Al Cramer Posted March 11, 2020 Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 Some news re Lombardy -- We live in New England, but my wife grew up in Milano and all her family's over there. Her sister reports that there are no shortages in the supermarkets, but the bookstores have sold out all copies of Manzoni's I promessi sposi . That's this big heavy 19th novel everybody used to have to read in high school, set in the plague years that killed off the Brescian school. Marisa says everybody is re-reading it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Appleman Posted March 11, 2020 Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 14 hours ago, David Beard said: So the true bones of the myth are no more than N became head of his house, and his main Brescian competition died? I don't know if you could call it a myth, but one way to think of it was that until the 1630 ish era, the Amati shop was a family business for three generations, and sons and grandson were enough to fill orders. After the 1630's, Nicola was alone and had to start taking in assistants from outside the family, so Guarneri, Rogeri and a host of others start working for him. Maybe that would have happenned anyway, as demand for violins grew, but reading or re-reading the exchange of letters between Galileo and Father Micanzio about getting a first-class violin for Galileo's nephew gives some interesting insights into ordering a violin in the mid 17th century: Firstly, in the mind of a cultured person who was not a professional musician, the best violins came from either Cremona or Brescia. That a good up and coming violinist could make his way into a good "orchestra" job with something other than a Cremonese or Brescian violin, so there were other makers out there that history has "forgotten." (Mariani, for instance?) That at that time (1638) for a professional musician like Monteverdi, (who was Micanzio's musical contact in Venice) Cremonese violins were far superior to Brescian violins and sold for more than double the price. That it took time to finish a commission, notably because Amati needed a solid week of sunny weather to dry the varnish enough to ship the violin (at least that was his excuse). That an older Amati sold for more than a new commission. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Appleman Posted March 11, 2020 Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 Of course, Monteverdi was from Cremona and may have been acting as an agent for Amati and getting a cut... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Carlson Posted March 11, 2020 Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 21 hours ago, David Burgess said: You doin' alright, Bruce? No confirmed cases in Michigan yet. That's one of the advantages of living in bumf***k. Hi David, I'm fine but they have advised everyone to stay home and avoid contacts in an attempt to slow down the spread of the virus (this is what the Chinese did and it appears to work). The big problem is if the virus continues to spread exponentially there will not be enough intensive care units for the 8 to 10 percent that will need help to get through the respiratory crisis tied to the ability of the virus to interrupt oxygen flow between the lungs and the circulatory system, and of course the release of CO2. This is the percentage that have to be put on a respirator. It appears to be more dangerous for people over 65 years. I have to say I wouldn't mind being back in Michigan but without a house there anymore it doesn't make a lot of sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Carlson Posted March 11, 2020 Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 16 hours ago, David Beard said: Ok. Not myth. But it feels like this story is often presented as if it sort of explains the ascendance and importance of N. Amati. I kinda think N Amati and Cremona might easily have shaped up very much as they did anyway. What if Gerolamo Amati had survived or if Maggini had survived? Nicola Amati was fortunate to have the skills and the wherewithal to develop violinmaking in Cremona by taking it outside of the family. He really had no competition to speak of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANFIO Posted March 11, 2020 Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 This article deals about the effects of coronavirus in the life of classical players, due to cancelling of concerts. It will affect makers too, I think. https://www.middleclassartist.com/post/covid-19-and-the-hidden-consequences-of-force-majeure?fbclid=IwAR2fJ5CIHxw2lMqzhZ2RIWac2LVqMPNHTrR2lmCx17PEJyV2R18WqmJFmvw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Carlson Posted March 11, 2020 Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 Update on the Corona virus. My neighbor across the street where I live just died from complications caused by the Corona virus. It's no joke and it's highly contagious. Everyone has been advised to stay in their home and only go out when absolutely necessary. Some of the grocery stores have a service now where you can call in your order and they deliver to your door, or should I say near to your door. The whole thing is very unsettling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rue Posted March 12, 2020 Report Share Posted March 12, 2020 That makes it so much more "real", doesn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANFIO Posted March 12, 2020 Report Share Posted March 12, 2020 43 minutes ago, Rue said: That makes it so much more "real", doesn't it? When we see Italian doctors talking about it, when we see the hospitals, etc, it is very very real. The press is fueled by press releases from the big companies, they don't want us stopping buying things, traveling, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael_Molnar Posted March 12, 2020 Report Share Posted March 12, 2020 Cremona has over a thousand cases of Coronavirus. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/coronavirus-maps-italy-iran-korea.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Burgess Posted March 12, 2020 Report Share Posted March 12, 2020 Bruce is easy to love. Same goes for Davide Sora. I wish the best for both of them. and for many more in Italy who I have spent a bit of time hanging out with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobsaunders Posted March 12, 2020 Report Share Posted March 12, 2020 44 minutes ago, David Burgess said: Bruce is easy to love. Same goes for Davide Sora. I wish the best for both of them. and for many more in Italy who I have spent a bit of time hanging out with. It is an international pandemic. Although we sympathise with our Italian colleagues of course, it is mistaken to be smug, and think it is only them. My niece & her husband visited me today, on holiday from Scotland. I had a whole list of places I wanted to take them, but absolutely everything was closed. All museums, concerts, even the church are shut, football games are being played behind closed doors etc. About all one can do is to sit in the sun with an ice cream or a coffee. My sons day centre asked me if I would be able to take him from next week, since they expect to get shut down too. You can stay in your workshop as well, since there is nothing to do outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Appleman Posted March 12, 2020 Report Share Posted March 12, 2020 Looks like the Paris Conservatory will be shut down starting Monday. At least I'll be able to get ahead with the viola I started. Maybe I can start that plaster cast of a worthless French Maggini copy that needs a post patch... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three13 Posted March 12, 2020 Report Share Posted March 12, 2020 Imagine how much less pleasant this all would be without internet message boards to entertain ourselves with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobsaunders Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 37 minutes ago, Three13 said: Imagine how much less pleasant this all would be without internet message boards to entertain ourselves with. https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=look+on+the+bright+side+of+life+monty+python&view=detail&mid=D58EB7386134F020E292D58EB7386134F020E292&FORM=VIRE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Burgess Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 1 hour ago, jacobsaunders said: It is an international pandemic. Although we sympathise with our Italian colleagues of course, it is mistaken to be smug, and think it is only them. My niece & her husband visited me today, on holiday from Scotland. I had a whole list of places I wanted to take them, but absolutely everything was closed. All museums, concerts, even the church are shut, football games are being played behind closed doors etc. About all one can do is to sit in the sun with an ice cream or a coffee. My sons day centre asked me if I would be able to take him from next week, since they expect to get shut down too. You can stay in your workshop as well, since there is nothing to do outside. Since niche fiddle makers have a natural tendency to self-isolate, imagine what the world will be like if they are the only survivors! Wood shavings everywhere. Wooden cars, computers and microchips made from wood..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violadamore Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 It was announced on the radio today that the Saturday live Met Opera broadcasts are cancelled for at least the rest of the month, because the Met is closing for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rue Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 Hubby's office may shut down for 30 days. Every one is to work from home. Universities are talking about remote classes... ...and we have no confirmed cases yet. As pragmatic as we are, it's still hard to avoid being worried altogether when you hear, and see, the panic growing all around you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rue Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 Has anyone read this? https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/who-gets-hospital-bed/607807/ Sadly, this is what happens when a system gets overrun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossil Ledges Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 So true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Corry Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 3 hours ago, Rue said: Hubby's office may shut down for 30 days. Every one is to work from home. Universities are talking about remote classes... ...and we have no confirmed cases yet. As pragmatic as we are, it's still hard to avoid being worried altogether when you hear, and see, the panic growing all around you... Yep. My Uni music program is shut down for the rest of the year :/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Appleman Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 5 hours ago, David Burgess said: Since niche fiddle makers have a natural tendency to self-isolate, imagine what the world will be like if they are the only survivors! Wood shavings everywhere. Wooden cars, computers and microchips made from wood..... I've always wanted to make a Costin replica in my workshop... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violadamore Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 6 hours ago, David Burgess said: Since niche fiddle makers have a natural tendency to self-isolate, imagine what the world will be like if they are the only survivors! Wood shavings everywhere. Wooden cars, computers and microchips made from wood..... And don't forget The Wooden Wonder: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Appleman Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 Frank Costin worked on that as well! He once said that "wood was God's plastic," though I'd substitute "composite" in today's language. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael_Molnar Posted March 14, 2020 Report Share Posted March 14, 2020 Cremona 1340+ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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