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Stradivarius violins are renowned for their supposedly superior sound when compared to other instruments. This has resulted in numerous studies hunting for a scientific reason for why Strads sound so good. A number of these studies have focused on the chemical composition of the wood in violins made in Cremona by Antonio Stradivari in the 17th and 18th centuries. Others have considered the violins made by Stradivari's contemporary, Joseph Guarneri del Gesu, whose violins are widely considered to be just as good.
Research often looks at how the materials used in the construction of the instrument define its superior quality. For example, one study argued that a "little ice age" which affected Europe from 1645 to 1715, was responsible for the slow-growth wood used in the construction of the violins that gives them a particular quality. This type of wood would have been available to all violin makers in Europe so other work has looked at the particular varnish applied to Strads. But the most recent study on this showed that Stradivari finishes were also commonly used by other craftsmen and artists and were not particularly special.
Now a team of scientists from National Taiwan University have tried to uncover the secret of Stradivarius violins by analysing the chemistry of the wood they're made from. The researchers found that the aged and treated maple wood had very different properties from that used to make modern instruments. But is there really a secret to be found in the Stradivarius?
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Wednesday December 21 2016, @07:57PM
Stradivarius violins are renowned for their supposedly superior sound when compared to other instruments.
They may be renowned for it, but they are actual "superior"? And what superior mean, anyway? Is it a better sound, or is just a particular "Stradivarius" sound that people have come to prefer because of the mythos surrounding the name?
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday December 21 2016, @09:05PM
As pointed out above, the Stradivarius WERE BETTER then their contemporaries, but since they have served as the gold standard for a a few centuries, modern makers try to EMULATE their sound.
Does it surprise anyone that after a few hundred years of trying modern makers have succeeded at this task?
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 3, Funny) by aristarchus on Wednesday December 21 2016, @09:19PM
And what superior mean, anyway?
Superior? Strads go all the way up to eleven!!
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 22 2016, @02:08AM
Superior? Strads go all the way up to eleven!!
Not to mention it's Strads all the way down.
(Score: 2, Offtopic) by aristarchus on Thursday December 22 2016, @04:17AM
And something to do with Stonehedge!!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 22 2016, @04:48AM
The violin soloist, along with the conductor and orchestra, are the medium through which the audience gets to expericene the works of Beethoven, or whomever. I'd guess that playing a great 17th century instrument helps today's world class violinists feel connected to the music of the 18th or 19th century that they're playing on stage. They feel they're part of a great tradition that goes back centuries, rather than a mere performer on this one night who is trying to please a fickle audience some of whose members glance furtively at their phones.
So if it works for them, it works for us.