one of my violins given a run

In a previous post, I highlighted Gaby Lester's lovely violin, with some links to her work and life. We were fortunate to have her in the workshop to-day after she and her husband had a couple of demanding weeks at Australian Summer Music Camp, interstate. They go back to Italy next week.

This tiny clip is a very casual and informal 'noodle' (but easily recognizable) as she picked up one of two of my fiddles to play. The studio isn't the best acoustic space and she didn't prepare or even see the instrument at all before this, so please watch it in that sort of spirit. Summer day, casual visit, give the thing the 'rounds of the kitchen'...She just picked it up and gave it a whirl.

This was an instrument that I made for a robust player- it can take hard driving- while the other, more highly arched violin she played was made to be sweeter in a 'Venetian' way. Gaby likes 'dark' sounding instruments and managed to make both sound more than adequate on the 'darkness' front.

I guess my frustrations about making violins in such a tight market must have penetrated our conversations, I have been wondering how long I can keep up the energy for this work but I was heartened to receive this message to-night;

Dear Robert,
It was lovely to see you and Julia today in your lovely house.
I wanted to tell you I thought your violins were very beautiful instruments.
I'm touched by your craftsmanship. Don't give up!
I will tell everyone I can here about your   violins.
All best wishes to you

Gaby

I hope she won't mind my mentioning this.

a bit of a strum..

I took my newly finished guitar to a lesson. I poked my phone at my guitar teacher when he first picked it up, and grabbed a little video. Maybe I can convince him to demonstrate with some forewarning one day...