I first started work on this violin in 2000, it lay on my piano for a further three years without varnish or strings. Last year I made a concerted effort to varnish and set the violin up in order to hear what it sounded like.
During this period a friend lent me a video called ’The Red Violin'. This film stars actor Samual L. Jackson whose role is a violin expert working for a top auction house in Canada. I won’t spoil the film by divulging the plot, but when a certain violin was made back in the 18th century the maker used something rather gruesome to colour the varnish.
I love red violins, so I set about producing a red varnish, only I made up my varnish using carmine, another natural colour extract that produces a vivid red. (to learn more I recommend you see the film go to links page)
My violin is modeled on a Stradivari pattern of c1705. I used only the finest materials, Balkan Maple and Mountain Spruce. The woods were loft seasoned for more than 20 years, which ensures that the timber is dry and stable. This violin has a beautiful rich tone, being even on all four strings and is very powerful. It is the first instrument that I have set aside for my own use during my violin making career which spans more than 30 years.
I am really enjoying playing my Red Violin.
Michael Burnham.
