The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-07-03
MISCELLANEO
From The Musical Rerien
VIOTTI, OLD BELTS. AND THE
SrRADUARIUS.
To the Editors of he Musical Reuiew

To the Editors Of he Musical Rerieo:
Gentlemen-In reading Jacob Augustus
Otto's celebrated treatise on the construction,
&c. SC. Of the violin, published in the las,
number Of your Review, | perceiv, in one Of
the translator's notes, a panegyric on the
talent of the English makers, &c. with re-
spect to their treatment Of that instrument,
and in regard to their judgment in repairing
and improving the violns of celebrated mas
tiers. IL is not my intention, however, at this
moment, to question how far they may, or
may not be entitled 10 such praise, hut the
following anecdote, related 10 me by the son
Of the nun mhose name IS more Immediately
mentioned, ris: Mr. Bits, Of L"ndon, may
serve show that thirty or forty years ago,
they were not many hundred years behind
neighbors. 1t may be necessary TO say,
however, that one of The most perfect and
beautiful specimens extant Of the Straduarius
violns, is in the pos session of the above
named gentleman, left him by his father.
who was universally acknowledged the most
celebrated violin maker and repairer of his
time The manner in which the violin was
obtained, may be gathered from the following
aaecdote:
When Viotti, the celebrated performer on
the violin, was residing in London, nohle-
man (who had during recent tour in Italy
been fortunate enough to meet with and final
ly purchas a Straduarius of the most perfect
order,) called on him at his residence for the
purpose of receiving instruction. The neces-
sary arrangements having been agreed upon,
the Grand Maestro" speedily returned the
visit Of his noble pupil, and the awful course
of study commenced 1t was then for the
first time, that Viotti gained view of this
inestmable jewel" buried as it were in the
mire oh by gar, exclaimed he 10 himself.
,rhat shame snch beautijm sing must be shut
up IN de hand NJ nobodY 10 Play him. twas
in vain that he offered money for the instru-
ment; milor' Anglase would not part with
the one, and did not care for the other; and
the most he obtained was permission to play
on it when, either al concert or party, the
talents of the maestro were called in requisi-
ton. Viotl was well nigh distracted; first
fearful that another professor should see and
obtain it, or what was even worse, inform his
noble pupil of the extraordinary value of the
violin, and thus for ever set aside the posi-
DiHty VI outlining IL from tne poSSeoSoi anu
secondly, by the fact that wherever he played,
unbounded rapures were bestowed on the
splendid tones produced, and all parties were
ignorantly adding fresh decorations to the al
ready tortured mind of the maestro, by yield
ing to the instrument those charms. which
hitherto had rested solely with himself. AZ.
fairs had remained il this state for some time
when 10. the news arrived that the father Of
the "miior" had departed this life, and away
posts the now unshackled lord Of hill aud
dale, to take possession of his paternal halls,
not however without first having deposited
into the safe trust of his master and friend the
dearly priced and so much coveted Stradua-
RUS, to be by him retained during bis alb
sence. II was exactly at this turn Of he
Hde," that Old Belts, as he was called, decid-
ed on giving his son (who had determined on
the musical profession the best masters the
time or period afforded. OF course he could
not hut include, amongst The rest Of his pre-.
ceptors, the then 80 justly celebrated lion Of
the day, Viotti. Having concluded, there
fore, every thing that was necessary, the
young gentleman waited on his master to re-
ceive his first lesson, and commenced by