CHAPTER XI

LITERATURE OF THE VIOLIN

The authoritative histories of the old makers--Their chief value--Their status as guides to tone--The impressions they convey--The limitations of the authors--Their attitude towards the modern builder--The modern builder’s “revenge”--The one idea which the player absorbs from these histories--The good faith of the authors--Their honesty of purpose--Their renown as connoisseurs and judges--The wide-spread influence of their work and its effect--Books on violin making--What they do and do not teach--A classical work--Instructions on how to play the violin--Their service--Their neglect of tone--The periodical literature of the fiddle--Its interest and value--Wherein it fails--A warning--The “Lives” of famous old makers--Their value 62-67