tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044142491333444735.post2710443955797785111..comments2024-01-25T02:22:33.183-05:00Comments on ̶H̶o̶m̶e̶l̶e̶s̶s̶ ̶C̶h̶r̶o̶n̶i̶c̶l̶e̶s̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶T̶a̶m̶p̶a̶ Lost in the Carolinas: #CHERISH – WOLFViolaFuryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796592763194795436noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044142491333444735.post-15791311537692539012015-07-30T06:42:27.913-04:002015-07-30T06:42:27.913-04:00@John,
Thanks for coming by and reading about my ...@John,<br /><br />Thanks for coming by and reading about my lifelong companion. He's a keeper and he makes me look good! I'm glad you enjoyed the article! Again, thanks for the visit! MaryViolaFuryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05796592763194795436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044142491333444735.post-44948117125452361032015-07-30T06:40:02.850-04:002015-07-30T06:40:02.850-04:00@C. D.,
That's a wonderful story! You also br...@C. D.,<br /><br />That's a wonderful story! You also bring up something that is vitally important to players; the relationship between the player and his/hers instruments. Wolf just feels so "right" in my hands, as does my bow. Also, the comment about being "broken in" is apt as well. These older instruments have mellowed with age. I actually worked for Wolf's luthier for a time, helping him sell fine instruments to gifted students and it was like arranging marriages. The newer instruments are always going to sound raw and harsh, although a good maker can shape the wood so that some of that sharpness is reduced. The maker does have to be wary of removing too much of the wood from the back of the instrument, be it a violin or a guitar, as they then become fragile. <br /><br />I certainly understand what you're saying and I'm so glad that you still have that guitar. I have a violin floating around here, but got rid of all of the other ones I had. I started with one, but they started to reproduce or something and I was just like. . . gah! (For an explanation, you can read my post, "Playing the Violin, and How to Avoid It") Not a fan of playing them, but I will saw away on Wolf all day! <br /><br />Thanks so much for reading about my partner in crime. We've had many adventures and are preparing for many more! <3ViolaFuryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05796592763194795436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044142491333444735.post-38104093082002241002015-07-29T16:27:02.623-04:002015-07-29T16:27:02.623-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06656795026670476174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044142491333444735.post-54223163461605052342015-07-29T16:06:04.771-04:002015-07-29T16:06:04.771-04:00Thanks for sharing Mary ! Glad you and Wolf are m...Thanks for sharing Mary ! Glad you and Wolf are making music again. <br />Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06656795026670476174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044142491333444735.post-55236810969221488122015-07-28T11:05:35.861-04:002015-07-28T11:05:35.861-04:00It's certainly not as impressive as your beaut...It's certainly not as impressive as your beautiful instrument, but I have a similar story with my guitar. <br /><br />My first guitar as a youth-sized acoustic for someone just learning to play. It was fine for what it was but I quickly outgrew it. I really wanted an electric guitar so I picked one out that looked really cool, but turned out it was a piece of junk. Turned out several other students in my music class had asked our teacher about the same guitar and he told them all to stay away from it. I was the only one dumb enough not to ask him first. Despite replacing most of the wiring and electronics it just never worked or sounded right.<br /><br />Then my aunt gave me (actually sold me, but very cheap) her old cherished acoustic guitar. It was not impressive and certainly not as cool as an electric, but I was immediately struck by how "right" it felt when I picked it up. The neck and strings felt perfect in my hands and the sound was full and wonderful. She said she had already "broken it in" which may have been partially true but it was also just a better made, more well-cared for instrument than anything I played before.<br /><br />I haven't played in many years but I still have that guitar back at my parents house. My father and my niece have also learned to play on it. I gave away or sold all my other guitars and basses but I kept that one for the day I eventually decide to go back to it.C.D. Gallant-Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01080400727631587101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044142491333444735.post-25116708823843776932015-07-27T19:25:22.999-04:002015-07-27T19:25:22.999-04:00@Lee,
Thank you so much for stopping by! I'm ...@Lee,<br /><br />Thank you so much for stopping by! I'm so glad I had this opportunity to write about Wolf. I never thought that when my mom bought him for me, I'd still be playing him at this stage in my career. I've watched other string players sell wonderful instruments for what they thought was going to be something better and ended up with something less than they had. The relationship between a player and his or her instrument, particularly a non-fretted stringed instrument is a close partnership and it takes a lot of time to get to "know" your instrument. It also takes a lot of playing on that instrument to bring out the full sound. They are meant to be played, and often. If they're not played, the sound closes up and doesn't sound as full as it should. I really hit the lottery when my mom and I found Wolf; he's been such a huge part of my life. Thank you so much for stopping by! Mary <3 ViolaFuryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05796592763194795436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044142491333444735.post-89929983388744797992015-07-27T19:14:45.407-04:002015-07-27T19:14:45.407-04:00@Dearest Damyanti,
Thank you so much for reading....@Dearest Damyanti,<br /><br />Thank you so much for reading. I got confused for a bit and thought this was about cherished FRIENDS ONLINE and was working up some posts on my 10-year old gaming clan, then, decided, I'd better double-check since I got the dates wrong. Well, I just had all sorts of wrong going on, so, I knew of course, that I would be writing about Wolf. Easily done, as he is cherished and such a mainstay in my life. Now that I'm playing again, which is in itself a wonderful thing, I really had to go back and look more closely at my "partner in crime", for the unique voice that he is. <br /><br />ALL instruments, particularly the finer ones, have their own particular personalities and quirks. I remember a guy in Detroit, who was beyond tickled that he'd bought a Strad. Well, there are good Strad violins and bad Strad violins -- only 12 Strad violas exist, and I understand none of them are all that and a bag of chips! -- and this poor fellow bought a Strad that hated lights. So, it sounded great in a completely dark room, but pinchy and screechy in a lighted, concert hall. <br /><br />Wolf does not particularly care for cold, dry weather, although he was fine in Detroit for 16 seasons. I found this out, after I moved to Florida and after 2 years here, was on a concert tour that took me to my old stomping grounds. First piece out of the gate, Wolf "untuned" his lower 2 strings, the "G" and "C" strings. As the symphony raged on around me, I had to coax him back into tune, swearing under my breath all the while. He'd never done that before and had always been remarkable easy to keep in tune. We fought the entire time we were in the northeast. He started to behave the farther south we progressed through the tour.<br /><br />Still, he's a remarkable find and a remarkable viola and fun to play. He also makes me look good, which is always a plus! Thanks again for reading! This was a fun blogfest and I'm glad I got it sorted out. I love you, Damyanti! MaryViolaFuryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05796592763194795436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044142491333444735.post-69289797553140231002015-07-27T18:53:45.078-04:002015-07-27T18:53:45.078-04:00@Judy,
Thank you so much for coming by! It was to...@Judy,<br /><br />Thank you so much for coming by! It was too funny; Mama is so hard to get INTO a picture and I couldn't get her OUT of the pictures. The one that I didn't show you, was the one of her licking her butt in front of Wolf's back. Gatos can be a class act, sometimes. All in all, she is a gentle and loving companion! Thanks again for reading. I love you! <3ViolaFuryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05796592763194795436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044142491333444735.post-34667029592818243032015-07-27T16:13:25.345-04:002015-07-27T16:13:25.345-04:00What a lovely post, Mary! Fascinating to learn the...What a lovely post, Mary! Fascinating to learn the relationship between you and your viola, and how much you cherish "Wolf" shines through the whole article. So special!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044142491333444735.post-55119353431900696812015-07-26T23:36:27.572-04:002015-07-26T23:36:27.572-04:00Wolf is so handsome-- lovely post for the blogfest...Wolf is so handsome-- lovely post for the blogfest, Mary. It was interesting to know all that goes into the making and repairing-- thanyou for particpating-- this was awesome.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044142491333444735.post-86938369733276293752015-07-26T22:37:45.325-04:002015-07-26T22:37:45.325-04:00I love this, Mary! And I think the picture of Wol...I love this, Mary! And I think the picture of Wolf and your gato is perfect <3Judy S. Lentzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07232397108360320512noreply@blogger.com