Paganini's violin gets X-ray treatment in quest of sound secrets
French experts fired X-rays at a 18th-century violin worth millions this weekend hoping to discover the secret of its magical sound, they said Monday.
French experts fired X-rays at a 18th-century violin worth millions this weekend hoping to discover the secret of its magical sound, they said Monday.
Analytical Chemistry
Mar 11, 2024
0
131
When two musical notes are played simultaneously, the human ear can perceive weak additional tones called combination tones. These subjective tones result from the nonlinearity of the inner ear and are attributed to the amplification ...
General Physics
Nov 1, 2022
1
229
Stradivarius violins produce elegant music with a level of clarity that is unparalleled by modern instruments, according to some musicians. And it's the finishing touches—mysterious treatments applied hundreds of years ...
Analytical Chemistry
Oct 25, 2022
0
581
New research co-authored by a Texas A&M University scientist has confirmed that renowned violin maker Antonio Stradivari and others treated their instruments with chemicals that produced their unique sound, and several of ...
Materials Science
Aug 17, 2021
6
1080
Working in the shadow of the great masters, the violin-makers of Italy's Cremona are valiantly fighting a shrinking market and foreign competition as they seek perfection, one violin at a time.
Other
Jun 18, 2020
0
91
Meet the man who is trying to make the closest thing you will get to a 21st-century Stradivarius.
Other
Feb 28, 2019
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8
Music historians have long suspected that the inventors of the violin wanted to imitate the human voice, and a study out Monday shows how 16th to 18th century luthiers in Italy did it.
Other
May 22, 2018
1
88
Despite the lofty reputation of old violins by Italian masters such as Antonio Stradivari, blindfolded listeners in concert halls in New York and Paris say they preferred the sound of newer instruments.
Engineering
May 8, 2017
14
911
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 ...
General Physics
Dec 20, 2016
10
151
Varnishes protect works of art and wooden instruments from environmental damage. However, until recently, little research had been carried out into the effects of varnish on the sound of violins. Empa researchers have now ...
Materials Science
Mar 17, 2016
0
56