Research and Essays
An archtop guitar is not a violin (it is a viol)
What instrument has six strings, is tuned in fourths (with a major third mixed in), and has been immensely popular both solo and in small groups for a long time? The Viol. Oh yes, and also the modern guitar. It may be a surprise to some, but the guitar and all European bowed instruments are descended from the same source: in medieval Iberia … READ MORE
Skyscrapers of sound
When was the last time you touched the ground? And when I say that, I don’t just mean you bent over to pick something off the floor; I mean: when was the last time you walked barefoot on the earths surface? Felt sand grains squish between your toes, or luxuriated on a lawn, leaving damp green stains on your soles, or scrambled up a rugged granite outcrop on all fours… READ MORE
The case against connoisseurship
I like nice things. I’m not ashamed of it; In fact think that having an appreciation for objects that were made with care and intentionality is a sign of intelligence. It takes time and wisdom to know and understand what’s involved in creating the things that fill our homes and lives, and knowing makes us better… READ MORE
The finite life
I observe that the lifeline of a instrument parallels that of a player: Our fundamental character is often apparent right from the beginning, though it will be a few years until we can speak clearly. In youth, some instruments are already hitting their stride. Others take longer; perhaps in their twenties they find confidence in their voice.… READ MORE
What bridge pins can tell us of the origins of the harpsichord
The only other reason I can think of that anyone would add such an unusual feature to a musical instrument would be, of course, to change the way it sounds. Does a bridge without a pin sound different from one with? Does changing the distance between the bridge and the pin make any difference? Hypothetically, it should… READ MORE