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My new old German violin and it’s story

Sometimes you don’t find an instrument, but an instrument finds you and this was the case for me

mijn viool oude staatA man came into my violin shop with his granddad’s violin. His granddad played in the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra his entire life during the first half of the 20th century. It was a German violin from 1840. The instrument had not been played on for almost half a century.

When he brought in the instrument, I was enthousiastic about the sound after it’s 50 years of silence, but I wasn’t really looking for a new violin and I was completely out of money anyway.

Three years the violin has been in my shop…

Clients liked it, but nobody bought it

I didn’t really understand why as it was and is so beautiful

The violin just remained there. I had some money issues in those years: I worked 7 days a week, but could hardly pay my bills. I didn’t even think about buying this violin… I didn’t think about buying anything actually. I was just trying to survive. Dark days.

A couple of months ago I just started playing this violin… I didn’t know why…

I think because it had to be silent for decades, so I might bring some life to it. Every day the sound opened up and became more beautiful.

Exactly in the week I played on this violin my shop was so busy and people bought so many expensive (and beautiful!) stuff. Besides that lots of students enrolled in my violin studio. I think I didn’t make so much money in one week before. It was crazy… suddenly I could pay my bills again and had something extra.

I pulled money from everywhere, but it was hardly enough to pay for the violin.

I just counted everything I got and could get and did a bid on the violin… way lower than what it was worth according to the luthier’s valuation

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The bid got accepted!

The owner just wanted it to be in a good place. The violin was mine! I was so happy!

mijn viool nieuwe staatI went to a luthier and had it repaired. In this article you can see the before and after picture.

I enjoy the sound so much. It was an impulse purchase and I didn’t even really compare it to other violins. That wasn’t necessary…

I knew this violin was for me, the violin knew it was for me, the owner knew it and the Universe made it possible

I hope this story inspires you and beautiful things like this will happen to you too.

This is why I run a violin shop for over ten years: I want to create much more of these stories.

Do you have a violin with a special story?

Share it in the comments below!

So inspiring to read how you can get the #violin of your dreams even if you don't have the money: #violinist Share on X

new world symphony theme DvorakWith a friend I had a gig to play Czech music by two violins. I couldn’t find a violin duo version of the New World Symphony Largo theme, so I arranged it myself. I hope I can please you with the sheet music. Download it for free here: New World Symphony theme – Largo – Dvorak – Violin duo

PS: I have no idea to make the proper punctuation mark for Dvorak on my Mac… if you know how to do this, please share it in the comments below and I am very thankful to you.


1920px-Vltava_in_PragueWith a friend I had a gig to play Czech music by two violins. I couldn’t find a violin duo version of the Vltava (Moldau) main theme, so I arranged it myself. I hope I can please you with the sheet music. Download it for free here: Vltava Main Theme.


sahasraraThis is my composition based on improvisations inspired by the first chakra: Muladhara, the root chakra. Read here my woo woo story about how I got into the chakra energy stuff and why I composed the seven solo violin pieces inspired by the seven chakra’s.

Sahasrara (click here to download the free sheet music)

Just some general Wiki info about this chakra, which can give you an idea about what should be the mood of the piece:

“Sahasrara, which means 1000 petalled lotus, is generally considered to be the chakra of pure consciousness, within which there is neither object nor subject. When the female kundalini Shaktienergy rises to this point, it unites with the male Shiva energy, and a state of liberating samadhi is attained. Symbolized by a lotus with one thousand multi-coloured petals, it is located either at the crown of the head, or above the crown of the head. Sahasrara is represented by the colour white and it involves such issues as inner wisdom and the death of the body.

Its role may be envisioned somewhat similarly to that of the pituitary gland, which secretes hormones to communicate to the rest of the endocrine system and also connects to the central nervous system via the hypothalamus. According to author Gary Osborn, the thalamus is thought to have a key role in the physical basis of consciousness and is the ‘Bridal Chamber’ mentioned in the Gnostic scriptures. Sahasrara’s inner aspect deals with the release of karma, physical action with meditation, mental action with universal consciousness and unity, and emotional action with “beingness.”[35]

In Tibetan buddhism, the point at the crown of the head is represented by a white circle, with 33 downward pointing petals. It is of primary importance in the performance of phowa, or consciousness projection after death, in order to obtain rebirth in a Pure Land. Within this chakra is contained the White drop, or Bodhicitta, which is the essence of masculine energy.”

Did you play this piece and did special things happen to you? Please share all the juicy details in the comments below.

Love,

Zlata

PS: Do you have questions for me on violin or viola playing? Post a comment below or send an e-mail to info@violinlounge.com


Ajna (This is my composition based on improvisations inspired by the first chakra: Muladhara, the root chakra. Read here my woo woo story about how I got into the chakra energy stuff and why I composed the seven solo violin pieces inspired by the seven chakra’s.

Ajna (click here to download the free sheet music)

Just some general Wiki info about this chakra, which can give you an idea about what should be the mood of the piece:

“Ajna is symbolised by a lotus with two petals, and corresponds to the colours violet, indigo or deep blue, though it is traditionally described as white. It is at this point that the two side nadis Ida and Pingala are said to terminate and merge with the central channel Sushumna, signifying the end of duality. The seed syllable for this chakra is the syllable OM, and the presiding deity is Ardhanarishvara, who is a half male, half female Shiva/Shakti. The Shakti goddess of Ajna is called Hakini.

Ajna (along with Bindu), is known as the third eye chakra and is linked to the pineal gland which may inform a model of its envisioning. The pineal gland is a light sensitive gland that produces the hormonemelatonin which regulates sleep and waking up. Ajna’s key issues involve balancing the higher and lower selves and trusting inner guidance. Ajna’s inner aspect relates to the access of intuition. Mentally, Ajna deals with visual consciousness. Emotionally, Ajna deals with clarity on an intuitive level.[36]

Some[who?] believe that the pineal and pituitary glands should be exchanged in their relationship to the Crown and Brow chakras, based on the description in Arthur Avalon’s book on kundalini called Serpent Power or empirical research.)

In Tibetan Buddhism, this point is actually the end of the central channel, since the central channel rises up from the sexual organ to the crown of the head, and then curves over the head and down to the third eye. While the central channel finishes here, the two side channels continue down to the two nostrils.”

Did you play this piece and did special things happen to you? Please share all the juicy details in the comments below.

Love,

Zlata

PS: Do you have questions for me on violin or viola playing? Post a comment below or send an e-mail to info@violinlounge.com