Secrets of old Master

The analysis was conducted using infrared and NMR spectrometers.
The violins of Stradivari and Guarneri hemicellulose molecules are split, what happens during the oxidation or hydrolysis.

Looks like Three hundred mystery incomparable sound of violins and cellos of the great Antonio Stradivari kremontsa close to resolution - at least in part. At the end of last year in the journal Nature published an article about a biochemist at the University of Texas Agriculture and Mechanics, Joseph Nagivari claiming that the whole thing in a complicated chemical process, which exposed the wizard timber, designed to make their musical instruments.

To reach this conclusion, Nagivari and colleagues analyzed the chemical composition of chips made from different violins - made both Stradivari and his contemporary Guarneri in the XVIII century and in later times, up until now. The analysis was conducted using infrared and NMR spectrometers. It turned out that the violins of Stradivari and Guarneri molecule hemicellulose (short polymer chains of sugar, comprising wood) split, which usually occurs during the oxidation or hydrolysis.

According Nagivari, Stradivari boiled tree in a very complex solution, and, at least initially, it did so primarily to avoid the appearance of fungus in it and beetles, Cossidae, which in those days in Italy arranged this " wooden "epidemic. The composition of the solution today can only guess, but it was a good protection against pests. At the same time manifested itself, and side-effect - the tree becomes lighter, stronger and louder, violin from him not getting old and with age, like fine wine, only improves your sound "bouquet".

"The fact that the solution of the creative genius of Stradivari and other great masters can be wood worms - complete nonsense - believes Professor of St. Petersburg Conservatory Semen Bockman. - His first violin young disciple Amati, Antonio Stradivari has finished in 1667, but the period of creative research, during which he sought his own model, lasted for more than 30 years. His instruments have reached perfection of form and sound only in the early 1700's. At this point, Stradivari constructed his still unsurpassed violin has a very rich tone and exceptional "range" - the ability to fill the sound of the huge halls. It was extended in shape and had the inside fractures and fissures, so that sound remarkably enriched by the appearance of a large number of high overtones. Flying, unearthly sound of his creations so far no one has reproduced. How he achieved this miracle - not known for certain. "



The photo above shows the annual rings of wood from which made the most famous violin, «Messiah». It is seen that for the year the tree grows in thickness of only 1-2 mm, which gave a surprising firmness of his wood.
The quest for the secret of Stradivari is contagious. She also worries people like the mystery of Atlantis, the mystery of the Egyptian pyramids, as yet relatively recently allowed Fermat's Last Theorem. For the secret of the violins Masters chasing and chasing, many manufacturers of violins, chemists, physicists, now and then you hear - the secret of Stradivari disclosed or is about to be solved ...

Among the whole cohort "stradivaristov" 72-year-old Joseph Nagivari stands out - if only because it is both a scientist and a talented maker of violins. From the outset Nagivari, who fled Hungary in 1956, was convinced that the secret lies in the chemistry. No wonder, according to legend, this secret was communicated to the Master in one of the oldest pharmacies - in fact not be the same in pharmacies to store drawings, there is stored drugs and chemicals. Nagivari experiments. He began to manufacture violins, invents his varnishes, wood soaks in sea water with the addition of boric powder against pests and various mineral salts in their recipes. One day, soak wood in a salt solution, and then ... in grapefruit juice, and then produced from his violin, Navigare, finally achieves some success - the violin sounds almost like a medieval masterpiece of Stradivari.

Almost, but not quite. Stradivarius violin sold at auction for hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, violin Nagivari go for 5-15 thousand dollars. But this is already a success, because millions of dollars in pay is not for the quality, but for the name. The main success - violin Nagivari for 15 years enjoyed myself Yehudi Menuhin.

Today Nagivari tries to recover the lost secret of the solution, that Stradivari soaked his wood for violins. To do this he intends to burn precious chips and the spectrum of light to know its exact chemical composition.