Violin Mastery - Mischa Elman - Part 7
VIOLIN MASTERY
“You ask me what I understand by ‘Violin Mastery’? Well, it seems to me that the artist who can present anything he plays as a distinct picture, in every detail, framing the composer’s idea in the perfect beauty of his plastic rendering, with absolute truth of color and proportion—he is the artist who deserves to be called a master!
“Of course, the instrument the artist uses is an important factor in making it possible for him to do his best. My violin? It is an authentic Strad—dated 1722. I bought it of Willy Burmester in London. You see he did not care much for it. The German style of playing is not calculated to bring out the tone beauty, the quality of the old Italian fiddles. I think Burmester had forced the tone, and it took me some time to make it mellow and truly responsive again, but now….” Mr. Elman beamed. It was evident he was satisfied with his instrument. “As to strings,” he continued, “I never use wire strings—they have no color, no quality!
Violin Mastery
Talks with Master Violinists and Teachers
by Frederick H. Martens
Published 1919
