TheViolare,breakingtradition

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TheViolare

(https://violinstocellos.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/img_0849.jpg)
IntroducingTheViolare
(transitive(http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/transitive))Italian

Meaning:Tobreak(http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/break),toviolate
(http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/violate),toinfringe(http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/infringe),
toprofane(http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/profane)
Pronounced:Veeolareee
ViolinOwnership:
Theconstructionofatraditionalviolinbyhandisanundertakingabundantwithcomplex
processes.Eventhemostskilledandexperiencedluthierswillspendweekstocompleteone
instrument,fromtheinitialwoodselectiontothefinalvarnishcoat.Thecostofthesehoursare
partofaninvestmentbytheviolinmakerthatmustalsoincludethematerials,thebestofwhich
canamounttohundredsofdollarsforasingleinstrument.
Ofcourse,thelabourandmaterialcostputsmosthandmadeviolinsbyrecognisedmakersout
ofreachformanyplayers,especiallystudents.Manyoftherecognisedinstrumentsare
ownedbyinstitutionsandwealthyindividuals,partofthe1%Clubwhohold99%ofthe
wealth.
Someoftheinstitutionsandindividualsloantheseinstrumentstoprotgsandpromising
studentsuntiltheyaresufficientlyremuneratedfromtheirownmusicalcareerstofinallyown
theirownspecialisedpieceofhistory,albeitalessexpensiveversion,andoftennever.Itisan
exclusiveClub!Butnevertheless,eventheverybestplayerswillstillhaveenormous,almost
impossibledifficultyinowningaStradivari,Guarneriorotherfamousinstrumentfromthe
Italianschool.
Thepricegapbetweeninstrumentsmadebyonepersoninasmallworkshopandthosemade
inafactorybymanypeopleisenormous.Iftheinstrumentmadebyasinglepersonhasa
famousnameonitslabel,thatpricegapbecomesexponential.
AResolution:
Toresolvetheproblemofgettingqualityhandmadeinstrumentsintothehandsofstudents
andmanyotherplayers,istomaketheinstrumentmoreaffordable.Buthow?Onewayisto
maketheLuthiermorepoorthanthemajorityalreadyare.
Anotherwayistochangethatclassicalshape.Whilequitebeautifulandunchangedfor
hundredsofyears,embracingdesignchangesisthekeytoaffordablehandmadeinstruments.
Changingthedesignoflabourintensivecomponents,whilenotcompromisingtheattributesof
soundqualityhasbeentriedbymany,anddespitethenaysayers,manyhavehadsuccess.
Generallyspeaking,itisnotthatthosewhohaveembracedchangehavefailedonthepractical
side,buthavefailedtogainacceptancefortheirphilosophy.Bytheway,Idonotexpect
acceptanceformyideaseither.Iamjustanothertrier.
However,thisapproachdiffersfromotherattemptstomodernisetheviolinbysimplifying
thesoundboardandenhancingthephysicsoftheresonator.Whilethisisthemaindifference,
otherchangeshavemadethisinstrumenteasiertoconstruct,andconsequently,muchfasterto
build.

Granted,itlooksdifferent,butthatisunavoidableincontextofwhatIamtryingtoachieve.

Granted,itlooksdifferent,butthatisunavoidableincontextofwhatIamtryingtoachieve.
However,Ibelievethedesigniselegantandtheplayingattributesareexactlythesameasthe
traditionalform.ThechangesIhavemadewillbeconsideredradicalbysome,ifnotmany.On
theotherhand,therationalargumentshouldbetojudgeallinstrumentsbythewaythey
sound,thewaytheyplayandthecraftsmanshipaccordingtothebeholder.Ok,thechangesI
havemadeareradical.Belowaresomeofthemandthemythsthathavemaintainedthe
attributesofthetraditionalformforhundredsofyears.
Corners:
Myth:Cornersonaviolin(thepointybits)arenecessarytoprovidestrengthandintegrityto
theconstruction.
Fact:Cornersontheviolinfamilyofinstrumentsareornamental,verybeautifulintermsofthe
instrumentinitsentirety,butnevertheless,superfluousintermsofsoundproduction.The
cornershaveblockswithinthatinhibitvibration,andvibrationisimportanttoamplitudeand
projection.
Theintegrityoftheconstructiondoesnotrelyonthecorners.Manyotherformsofstringed
instrumentsdonothavecornersandhavealsolastedmanycenturies.

(https://violinstocellos.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/img_0854.jpg)
ArchedPlates:
Myth:Thetopplatehastobearchedtoeliminatethepossibilityofacollapseunderthetension
ofthestrings.
Fact:Aflatbellyortopplatevibratesmorefreelythananarchedplate.Thesoundpostisa
constantwithregardtosupportforthebelly.Amoresubstantialbassbarcompensatesforthe
strengthofanarchandstillallowsthebellytovibratemorethanthetraditionalform.
TrebleSideandBassSide:

Myth:Forconvenienceofexplanationorsimpleignorance,peoplespeakofthebassortreble

Myth:Forconvenienceofexplanationorsimpleignorance,peoplespeakofthebassortreble
sideoftheinstrumentasbeingaffectedbythesoundpostonthetreblesideasonesetof
circumstances,orthebassbaronthebasssideasanothersetofcircumstances..
Fact:Theviolinisasystemwhereallstringsaredependentonthesoundpostasanislandor
fulcrumtomaintainstabilitywhilethebassbarpumpsairinandoutoftheFholeswhen
anyorallstringsareexcitedbythestrokeofthebow.
MisplacedBeliefinAncientTechnologies:
th
Fact:ExpertsinmanyfieldsbelievethatanumberofartisansinCremona,Italyinthe17 and
th
18 centuries(andspecificallyoneartisan)knewmoreaboutwoodproperties,chemistry,
physics(especiallyacoustics),philosophy,maths,geometryandmostotherdisciplinesthanwe
knowabouttoday.
Myth:Alloftheabove.
FHoles:
Myth:TheFHoledesignisbasedontheancientGoldenSectionandtheirrationalnumberof
Phitodesignandpositionthem,andtochangetheminanywaywillbedetrimentaltothe
violin.
th
Fact:TheFHolesevolvedfromearlyinthe16 CenturytotheclassicshapethatStradivari
perfectedoverhislonglife.Theshapeislargelydecorative.However,theholesspreadfrom
thelowercornersoftheinstrumenttobeabout42mmapartonthecentrelineofthetop,
providingafreeplateareaofvibrationthatincludesthesoundpostandthebassbar.This
designisnottheonlywaythatsoundproductioncanbeachieved.
TheVIOLAREembracesthefholeconceptoffreeplatevibrationthatevolvedthroughthe
16thand17thcenturies,butinaverydifferentway.Theslitsthatreplacethefholes
produceverylittlesoundbecauseofthesmallsurfaceareatheyoccupy.Theirsolepurposeis
toincreasetheareaoffreeplatevibration,thusallowingthebassbartopumpthebelly
morefreelywhenastringisexcitedbythebow,theamplifiedsoundexitingthebodythrough
anellipticalsoundholethatispartlyobscuredbythefingerboard.
ThisconceptcomesexclusivelyfromtheresearchdonebyJohnC.McLennan,whoinspiredthe
VIOLAREwhenIreadthisessayonthefunctionoftheFHoles.
http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/music/publications/mclennan/fholes.pdf
(http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/music/publications/mclennan/fholes.pdf).
TwoparagraphsfromthisworkinspiredmyjourneywiththeVIOLARE,andthose
inspirationalwordsfollow:
Theuniqueshapeofthefholesmustallowthebridgethemaximumfreedomtofunctionin
transferringthestringvibrationstothetopplatewithsomelatitudeinbridgeplacementas
seeninearlypaintings.OthershapeswhileallowingtheHelmholtzresonance,wouldappear
tobemorerestrictive.Crescentshapesbothinwardandoutwardfacinghavebeenused.Flame
shapeopeningshavealsoappeared.Whathasbeenlackingisthesimultaneousinward
projectionattheupperendandtheoutwardprojectionatthelowerend.

Anadditionalroundsoundholeplacedunderthefingerboardinsomeinstrumentswould
simplyservetoenlargethesoundholeareaindeterminingtheHelmholtzresonance.Whether
fholescouldbereducedtoslitsclosetotheCboutstoenlargethecentralarea,andthe
Helmholtzresonanceopeningbeprovidedbyacircularsoundholeunderthefingerboardisa
developmentfewwouldwelcome.
Thoselastfivewords;adevelopmentfewwouldwelcomemayhavediscouragedme,unless
asuitableaestheticqualitycouldbefound.Somewouldstillfindthisdevelopment
unwelcome,untiltheyplaythisinstrument,withitsbigsound,intensity,projectionandclarity.
TheSoundpost:
Sincetheearly19thcentury,probablycommencingwithSavartsresearch,theconventional
wisdomhasbeenthatadjustingthesoundpostbysmallincrementsawayorclosertothetreble
footofthebridgewillenhanceorbeofdetrimenttothesoundoftheinstrument.Apparently,
thethinkingwasthateachindividualinstrumenthasitsownparticularsoundpostposition,
withastandardstartingpositionbeing5mmdirectlybehindthetreblefootofthebridge.
InpartoftherecentresearchbyJohnC.Mclennaninareviewofthesoundpostfunction,he
concludes;Thisreviewofthesoundpostisasmallpartofthewiderstudyofviolinacoustics.
Itsuggeststhatthesidesmayneedtobetakenintoaccountwiththesoundpost.Itshowsthat
thetraditionalthinkingaboutadjustingthesoundpost(position)isnotcorrect.
http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/music/people/mclennan.html
(http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/music/people/mclennan.html)
TheVIOLAREembracesastandardpositionthatisnot5mmbehindthebackfaceofthe
bridge,but5mmfromthecentreofthebridgefoottothecentrelineofthesoundpost.Because
theVIOLAREsoundpostprotrudesthrougha6mmholeinthetop,thesemeasurementsallow
thetreblefootofthebridgetosithalfonthethetopofthepost,andlocksthepostandthetop
tothesoundboardwiththedownwardpressureofthestrings.
ScrollandPegbox:

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Myth:ThescrollisbasedontheGoldenMeanSpiral.Thescrollisalsoanintegralpartofthe
instrumentand,withoutit,thesounddynamicoftheinstrumentchanges.

Fact:Asimplesystemofmodernultralightmachineendsispreferableforstudentsand

Fact:Asimplesystemofmodernultralightmachineendsispreferableforstudentsand
playersalike.Professionalplayersmaydisagreesimplytoupholdthetradition.Thescrollitself
isquitebeautiful,butnevertheless,decorative.
Varnish:
Myth:ViolinvarnishisoneofthesecretsofStradivarisfabuloussound.
Fact:Manyofthebestviolinmakershavestatedthattheythinktheirinstrumentssoundbetter
inthewhite,thatis,priortobeingvarnished.

(https://violinstocellos.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/img_0850.jpg)

(https://violinstocellos.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/img_0853.jpg)
Purfling:
Theexcellenceofaviolinisoftenmeasuredbythewaythepurflingislaiddownasaborderto
theinstrument.Peopleraveaboutbeestingswherethethreestripsofcoloredwoodorfibre
meetatthecorners.Otherthandecoration,theonlypurposeservedbypurflingistoprevent
splitsattheedgesoftheinstrumentfromtravelingintothesoundboardandbackoftheviolin.
Theedgework,includingthepurfling,islabourintensivewhencomparedtobinding,the
commonwaytoprotecttheedgesofguitarsandmanyotherstringedinstruments.

TheVIOLAREeliminatestheoverhangthatviolinshave,andusesivoroidbindingsimilarto
theguitar.Italsoeliminatestheedgeworkorscoopingoftheedgesthatiscommoninhand
madeviolins.Thetimesavedinthisprocessissubstantial.
ChangefortheSakeofChange?
Wantingtochangeforthesakeofchangeinitselfisfutile.Asonefamoussayinggoes,ifit
aintbroken,dontfixit.Theviolininitspresentformaintbroken.However,ifstudents
havetorentorbeloanedahandmadeviolin,thereisdefinitelyroominWorldoftheViolinfor
amoreaffordablealternativewithoutcompromisingthefinerplayingqualitiesofthe
traditional,nay,historicalform.
Testimonials:
TheprototypemadeitswayNorthfromheretobetestedbyaPhdinMusicalPerformance
(violin)andtobevideoedforYoutube.Thevideo,comparingaLupotviolintothefirst
PrototypeoftheViolare,appearsbelowthesecommentsmadebytheplayer:
TheviolinarrivedyesterdayandItookitalongtoarehearsal.Thetopendisgreat!Hereis
whereitshines,especiallygivenitsnewness.ItcanevenhandleRomanticClassicalrepertoire
reprojection,intensityandclaritybutitalsohasasweetnessaboutthetonewayupthere.I
cantgetthesameoutofthelowertwostrings,primarily(Ithink)duetotheverylowactionI
wasfrettingitoutwiththepressureofmybow,producingarattle.However,playedgently,it
hasawarm,airytonedownthereverysuitableforBaroquestyle(18thcentury/preRomantic
era)FolkorClassical.Acoupleofmycolleaguesthinkitwouldsoundgreatwithgutstrings
therealdealonessoImightexperimentwiththis,IhaveaJustinWhiteBaroqueviolinto
compareittoaswell.
Interestingly,IfoundtheBaroquestyleofplayingsuitedyourotherviolintoo,perhapsitisin
thetimbers?Mygroupwerealsounanimousinhearingabrilliantmandolin,whenplayedas
one,andarenowverycuriousaboutyourmandolins!
Thislinkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_xrVPgS8M
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_xrVPgS8M)providesthreeplayingstylesina
comparisonbetweentheViolareandtheLupot,which,accordingtoitsowner,ifyouare
aimingforvolume,clarity/brilliancewithawarmtonewhereitsneeded,theLupotisagreat
target.
PricingandOrdering:
TheVIOLAREismadetoorderunless,atthetimeofcontact,aninstrumentisavailableoutof
theworkshop.EnquiriesandOrders:EMAIL:bazguest@optusnet.com.
Thecheapesthandmadeviolinsarepricedaround$2,500.00to$3,000.00andwilltypicallybe
theworkofoneperson,providingcohesionintheprocessandcloseattentiontothedetailthat
inevitablyproducesthebestamplitude,projectionandtoneand,mostimportantly,ongoing
supportfromthepersonwhomadeit.
Thecheapestfactoryviolincanbeaslittleas$100.00,andcantypicallypassthroughone
hundredpairofhands,providingNOcohesionbetweenthecomponents,whichinevitably
producesadisappointinginstrumentwithNOaftersalesservice.

TheVIOLAREtakeshalfthetimethataviolintakestomakebyhandandthereforecanbe
purchasedexclusivelyfromBarryGuestofSydneyforonly$1350.00andincludesabasiccase.
PostageisextrabutatcosttoyourdestinationWorldwide.
AsidePostedonApril11,2013bybazguestTaggedaffordable,arching,BarryGuest,bassbar,
carved,chanot,cornerless,different,ellipticalsoundhole,experiment,experimental,flattop,gotoh
stealth,handmade,luthier,odd,outrageous,radical,resonance,revolution,revolutionary,slits,strings,
unusual,violare,violin,violinfamilyLeaveacomment
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