SOME NOTED VIOLINS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2199, 23 April 1896, Page 46

SOME NOTED VIOLINS.

The beauty and sweetness of Saraeate's tone are often commented on by people who never think of the tone beicg in any way j due to the fineness of the instrument. A» a matter of fact, Sarasate had two Strads. ' One is the renowned " Boissiar " S' rad, which he managed to secure in Paris for £1000 an hour or two before Hill of London sent an offer for it ; the other is one that had been used by Paganini, which came to him through bis son, Achille. Of course the latter instrument has an additional value from the circumstance of its former ownership. Paganini had several valuable violins, and the instrument which he u?ed in his later years — a Guarnerius, dated 1743— would probably command something like £5000 if it could be put in the market now ; indeed, the sum of £2100 has already been offered for it j and refused, and a report was lately circulated that £10,000 had been tried. | But the instrument cannot be sold. Paganini bim3Blf bequtnthed it to the City of Genoa, and the municipal authorities there are keenly alive to the value of the treasure. They have it bestowed in a glass case in the recess of a wall, which is again incased in heavy French plate-glass, the whole being closed by a massive door. Every two months the seals are broken, and the violin is played upon for about half an hour in the presence of city officials, and then it is replaced and pat under municipal gad.

Faganini cams by the, violin In ft oorions way. A French merchant lent him the instrument to play upon at a concert at Leghorn. After the concert, Faganini brought it back to its owner, when the latter exclaimed to the delighted astonishment of the player, "Never more will I profane the string 3 which your fingers have touched; that instrument is yours." The Genoa people have been in luck in the matter of violins. Sivorl, who died last year, was a pupil of Paganini, and Paganini presented him when a youth with a very fine Guarnerius instrument. It was therefore but natural that Slvori should wish his violin to rest beside Paganini's, and so to-day for a small fee you can see both instruments in the municipal niche, at Genoa.— Cornhill.