New-York tribune., 1903-06-07

I 49,. an Mons of the visitor shared in it. They
were introduced to the reporter as MT hociah'
his uncle Josef Jan Svatek Editor OF the
"pr.ske Novye" of Prague. and Josef Kovanlks
a bohemian vioIinist of this city, for whom
Kocian has developed warm friendship
Mr. Clopton conducted the party to the par
lor and asked them to wait. He took kocIah
UP the elevator. In fifteen minutes they re-
turned with two large boxes from each of which
a pair of violins taken out of silk wrap
pings with the greatest care. The reporter, who
had asked to photograph some of the rarest in
struments in Mr.. Cloptons collection. was told
to proceed AS he arranged his camera, Mr.
C1opton said:
THAT middle violin is the Guarnerius which
has made Mr. Kocian and friends forever
1t was made by Giuseppe Guarnierf in 1'4I-
That at the left is the Oldest of my real treas
ures It was made by Nicholas Amah, of Gre
mona, in 1873. The violin at the right of the
row was made by Antonio Stradvari in lib and
the fourth lying in front. by the same famous
maker in 1922. The Amati is the instrument
on which Jefferson has played. The three BOWS
are three distinct types. the hatchet head. the
Tortini head and the regular model OF Iourte'
the famous French bowmaker' Kocian yielded
to request to stand for photograph with the
| Guarnerius he had twice carried across the
Atlantic and Mr.. Clopton good naturedy sub
nftted also: then came a treat indeed:
Il have told our newspaper visitor. said Mr..
Clopton "of the differences in tone quality in
three famous makes of vions before us. He
shall now with Mr.. Kocans assistance. hear 1t
for himself" Kocian had become eager before
Mr. Clopton finished his request He already
had in his hand the Amati and one of the bows.
AS Mr. Clopton ceased speaking the horsehairs
of the bow touched the strings. and one of the
prettiest Bohemian airs in the vionists roper
tory welled up from the depths of the old instru
ment, in quality greatly like the music
Of an organ. as Mr.. Clopton had said. Kocian
laid down the violin and took UP the elder
Stradivarius using the same bow. The reso-
nance of a bell was added to the organlike
strains of the Amatf The same air was played
on the younger Stradivarus. and Kocian seemed
to linger over it feengly. It's tones
seemed more mellow and more rich than those
of the elder Then Kocian's eye kindled into
fire. 1t had been trife dreamy, but now it
wide awake. He picked up the Guarnerius
he had brought home and again played the
same air. The tone seemed to come from
greater distance and partOok of the quality Of
the horn Enthusiastically. Kocian played more
than the favorite air of his native land. He
seemed to forget that he trying to show
the difference in violins to unsktlled in
music Suddenly he thought of the purpose of
his playing and ceased
You have heard the whole range of progress
in violin making at Cremona' said Mr.. Clopton
to the reporter. Nobody since the three great
ma kers whose instruments you have just heard
has ever created anything for the violin. The
efforts of the world have since done no more
than copy what Nicholas Amatt. Antonio Stradi-
vari. his pupil and Giuseppe Guarnieri, Stradi-
vari's contemporary. created in Cremona- You
have heard tbs best of the Cremona violins and
YOU have heard Kocian.'