Stradivarius violins: it's the wood density

[bhodges]

Here is an interesting article on a new study that sheds light on Stradivarius violins and their sound.  Researchers used CT scans, normally designed for patients with emphysema, to determine that the secret is the consistency of the wood--i.e., the consistent density.

--Bruce

[SonicMan46]

Bruce - well, seems to support another theory that's been around for a while, i.e. climate changes back in the later 17th & early 18th century - kind of a 'little ice age' w/ much cooler temperatures - trees grew slower and their growth rings were tighter & smaller (likely accounting for density differences) - check HERE for one of a number of discussions on this issue - 

[bhodges]

Ah, thanks--very interesting.  I'd missed that one, and other articles on the "mini-ice age" theory. 

--Bruce

[jochanaan]

A very interesting quote from the article:

["]A third answer could simply be the ageing of the wood over the past 300 years," Dr Berend Stoel of the Leiden University Medical Center told Reuters.

That suggests another line of research: How does being in regular states of intense vibration affect wood quality?  It's well-known among musicians that wooden instruments of all kinds (bowed strings, pianos, and even woodwinds) tend to "mellow" over the years like fine wines...

BTW, Bruce, I love your Stravinsky quote!

[bhodges]

You're right, John: vibration must play some kind of role as well.

Glad you like that Stravinsky quip!  I'm always searching for interesting ones... 

--Bruce

[mikkeljs]

Bruce - well, seems to support another theory that's been around for a while, i.e. climate changes back in the later 17th & early 18th century - kind of a 'little ice age' w/ much cooler temperatures - trees grew slower and their growth rings were tighter & smaller (likely accounting for density differences) - check HERE for one of a number of discussions on this issue - 

Does it mean, that we will get less good violins in the future?  Or could we get better violins if we used wood from arctic clima?

[jochanaan]

You're right, John: vibration must play some kind of role as well.

Especially multi-dimensional vibration. (Sorry; couldn't resist after some of the posts I just read on other threads.)

Glad you like that Stravinsky quip!

Is it a quip?  Like many sayings attributed to Stravinsky, it looks like a dead-accurate assessment under a witty facade.

[SonicMan46]

Does it mean, that we will get less good violins in the future?  Or could we get better violins if we used wood from arctic clima?

Well, not sure - there are pleny of nice wooden instruments being made today - tight & straight-grained wood can be found; but, unfortunately, one might have to wait 300 years to make that judgement! 

Plus, as already discussed many other factors may be involved, such as the 'soaking' of the wood, aging effects before construction, techniques/glues used, finishes applied, etc. - 

[jochanaan]

Well, not sure - there are pleny of nice wooden instruments being made today - tight & straight-grained wood can be found; but, unfortunately, one might have to wait 300 years to make that judgement! 

And that's probably old-growth wood.

Plus, as already discussed many other factors may be involved, such as the 'soaking' of the wood, aging effects before construction, techniques/glues used, finishes applied, etc. - 

Or maybe Amati and Stradivari and Guarneri were just geniuses.

[SonicMan46]

Yet another STORY on this subject supporting the 'Little Ice Age' theory - these seem to be coming 'out of the woodwork'!