Surely you've heard about this brand but never related to music, but yes, surprise! You are facing one of the wonders of the musical world: the Stradivarius instruments .They are known, not only by their peculiar name, but also by the magic they wake up.The string instruments are considered with the best sound of all musical history.
You must think that you are going crazy or crazy and that you have totally lost your mind: but no.One of the most appreciated wonders within the passionate universe of the instruments is the Stradivarius violin .
Music is a fundamental part of our lives and that is why we have it practically present in our daily lives.Sometimes we forget that the music we listen to is as important as the instruments that make it possible, as in In this case the Stradivarius instruments .And important are also those who create and play those instruments.
The notes, melodies, stories and secrets that may exist around an instrument are the perfect mix to create the magic that makes it the perfect piece so that it exists in our life, but physically, at least in our imagination.
Index of the article
What are the Stradivarius instruments
Within the world of music, the Stradivarius instruments , are a well-known and respected brand.Under their name we can find some string instruments such as: violas, cello and , the jewel in the crown, the violins.
Something that makes these Stradivarius instruments different from the rest of the string instruments that we can find.detail what makes them a unique instrument and, in addition, with a story full of magic and a special sound, impossible to replicate.
Another of its main features is its unique loudness.There is no violin that sounds as one that is a Stradivarius model. All the elements that his builder used to make these instruments were very important and of the highest quality. From the wood he used to the strings, through the last layer of varnish, this was considered very important because he chose a product that allowed the wood to perspire and not remain especially dry.
Biography of Antonio Stradivari
Antonio Stradivari is considered the father of these instruments. He was who created them, and those that were manufactured later, followed in his footsteps and instructions.He had two to create instruments, and although his children continued to build instruments like him, they never got to touch him.
This teacher of the instruments he was born in Cremona (Italy) in 1644 and died at the age of 93 in the same city, on December 18, 1737. Despite being born under the surname Stradivari he is popularly known by the Latinized version of this last name , Stradivarius, name by which instruments are also known.
He is considered the most famous string instrument manufacturer in the history of music, but this is not the only thing he did throughout his more than 90 years of life. It is striking that he had a particularly long life for the time he was born.
Throughout his life he married twice, maintaining the second pregnancy until almost the end of his days.His second wife died a few months before him. With these two women He had a total of 11 children.
Before settling on his own, he studied in the workshop of another famous instrument builder of the moment: Nicolo Amati.These years of study took place from 1667 to 1679.Alli learned everything He could on the construction of instruments, materials, musicality, etc.
In 1680, when he was already determined and believed that he could fly by himself opened his first own workshop. I opened it in what is now known as the San Dominico Square in Cremona.
Two of his sons followed in his footsteps and became luthiers, or what the same thing: string instrument manufacturers.In fact, in 1730 the instruments ceased to be signed under the name of Antonio Stradivari to start showing the signature: « Sub discipline Stradivarii » since they included their own creations and also all those that made their children.
History of Stradivarius instruments
Considered the largest handmade violins , the Stradivarius instruments were magic created by the hands of Antonio Stradivari.Mr.Stradivari dedicated his life to the thorough and perfect elaboration of the violin.With his work and effort he has achieved that after so many years, I continue to admire and respect him for his work.
Stradivari designed and developed more than 1,000 instruments For a lifetime, of which many still exist today, these Stradivarius instruments are considered the best standards of form, sound and beauty within the world of string instruments.
His first violin he made when he was only 22 years old when, as they count, he practiced the carpenter's profession, which would explain his skill and talent in the execution and design with wood.Since its inception, the Stradivarius instruments were classical in style, but soon the traditional techniques were surpassed by their abilities, as we can see in his Hellier violin from 1679.
From the 80s, it is when Stradivarius instruments begin to have their own model, without resembling any violin that It already exists.I create a small family business in the 90s and it was there, where He began to create more violinesunicos, like his talent.
Stradivari manufactured his best instruments between 1700 and 1725, where the design of his Stradivarius instruments was perfected and established the standard of artisans of the future.Its violins had an incomparable sound box even with those of today.And, in addition, a single-colored varnish, a dark red, black edging and its wide edges and corners.
I never give or sell their creations, but I also manufacture other stringed instruments such as lutes, cello, guitars, harps, etc.
Today, the Stradivarius instruments are a precious asset for both museums and private collections throughout the world thanks to external beauty and The only sound they give off and that only its creator, Antonio Stradivari, could turn into something material the magic he felt in his imagination.
The instruments that this great luthier built have become objects of worship.They are no longer even sought in order to be able to play them, even though they are the ones that best They sound the whole story.Now there are many who look for these instruments with the simple desire of collecting.There are few instruments that remain whole and in good quality and every time one goes to auction it attracts the attention of people from all over the planet. Stradivarius instrument auctions are always international news and make everyone aware of the final figure to be paid for these historical pieces.
Characteristics of Stradivarius instruments
If we focus on the most defining features that these Stradivarius instruments have to differentiate them from others, we can summarize them in their stylized structure.Their structure and the dark colored varnish with which it is painted , they make them a jewel worth seeing and hearing, although it has always been investigated if only that makes these instruments their magic.
The fact that this type of violin emits more penetrating and pleasing sounds to the ear than other violins also made it unique and special.However, many experts have paid attention to the material of the what are the instruments made Stradivarius .This type of violins are made with a very dense wood that, in turn, is very well aged to achieve greater loudness.
Especially its violin, is characterized by producing a pronounced "vibrato", with a great timbre power and a brutal adaptation to the different interpretations that the musician can perform.Small holes and cracks have been located that can help, intentionally or not, to that unmistakable sound of the Stradivarius instruments .
Secrets of Stradivarius instruments
If nobody has managed to match the sound of the well-known Stradivarius instruments for so long, what is that secret that Do you make them so tanic? Are they really as exceptional as they want to make us think?
There are many hypotheses that try to prove the greatest of secrets better saved by a music instrument.One of them is that, when the Stradivarius instruments were made, the weather had a lot to do, since the maple and spruce with which they were created, are very dense and that may be because the temperatures were very low in the years in which Stradivari manufactured its Stradivarius instruments .
The aging of the wood from which these instruments are made also helps to make its sound more peculiar, being released the chemical particles of wood (such as aluminum, sodium, etc ,.) that can contribute to its aging, thanks to high frequency vibrations due to the use of Stradivarius instruments by their owners.
That is why the purchase and sale of the Stradivarius instruments are made to museums and private collections, where it is assumed that they will not be exposed to more vibrations or high temperatures that can damage or alter their morphology.
How much Stradivarius instruments are worth
The most important instruments Precious within the Stradivarius are violas and violins.It is also true that it is the least common pieces. Less and less of these instruments remain in the market, so their price has risen year a year like the foam.
In addition to violas and violins Stradivari built harps, guitars and more string instruments. All of them with their own sound very different from other instruments created by other common luthiers.
Currently there are only 10 violas in the world, all of them in a very good state of conservation.This is striking since many years have passed since its construction.However, the perfect process of design and construction has made it easier for them to survive well over time.In addition, being such special pieces it is quite common that their successive owners have spoiled these instruments.
The price of these instruments has varied over the years, for example, a viola went up for auction in 2014 for 45 million dollars. However, in 2011 a Stradivarius violin was sold by auction for 15 million dollars, in fact, violas are normally the most expensive instrument built by this artist.
If we look at it for a few more years back we can remember how this same viola was released in 1964 for 81,000 dollars of those then. This figure would currently be equivalent to about 613,000 dollars.
In Spain highlights the "Royal Quartet ».It is a set of Stradivarius instruments that is National Heritage and was acquired by King Carlos III.It consists of two violins, a cello and also a viola. In total they are valued at a sum of between 25 and 30 million of dollars.
As an anecdote we can tell you that the cello broke down a few years ago or at the height of the mast during a photo session and had to undergo a long reconstruction session to be able to leave it again as it was.This quartet in total is considered as the most perfect string instrument set in history.
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