Are you sitting comfortably?... then I'll begin... (sorry it's a bit long but I'm rather excited)

I've been thinking about looking for a full-size violin for a while, because I think I've outgrown dear Claudia (7/8) after all, and I've just had the most lovely week that I've got to tell you all about it.

My teacher said she knew of a violin looking for a new home and did I want to try it. It's hand made by a chap from a village not far from me. He's been making violins for a few years now and one day hopes to do this full-time... so I agreed to take a look.

So on Tuesday she handed me a long pale violin with a beautiful varnish, rosewood pegs, tailpiece and chinrest and such an elegant countenance ( yes I believe violins have 'countenances'!) Inside was the most beautiful lable with columbine flowers on it (one of my favourites) the maker's signature, David Duthie, and the date, 2006, and the name 'Martha'. He catalogues his violins by naming them. Even more; the wood for the back comes from the estate of Castle Fraser which is also very near to where I live.

So we gave her a play; she's extremely new and had only previously been played lightly for three weeks so has a lot of 'developing' to do (and also has those nasty metalic sounding dominant strings). But she's very even and has quite a full sound, almost loud, but not harsh in any way. I think, from my Grade 3, testing her with the Meditation from Thais perspective, that she's really sweet. We've played her solid for four days now and already she sounds 'fuller' and has a lovely resonance. My teacher is coming today to change the strings and bring the bridge down a little..... but I'm really excited and I think 'Martha' is here to stay!!!!!

I phoned Mr Duthie last night and had a long chat with him and found out all about her 'template' and the shape of the 'f' holes, the size, weight and seasoning of her wood, all about her varnish etc, it was all fascinating... and I'm going to visit his workshop over the holidays and see more about how he makes his violins! I'm really excited.

BUT.... how can I afford a brand new hand-made violin??? Well, that's another part of the story... I'm a painter and recently painted a portrait of a violinist I met in Glasgow in September. I sent him a photo of the painting last week, which by coincidence arrived on his 70th birthday, to see what he thought. He phoned me yesterday to say he loves the painting (particularly the scroll on the violin he is playing) and is sending me a cheque very soon! I varnished the painting yesterday and it should arrive with him next week. But he phoned within a few days of me deciding I'd love to have Martha to keep!

My Mother had a saying which was "what's meant for you won't go past you" and I think Martha is here to stay thanks to the painting of the violinist. I'll take a photo of Martha and try and post it here because although she's pale, it's a honey colour, not orange, and although it's quite unusual it's very pretty. I'll let you all see what you think. Pale violins are not all that rare are they?

(My only problem now is that I have to part with Claudia because I don't have room to keep her. Does anyone know of sites (other than ebay) where I can advertise her - I believe adverts are not allowed here on the ABRSM forum?)

Oh and there isn't an end to the story! I just can't wait to play 'Martha' again today although my fingers are sore from playing her so much.....

That's such a lovely story, congratulations.

Sounds wonderful!

...and please tell us more about the portrait, including whether it's full-size or miniature (private obsession rising to the surface here!).

I don't know if I'm allowed to post this here but it's not really advertising because I don't sell anything directly from my website (all the paintings on it are already sold...) and this painting is also sold...

but the portrait is here
http://www.fionathomson.com/gallery/galler...1=Miscellaneous

The painting is oil on canvas and measures 400mm x 500mm. It's not my best work but it is my first human portrait.

Wow that's a serious talent you've got there.

I wish I could afford to commission a portrait from you, terribly vain I am.

thank you I'm really keen to paint violinists now but my teacher's refusing to pose for me

Very nice. People who can draw are a total mystery to me. My drawing is about at the level of the average seven year old. And I'm not exaggerating

Now, as for lottie. Basically there are a limited number of options

[incidentally, mods, I would certainly support the idea of private sellers advertising here, how about a special advertising board? In addition, maybe the forum could raise funds by inviting sponsorship from businesses represented here, in return for a clickable list of sponsors down the side of the webpage. Fiddle forum does that and it works very well.]

Options for rehoming Lottie - try ebay again with a lower price, at this time of the year that is as good an option as any. After Christmas is also a good time - people have Christmas money to spend. You will have to accept that you are not going to get back 100% of what you paid - try to work out how much it would have cost you to hire a violin of that quality for a year, and deduct that from your starting price. Or see if your teacher knows anyone. Alternatively, does the maker of this new violin by any chance deal in used instruments and if so could he be persuaded to take Lottie as a trade-in?

There is a site (or was, at least) which i think was called usedviolins.com, but my experience of that site was that the only responses you ever get are emails of the Nigerian scam variety.

One more thing - i'm curious - Meditation from Thais at grade 3????!!!!

Liz

Lottie that picture was fantastic

Had a look at your website! I especially like your animal portraits - the "Morgan" portrait is my favourite, I think.

I love painting people (note I don't say I'm any good at it ), but could never paint a realistic looking animal.

Lottie,

You could try musicalinstrumentsales.co.uk it's a good site for second hand instruments.

Good luck shifting Claudia and have great fun with Martha !

Allan & Hamish

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Hi Lottie

That is a really beautiful story. If ever there was a case of it was meant to be then this is it. I hope you have many years of happy playing with Martha. It sounds like Martha has found her perfect home

Well it's in my 'Classic Experience' book so it's probably a simplified version... but it does go up to 6th or 7th position (way at the top of the fingerboard) at one point!!! I'm only learning where to put my fingers at the moment - I'm not 'fluent' up there, but I'm beginning to make it sound recogniseable!

Thanks for all the advice about re-homing Claudia. I was hoping to make around what I paid for her because she is in pristine condition and at the time I really needed the money to buy Martha. If she doesn't sell on ebay tomorrow I'll leave it 'till after Christmas and drop the price (and try the websites and free-ads too). I wish I could find somebody who will love her like I did!

We put new strings on Martha this morning and re-adjusted and set the bridge and she now sounds AMAZING!!! .... can you tell I'm excited ... and I'm playing her in the Pachabel Canon (string quartet and harpsichord) in a concert THIS SUNDAY!!!! (I know, it's risky re-stringing this close to a concert but I hate those horrid Dominants - what a difference the Evah Pirazzi's have made!)

Have fun playing your violin!

Well I've had 'Martha' for a week now and I'm loving every minute with her! She already sounds heaps better (I've been playing about two hours a day!!!!) and tomorrow she's going to have a photo-shoot because I'm going to paint her portrait (as a still life) hopefully with a red velvet drape.... she's gorgeous

I'll try and post a photo here.

I had a lesson tonight and we played the first movement of the Bach Double and she sounded glorious alongside my teacher's violin and my intonation was mostly spot-on (apart from the second position bit which I had to leave out because I got it so wrong) - it felt like the whole piece was shining and I'm thrilled! I almost feel too excited to sleep!

How daft is it to lose sleep over a violin>>>!!!

NO daft at all! I keep thinking about when I can next pick Figaro up and play! I constantly miss him! (my violin that is, not my boyfriend, don't have one of those, wouldn't know what to do with one )