Albert Einstein Historic 1954 "God Letter" Handwritten Shortly Before His Death

[GoldenPlate]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190736802914

[martin swan]

don't think this is suitable for maestronet ..... sorry

[lyndon]

"clearly a forgery as albert einstein was for all intensive purposes illiterate" steverino

[jacobsaunders]

don't think this is suitable for maestronet ..... sorry

Just because you can't read old German handwriting, Martin?

[martin swan]

because it has nothing to do with violins!

[jacobsaunders]

how do you know untill you've read it?

[pahdah_hound]

Its a lot of money...and it doesn't sound that good.

[Brad Dorsey]

"clearly a forgery as albert einstein was for all intensive purposes illiterate" steverino

I think he meant to say "...intents and purposes..."

[martin swan]

ich habe es doch gelesen (auf Englisch natürlich) .... hab' gar nichts von Geigen gesehen

[stephen maloney]

"clearly a forgery as albert einstein was for all intensive purposes illiterate" steverino

You know you've arrived when dubious quotes are being ascribed to you. I'm all warm and fuzzy.

Thank you, Johann.

[lyndon]

I think he meant to say "...intents and purposes..."

i was "quoteing" steverino

[Conor Russell]

Who the hell is Steverino?

[stephen maloney]

Some clueless idiot who used to post here.

[Will L]

Noting that Einstein DID play the violin, the post isn't without some justification. BTW, what did Einstein play, and who has it now, and was it any good?

I preferred the "clueless idiot", who at one time looked curiously like Stuart Margolin! :-)

[richardz]

"A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?" Albert Einstein

I recall in one of Suzuki's books, a tale of soirees in Europe attended by Albert Einstein, Suzuki, and other notable musicians. One of the anecdotes was about a pianist who when given a melody composed on the spot, could improvise musical pieces in all the styles of the great composers in a convincing manner. I don't think Einstein was hanging with the slouches. I don't remember any direct references to Einsteins playing ability.

[lyndon]

actually his playing ability or rather lack thereof was discussed at length recently on violinist.com, evidently he had a real problem keeping time.

[Bernie R]

I don't remember any direct references to Einsteins playing ability.

There were nine violinists in his class at school, but Einstein was singled out for special praise. He "sparkled by playing an adagio from a Beethoven sonata with deep understanding". At a concert at a local church he was chosen to play first violin in a piece by Bach. The second violin was "awed by his enchanting tone and incomparable rhythm".

[Bernie R]

actually his playing ability or rather lack thereof was discussed at length recently on violinist.com, evidently he had a real problem keeping time.

It's all relative though.

[Jeffrey Holmes]

BTW, what did Einstein play, and who has it now, and was it any good?

I can't recall the maker of his violin, but in the early '90s I handled a bow by Frank Callier which was engraved with Einstein's name. Though not what I'd call "iron clad", there was also some documentation that indicated it was made for and owned by Einstein. The bow was later included in the American makers exhibition at the Library of Congress (AFVBM).

[Brad Dorsey]

i was "quoteing" steverino

I think you meant to say "quoting."

[jacobsaunders]

Noting that Einstein DID play the violin, the post isn't without some justification. BTW, what did Einstein play, and who has it now, and was it any good?

I preferred the "clueless idiot", who at one time looked curiously like Stuart Margolin! :-)

If a crummy Einstein letter is expected to fetch 3 million, I dread to think how much his violin should be worth (however far it was from Schönbach when it was being made)

[Bernie R]

I have a photo here in a biography of him playing the fiddle, put "einstein violin" into Google Images and you get at least 8 different shots, but I doubt any of them have the views and resolution you would need to say anything much about the instruments. I think it's clear it's not always the same violin he's playing though.

[MellowCello]

Great story.

Einstein, Heifetz and Piatigorsky were playing trios together, but it was not going well. Finally, exasperated, Heifetz stopped and turned to Einstein: "Albert, can't you count?!?"

[bean_fidhleir]

Great story.

Einstein, Heifetz and Piatigorsky were playing trios together, but it was not going well. Finally, exasperated, Heifetz stopped and turned to Einstein: "Albert, can't you count?!?"

Allegedly that's a real story, just said by one of the friends he regularly played with, not Heifetz or Piatigorsky. Supposedly he'd be fiddling happily along but then he'd start thinking about a physics problem and lose track.