Category Archives: Members Articles

Post fiddle and violin news as well as fun music and musician stuff.

Maine violin maker repairs a cherished instrument

Posted on April 15, 2014 by KindaScratchy

From the Portland Herald: When Mark O’Connor’s instrument shattered, he asked Jonathan Cooper to fix it. By Bob Keyes bkeyes@pressherald.com Staff Writer The violin crashed to the floor with a sickening thud. Mark O’Connor knew right away the damage was … Continue reading →

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Spider silk spun into violin strings

Posted on March 24, 2014 by KindaScratchy

From New Scientist: Spiders might soon give you goosebumps in a good way. Strands of spider silk have been used to make violin strings that have a unique and thrilling sound, thanks perhaps to the way the strands deform when … Continue reading →

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Maria von Trapp, last of famous singing siblings, dies at 99

Posted on February 24, 2014 by KindaScratchy

From CNN.com Maria von Trapp, the last of the singing children immortalized in the movie musical “The Sound of Music,” died at her Vermont home of natural causes, her half-brother told CNN on Saturday. The native of Austria was 99 … Continue reading →

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Meet “1stimestar” from Fiddlerman’s “Fiddle Talk” forum

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Fiddlerman

• Please begin by telling us anything you would like to about yourself. Age, place of birth, residence, etc. I was born in Northern Minnesota though we moved around all my life.  My dad was a gypsy.  I spent most … Continue reading →

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Snow Queen: Violinist Mae to compete in Sochi

Posted on January 25, 2014 by KindaScratchy

From CNN.com: Over the years, the Winter Olympics has thrown up a variety of competitors that defy logic. There was Jamaica’s legendary bobsled team, a cross-country skier from Kenya and Britain’s Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards, whose inept performances in 1988 … Continue reading →

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NewsBeat: Want Perfect Pitch? You Might Be Able To Pop A Pill For That

Posted on January 5, 2014 by KindaScratchy

From WGBHnews.org: In the world of music, there is no more remarkable gift than having perfect pitch. As the story goes, Ella Fitzgerald’s band would use her perfect pitch to tune their instruments. Although it has a genetic component, most … Continue reading →

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NewsBeat: Childsplay fiddles around with unique, energetic kind of music

Posted on December 5, 2013 by KindaScratchy

From the Providence Journal: Making music takes on a whole new meaning for someone like Bob Childs, who has been a maker of fiddles for more than four decades. Beyond crafting the wooden instruments and coaxing a unique and rich … Continue reading →

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Dietmar Machold: The renowned violin dealer who duped clients with fake Stradivarius

Posted on November 30, 2013 by Fiddlerman

Join the forum discussion on this postvia: The Independent. An internationally renowned German violin dealer nicknamed “Mr Stradivarius” for his unmatched expertise in the antique instruments was jailed for six years by an Austrian court yesterday after being convicted of … Continue reading →

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NewsBeat: For Joshua Bell, the violin speaks to any audience

Posted on November 25, 2013 by KindaScratchy

From the Boston Globe: Violinist Joshua Bell’s next Boston concert will feature pieces by Beethoven, Stravinsky, and Tartini. But his public profile is not restricted to the classical world. Bell, 45, has performed on the TV show “Dancing With the … Continue reading →

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Meet “ozmous” from Fiddlerman’s “Fiddle Talk” forum

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Fiddlerman

• Please begin by telling us anything you would like to about yourself. Age, place of birth, residence, etc. Hi! My name is Keith Ferrer, I am 16 years old, currently living in the great country of the Philippines, I … Continue reading →

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