Three years ago, we reported that the secret of the famous Stradivarius and Guarneri violins that were produced in Cremona, Italy in the 18th century was basically a result of global warming. These violins are still prized by musicians today, and modern violin-makers have never been able to duplicate their beautiful sound.
Sara Goudarzi writes in LiveScience.com that Texas researcher Joseph Nagyvary thinks he may be able to discover the rest of the secret, by testing the organic matter in shavings taken from inside five of the violins while they were being repaired. He waited over 20 years to get these valuable shavings. In the movie The Red Violin, an extraordinary-sounding violin was created by mixing the shellac used with the blood of the dead wife of the violin- maker.
Art credit: freeimages.co.uk
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