The Great Violin Mystery

The Great Violin Mystery, aired in October of 1981 on PBS, is an educational documentary. (Since publishing this video on YouTube, more than 111,000 views were logged before Nova partially blocked it for copyright infringement. But Nova still won't publish it themselves. So, anyone wanting to view this video can view is on my website: keithhillharpsichords.com under VIOLINS)This video is instructive about the actual contributions of acoustical physicists to the business of making great sounding violins. Jack Fry, not an acoustical physicist but a nuclear physicist, by much simpler straightforward aurally based common sense thinking was able to contribute far more than those scientists and makers who let microphones and electronic machines do their listening for them. Note the ear protectors on the head of one such so called acoustical scientist who typifies the notion that the eyes trump the ears when it comes to studying sound.

For more information about the acoustics of violins visit www.keithhillharpsichords.com then find the Articles On: heading and select "Instrument Making", and scroll down till you find "Area Tuning the Violin" and "Hints for Area Tuning the Violin".

Under the heading "Violins" at that site, you can find several articles on the subject of evaluating violins including one that provides 39 different traits and characteristics observed in the great 17th and 18th century Italian/Cremonese violins. I trust you will find this information useful.

Видео The Great Violin Mystery канала Keith Hill