One of my favorite movies is The Red Violin [wiki, imdb]. It’s an exquisitely told tale of a haunting and perfect violin with a mysterious quality that enchants various possessors over centuries and continents to eventually end up in the hands of Samuel “Snakes on a Plane” Jackson in modern day Montréal. Wonderfully told… this movie is a must-see for any violin player… no exceptions. It features the talents of Joshua Bell.
In the story, the main character (said red violin) was the perfect creation of a master Italian craftsman named Nicolo Bussotti. However, every search I do for him only comes up with information on this movie. Is he a fictional character? I’m so ignorant… I just thought he was like Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri.
For my instrument, the modern guitar, there are no grand movies spanning centuries… nor could there be, unless to unfold an epic featuring an ancient lute or oud from Biblical times that gets smashed by… I dunno… a meteorite and is unknowingly rebuilt by a drunk luthier into a Fender Stratocaster. Weak… very weak. So instead, let’s just munch on a few guitar wallpapers for Wallpaper Wednesday. I have no idea where the one on the right came from (but it does tie in a Biblical reference to the guitar!)… but the one on the left is from guitare-nstructor.com.
I'm a Christ-follower, compelled by my faith toward reason, which points directly toward conservatism. This world's daily onslaught of lunacy offends my intellect and senses, so this is my venue to blow off steam.
Okay, of course I want to comment on this one.
I’m not familiar with a violin maker named Nicolo Bussotti. Just to make sure I looked his name up in several of my music dictionaries, but he wasn’t listed anywhere. I’m pretty sure he’s fictional. I decided to do a web search, too, and found a site that talks about the story of another violin that the plot of the movie is based on – and the violin is a Strad. Here’s the link: Rehttp://www.elizabethpitcairn.com/redviolin/redviolin.html
Hope you’re doing well!
Thanks for stoppin’ in Michelle. I’ll check out the link. If I accidentally strike it ludicrously rich in Vegas this weekend I promise to buy you a Strad.
Nicolo Bussotti is probably based on Nicolo Amati the probable teacher of Stratavari. The Red Violin is almost assurdly the “Red Mendolsohn” a violin made by Stratavari between 1700-1720 during his “golden” period. The “Red Mendolsohn” is considered by some to be the finest Violin Stratavari ever made. The violin is played up to this very day by a female violinist named Pitcairn. Now in her 30′s, her grandfather bought it for her when she was 16 for 1.8 million dollars, a record at the time.
its realy rocks i appriciated very much
i really like the link can i down load the software of the guitar learning
BIG THANKS TO OTTO….
I needed that exact detail clarified, because I am doing a little paper on favorite film, “Le Violon Rouge”.
An artist, I sometimes do a little restorative and so appreciated the story.
A widowed romantic, the unifying passion / eternal love touched me.
Choral and music lover, I know ‘way too little about violins, beyond the vague homage to Stradivari , commonly shared.
thansomuch
elle
It only makes sense that the Fender Strat was actually made from a falling piece of space rock.
Good one. Thanks for the post. Where can i download the software?
Who could not forget The Red Violin? IT was onbe of the best films of the decade. It even won the Academy Award for Best Music, Original Score but I think it should have been nominated as Best Picture. The film has a very well-written screenplay and it has successfully displayed the emotions and symbolism anticipated from a classic novel.
How did you know about my custom lute crafted Strat? All my secrets are being leaked on the internet…
I like your idea of an epic movie about the creation of the Fender Strat… Clearly that is a movie just waiting to be written… but seriously, thanks for highlighting ‘The Red Violin’, I had never heard of it until today, but it seems like a great film, which I intend to give a try.
Thanks for sharing this, made me laugh! Totally agree with Robyn, get your idea made into a movie!