How can Andre Rieu influence us?

Answer 1

Andre Rieu became a personal influence to me in 2004. During one of his many Public Broadcast Station Benefit performances, he turned to the audience and proudly held his violin up for all to see. Then he said, "This is my baby. It is the second violin made by Antoinio Stradivari in the year 1667. It was made during his romantic period when he fell in love for the first time." He explaned.

My curiosity prompted me to ask, "I wonder if the first Stradivari Violin still exists." I had to research this because it was important to me. Simply because, at age 7, I made a very simplistic guitar using only a cigar box, rubberbands, a few nails and a slender piece of wood for the neck. My Grandfather was so impressed and soon after, he began to bring new instruments for me to experiment with. One by one, I played each one of them and my interest aroused me to become play them with ease and confidence for all to enjoy. My meager beginning led me to become a self taught musician of a variety of instruments.

In my research, I found no evidence of the existence of the 1st Stradivarius. This in turn prompted me to begiin writing a Historical Fiction, still in progress, which details many fascinating stories about Antonio Stradivari and the history of his mystical First Violin. Thank you Andre Rieu for inspiring me to weave a beautiful story of fact and fiction about an icon of Italian history who to this day, continues to inspire the world with his dedication in defining and masterining the art of Luthierie.

Edmund J. Shanks, Jr.

Author of Raise The Bow (c) 2009

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