Volume 29, No.16                                   
April 18, 2004

Sound Theories

   In the ongoing debate over what makes a Stradivarius so incredibly special, there are many sound theories.

   The one thing everyone agrees on is the genius of Antonio Stradivari, an Italian born in 1644.  A student of famous violin maker Nicolo Amati, the gifted young man surpassed the artistry of his teacher by age 22. Labeling his violins with the Latin form of his name, Stradivarius, the young innovator continued to experiment with violin construction, in search of better quality.

   Today’s modern instruments still follow Stradivari’s design but don’t sound nearly as good as the 450 surviving originals, even though we still have his tools, patterns and moulds.  Some researchers think they know why.  According to one theory, it’s all in the varnish.  Stradivari apparently used three layers:  one of silica and potash which was allowed to soak into the bare wood to give it strength;  a second coat of egg whites and sugar or honey;  and a final, stabilizing sheen of gum arabic, turpentine and a resin known as Venetian red.

   But American biochemist Dr. Joseph Nagyvary argues the Stradivari mystique can be traced to tiny bugs in the wood he used.  Back in the 1700s, logs were often floated down rivers to soak in Venetian lagoons before purchase.  Nagyvary says bacteria in the waterlogged logs made the wood lighter, drier and 50 times more receptive to varnish.  Since the craftsman’s varnish contained 20 minerals that made it dry with a tough, gemlike finish, that combination of yielding wood and deep-acting varnish resulted in Stradivari’s superior sound.

   Nagyvary also thinks woodworms may’ve helped.  Since the pest was infesting Italy, the master applied the preservative borax to his wood, to keep out the unwanted worms.  That bound the molecules of he wood more tightly, so the craftsman unknowingly improved thelumber’s acoustic properties.  When the epidemic passed, violin builders stopped using borax and sound quality dropped.

   Interestingly, later violin-makers continued to follow Stradivari’s design and labeled their own instruments “Stradivarius”.  This wasn’t to fool the public.  It was simply meant to tell buyers the craftsmen had tried to follow Stradivari’s exacting standard.  But, over time, that original intention was forgotten and now thousands of “fake”  Stradivarius violins are in circulation.

   In much the same way, many of us who try to copy the perfection of our Saviour but don’t come close are often unjustly seen as phonies, even though we never claim to be the Original. The good news is, we truly can become the work of the master Craftsman.

   That happens when He applies to us  a tri-coat covering of love, faith and blood.  It’s his love that seeps deep into the soul, giving us strength.  Like the honey and sugar used by Stradivari, faith encases us in a sweet yet strong character.  But it’s the royal red blood in which we’re bathed that gives us our unique identity and durability.

   In the waters of baptism, through which we encounter the blood of Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit works upon us.  Through baptism, we’re “buried with Christ” (Rom. 6:5) and our sins are washed away by his blood before we come out of the water, fresh and clean.  Immersion “saves you by the power of Jesus Christ’s resurrection,” says Peter.  “Baptism is not a removal of dirt from your body;  it’s an appeal to God from a clean conscience.” (1 Pet. 3:21)

   In other words, our hearts are made lighter through the lifting of sin’s burden, and rendered infinitely more receptive to the protective covering of God’s everlasting grace.  That combination of our yielding spirit and the Lord’s deep-acting devotion brings about an awesome transformation.  “I pray that from his glorious unlimited resources He’ll give you mighty inner strength through the Holy Spirit,” writes Paul.  ” And I pray Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.”  (Eph. 3:16,17)
 
  Those hearts are sealed and preserved by the strength of the Lord to keep out the worms of sin and worry.  That process gives us unparalleled richness and resonance as He coaxes from us the music of the soul.  At that point, we truly are instruments of the Master.

By Rick Gamble, published in Cross Current, the weekly newsletter of the Followers of Christ congregation in Brantford, Ontario, Canada.  Reprint at will in not-for-profit publications.  To subscribe, contact sgamble@bfree.on.ca