on July 7, 2005 at 9:02 AM

Cool blog! =)

Up to now, I still don't have a name for my violin... somehow, the perfect name still eludes me. *sigh*

From Emily Grossman
Posted on August 22, 2005 at 11:21 PM

This is way outdated, but I just now read it. I would like to inform you that I am the one with the appendage named George.

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