Essays - The Buried Guad
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At the present time I play on a Guadagnini from Turin, 1779- known as the "ex-Salabue" (although I call it "the Resurrection").
This violin, hailed by many as the world's greatest Guadagnini, has an interesting background, at least that which we know, from the 20th century onwards.
Apparently a loving father bought it back in the 20s or 30s for his young violinist son, in California. This boy was doing very well - he studied with Zimbalist, and at the age of 16 played a concerto at the Hollywood Bowl. At the age of 17, he contracted tuberculosis and died that year. His father was heartbroken, so much so that he entombed the Guadagnini and some bows along with his son. (the details are a bit sketchy, but I have to assume that he had a mausoleum erected for him).
This was the case for about fifty years, until finally the violin came back to light again. I am not sure if the father passed away, or if he decided it should be played again, or what, but apparently it was sold to an amateur for a while in the 80s.
Finally, it started making the rounds of various luthiers, some of whom were rather spooked by the story. A few years ago it came up for auction and was bought by an anonymous donor who has now lent it to me.
 I am somehow not at all freaked out by the history of this violin - mainly because the whole thing happened out of a father's love for his son. The Guad is in extraordinary condition, practically never having had a scratch or crack, and is beautiful to look at as well as to play. There is a depth and a strength to it which I have never felt on any Stradivarius, or other violin.
I am very lucky and grateful to have this living link to a past era, the violin presumably having much more history to it than the later portion that I know. I mean, when this fiddle was made, Beethoven himself was 9 years old! Cool. One can only imagine where it's been, and who has heard it.
Lara
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![[Ancalagon]](../images/ancalagon.jpg)
