Cremona Violins: A Physicist's Quest for Secrets of Stradivari [Paperback]

Kameshwar C. Wali (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 3, 2010 | ISBN-10: 9812791108 | ISBN-13: 978-9812791108 | Edition: Pap/Dvdr

This book contains a brief account of the history of Cremona violins - the rise and fall of the art that dominated over two centuries - and is primarily devoted to the physics behind the violin acoustics, specifically the research of William F 'Jack' Fry over the past four decades and more. It chronicles his early research and the evolution of his ideas leading to a holistic approach to its acoustics, in sharp contrast to the conventional 'reductionist' approach. With rare insights, he has come closer than anyone before in reproducing the sound of the great Italian masters. This historic achievement makes the book extremely valuable for violin makers, violin researchers, and young and aspiring violinists who would like to own excellent-sounding instruments with all the desirable characteristics of old instruments at affordable prices.

Editorial Reviews

Review

... it forms an interesting documentation of one of science's notable aberrations. --Physics Today

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Company; Pap/Dvdr edition (January 3, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9812791108
• ISBN-13: 978-9812791108
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,672,872 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Jack Fry's work is great, book could have been better edited, March 27, 2011

By 

E. Brown (Fredericksburg, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cremona Violins: A Physicist's Quest for Secrets of Stradivari (Hardcover)

This book's presentation of the excellent research on violins by Jack Fry was clear, but repetitive. A better editing job would have caught some spelling mistakes and the like. Nonetheless, I'm glad I bought it and read it because I think Dr. Fry's findings should be popularized, I enjoyed reading it, and I learned interesting things about the violin. Anyone interested in violins should enjoy the non-technical (i.e., no equations) presentation.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars science revealed, June 26, 2010

By 

alwali - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cremona Violins: A Physicist's Quest for Secrets of Stradivari (Hardcover)

A great source for understanding the power of the Cremona violins, but surprisingly also a very lucid account of scientific method and why it is not always about "reduction"! Very well written and fun to read!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, April 27, 2010

By 

M. Wali (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cremona Violins: A Physicist's Quest for Secrets of Stradivari (Hardcover)

A very well written and informative book.
Takes you into the thinking of a passionate physicist as he tries to decode the mysteries of the world's most celebrated instruments. Also wonderful historical account of the rescue of Cremona violins from the dustbin.