Today was a big day for us and I wanted to share our excitement here. After several years of renting and borrowing violins, we were able to buy Paul one today! I wish you could peer past my very poor photography to the beautiful fiddle underneath. It's made of maple and has mother-of-pearl inlay around the rim. An older fiddler Paul knows decided to sell it and we were so happy to take it off his hands. The tone is so fine - very mellow and sweet. The funny things about violins is that a good one only becomes more valuable over time. Another interesting thing is that they must be played. A violin that isn't played deteriorates pretty quickly. The tone becomes very poor. At least that's what we're learning.
We celebrated by going to lunch at Arby's. While there a funny thing happened. A lady came up to me and asked if I was Laura Frantz. I said yes, thinking she'd read my book (though no one has ever picked me out of a crowd before!). She said she'd seen Paul play at a recent show and wanted to meet him. I had to chuckle when they shook hands and got acquainted. That beats an old book any day:) Being a fiddler's mom is lots of fun and you meet all sorts of interesting people. I like to think the Lord picked out this very violin for Paul. It just took us a few years to find it.I'm not musical myself. I quit after flunking flutaphone in the 3rd grade! But I'd love to know if you play an instrument or ever have. Or if you don't, which one would you play if you could?
So *very* happy for Paul. I'm sure he's beaming. And something tells me he'd sleep with it if you let him. Bet I get to see that fiddle at some point in the future, at least I hope so.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Paul and all. Beautiful fiddle! I'm not very musical either. I've tried to play the tin whistle and can limp along, sort of. What instrument would I play if I could? Hmmm... I'd start with the cello. Then violin. Then piano. Then I'd learn that darn tin whistle! But the instrument I wish I really could play better is my voice.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful violin. I'm sure Paul must be very excited. Please pass on my congratulations.
ReplyDeleteI played the clarinet in sixth grade, but then we moved to a Forest Service ranger station an hour from civilization where I attended a one room school for seventh grade and most of eighth. Needless to say, there was no band. By the time we moved back to town, I was so far behind, I didn't resume my playing. I don't have any regrets though. My hubby is the musical one, and I get to enjoy hearing him play several instruments.
Aw, congrats to him! Already a famous fiddler :) I was just thinking today as I walked with the ol' iPod on the walking trails "Man, I wish I could fiddle!" lol!
ReplyDeleteI played the flute for 6 years, 6-12 grade. My flute was played so much (I got it second hand) that the silver started rubbing off from my fingers! I always wanted to learn to play piano. However, my mother had been forced to take lessons as a child, so she never wanted me to take piano ;) I wish I had learned! These days, I just him along, that's as musical as I get ;)
Congratulations! Thank you for the lovely story and the photo of "the fiddler". Your son's excitement and appreciation shines in his expression : ) I can carry a tune sometimes, but my mother was very musical. She played the accordion, piano, organ, and keyboard. Mom had a lovely, high singing voice, and she was very theatrical. For many years, she provided the only music for the little Baptist church she attended with my grandparents. She played "by ear" and added her own special flourishes when she played. I asked her once about the "extra" musical notes, and she said that was just her style. She played "by ear" : )
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful instrument! How blessed you are to have music in your home.
ReplyDeleteWe're blessed too, having a house full of instruments & musicians - piano, guitars, trombone, sax & voice. And my daughter wants to become a worship leader.
The one instrument that's on my bucket list is the harp. Wouldn't that be fun to learn?
WOW congrats on the beautiful instrument! I wish I had some musical talent...I would probably play piano or something like that just 'cause my gram always says I should since I have "nice, long fingers" LOL!
ReplyDeleteXOXO~ Renee
That's a beautiful violin!
ReplyDeleteI cannot play any instruments. When I was in high school, I wanted to join the band and play the clarinet. My mom had played the clarinet when she was in high school. We didn't have the money for me to join the band though.
I've been told my great-grandfather was a very good banjo player.
That is so great!! And he's a local celebrity!!
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of a fiddle. There is just something about it that is so genuine and comforting.
Kyle has been taking guitar lessons at school for a couple of months now. It's pretty slow going. For something that seems so easy, it is very difficult. The fingers need to stretch and become limber to be able to reach some of the chords. I'm trying to learn along with him. We bought some books to guide us through it.
I played piano for a few years growing up. The only song I remember is "What Child is This?". My piano that my Grandpa bought me when I was in high school is at my parents home. ONe of these days I'll have a place for it and I would love to start learning again. Maybe get the girls playing it too.
My niece who plays the fiddle was asked to be in an orchestra in the area where they live. She has only played for 2 years but she is a natural. I love listening to her.
Laura, that is so awesome! Congrats to your son. I love violin music...this post makes me want to re-read Vienna Prelude by the Thoenes. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, this IS happy news! When it's about your baby, it's always the best.
ReplyDeleteI love how you say God picked out this particular violin for your son. He really wants to give good gifts to His children, doesn't he?
As far as my own musical talent, I have none, other than being able to turn on the radio. I played trumpet in the 7th grade band and I was last chair the entire year!
Peter really desires to be musical. He is always writing songs and he sings his prayers at night. We are thinking of starting him on guitar lessons.
Thank you for sharing your 'happy day' with us, Laura!
Thanks so much, Keli. Paul thanks you, too! I know violins have a special place in your heart as you are writing about them. I'm still in awe you recently saw Joshua Bell!
ReplyDeleteYour one room school experience sounds fascinating. I think I would have gladly given up the clarinet for that. How blessed you are to have a husband who is musical!
Lisa, I'm so glad Kyle is taking lessons. Take heart - it gets easier with time. I wanted to quit violin so many times as it was like a foreign country to me as I don't read a note. Paul struggled to at first as it's very difficult. Your neice sounds delightful - like she really loves to play. I think that's what makes it special. You have people who are performers and love to play for others and you have those you just like to play for themselves. Paul and your neice sound like the former.
ReplyDeleteHope you get that piano in time! You might be surprised at how much comes back to you:)
Heather, What is it about these moms of ours?! My mom took piano lessons for years, too, and threw up before her recitals (obviously not a performer) and she wanted to spare me that experience - DARN! I'd love to play anything. Flute is a favorite. We have a lady who plays flute for nearly every church service here and it's so pretty.
ReplyDeleteWish I could bring my iPod and walk some trails with you! I just have a little one but it sure makes walking a whole new experience:)
Lori, I'm with you - the cello is beautiful - the viola, too. But the tin whistle sounds fine - and very revolutionary. I'm thinking 18thc. here, as always!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Renee! One thing I'm learning is that it's never too late to learn to play:) Some of our fiddling friends started learning in their 60's! You're a youngster yet:) So maybe those long fingers of yours will be put to good use one day, piano or otherwise!
ReplyDeleteVirginia, Your mother was a true musician - one of those gifted souls who didn't even need a lesson and could play by ear! Amazing. Your home and church must have been a wonderful place - always alive with the sound of music. It adds so much.
ReplyDeleteWe know an old fiddler - age 93 - who has never had a lesson and never played a note. His mom threw his trumpet in an outhouse hole when he was a kid and he scraped up a violin somewhere and has never stopped playing. He was the lead performer for the spring show Paul just played in and he brought the house down. He's so good! And nary a lesson!
I think it's so funny Lori said "cello" because that's what I've played and I thought there was no one else who would want to lug it around. I do love it...has the most wonderful sound. I wish I could sing. I tried the fiddle once or twice but found that just because I played a stringed instrument didn't mean I could play ANY stringed instrument. Sadly. Congratulations to Paul.
ReplyDeleteLovely fiddle, so much better than our beat up one. :)
ReplyDeleteI used to play clarinet, but dropped out after about two years. Didn't have the air flow I guess, or just hated the squaking. :) Now I play piano and really enjoy that. :)
Brenda, We are truly kindred spirits - the harp is my next favorite instrument! I've been listening to harp music online lately and it's so beautiful, especially when accompanied by the violin.
ReplyDeleteLove getting these glimmers of insight into your lives here. I hope your daughter fulfills her dream and becomes a worship leader. I'm sure having a house full of music helped her make that decision.
I'll share a secret...my current protagonist plays the harp:) It's been such fun learning along with her.
Gin, I thought of you when I posted this as you are such a fiddle fan. I bet you have a musical bone or two yourself:) Paul would love to be in old town Berea on the stage of that old log cabin where you and I met, new fiddle and all! Someday, Lord willing. Kentucky is a magical place for musicians. Bless you for chiming in here.
ReplyDeleteMary, That is so precious that Peter sings his prayers! You might have a musician on your hands. I hope you start him on guitar. I've decided music is a gift we can give our kids even if we aren't musical ourselves. Just having music appreciation is enough. My brother, Chris, started guitar in the 7th grade and he is still playing today as are his kids. He LOVES it still.
ReplyDeleteI respect you immensely for sticking it out as the last chair in trumpet! That speaks volumes about your stick-to-it-tiveness:)
Thanks, Michelle. Love that you mention your link with the banjo. Paul says that after violin he most wants to learn the banjo. It has the BEST sound! There are always several at the jams we attend. You might just be musical like your great-granddad. It seems to run in families. Is there such a thing as a music gene? We're trying to think of where Paul picked it up. My granny's brothers and sisters were musicans (fiddle, guitar, dulcimer, etc.). They were so poor I'm not sure how they even afforded instruments in Virginia back then. We're blessed that Paul is on a scholarship program with the old time fiddlers association. I wish those things had been in place when we were kids.
ReplyDeleteBless you today.
Myrna, I'm surprised and delighted you are a cello player! You even look like a cello player, if one can say such a thing:) I hope there is lots of Yo Yo Ma at your house. And you're right. It isn't always easy to transition to other instruments. I'm always amazed at these jams we attend when the musicians play a piece and then they all switch instruments and start up again playing something else. Not everyone can do that!
ReplyDeleteSo nice to hear from you here. Praying you have a blessed Easter.
Oh Ruth, you've made me want to read Vienna Prelude! It must have to do with music (lots of music) so now I have another book to chase down. Thankfully, of course! Thanks so much for your good wishes here. Paul and I sure appreciate them. Happy Easter to you and everyone here!
ReplyDeleteKeep playing, Casey! I think playing the piano would be a fine thing. You don't need any backup like a fiddle often does, etc. Some of the best music I own is by solo pianists. It just takes you away and is wonderful music to write by...
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Paul! And he's already famous! That's so funny! and fun. Getting the right instrument is so important. My daughter played harp and we rented for years -- they're as expensive as a piano if not more! She played celtic harp and I loved listening to her practise. You just can't make a harp sound awful! Sadly we lost the chance at renting and we couldn't afford to buy so she isn't playing now. Too busy at university anyway. Plus -- a harp is really hard to cart around on the bus! LOL.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to play bagpipes when I was a kid. My mean father absolutely refused on the grounds that we lived in an apartment so I blame him for stifling my musical talent. LOL.
Kav, You are so blessed! Even if she's no longer playing, maybe she'll continue one day. There is no such thing as an inexpensive harp, that's for sure! And they are HUGE. I haven't even thought about how much they weigh. The size alone is daunting. But the music DIVINE! Thanks so much for the well wishes for Paul. He's come a long way and has a long way to go. The violin is very hard to play well but it's so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Paul on owning such a beautiful instrument and being disciplined to play it! That is such a wonderful gift!
ReplyDeleteI'm more of singer than a player, having met my husband when I toured with a Christian singing group. My husband is now more of the musician in the family, having his doctorate in it. He is also the Music Director at our church, so he plays the piano among other things.
Oh, that is so wonderful for Paul. I'm sure you are all so proud of him. I hope that gives him a big boost and he'll enjoy playing for many years to come.
ReplyDeleteI played the guitar in highschool. I haven't done much with it as an adult, though. Sometimes I've thought of picking it up again. I do have some trouble with strength in my hands, so I'm not sure.
I would love to have learned to play the classical harp. Our family was friends with a concert harpist, but I never had an opportunity to learn. :( I do live this dream out a little in one of my story series, however!
Suzanne, I love hearing about your background - it is decidedly musical! I've always thought it would be a fine thing being married to a music director. Am hoping he brings all that music home! Thanks so much for the well wishes for Paul He's been playing a lot more the last few days, maybe because the sound quality is so much better or maybe because he's the proud owner? I'm really enjoying it. Right now he's hooked on Ashokan Farewell, a piece I first heard in Ken Burn's Civil War documentary. Very moving and kind of sad/haunting. Usually he goes for the peppy reels and jigs:)
ReplyDeleteCarla, Guitar is wonderful - even if you can't play anymore it's a part of you. I wish I could say that. Count me in on the harp, too! It has the most otherwordly/heavenly sound. I like to think that when we get to heaven, there won't be an instument there that we can't play. Isn't that neat? So hopefully lots of harps and violins in our future:)
ReplyDeleteSo awesome Laura that someone picked you out, noted your book, and Paul! Paul must be very excited with his new violin.....it is beautiful! I hope to hear him play it one day for sure! Looking forward to seeing you in just a few short months. Hello to everyone and Happy Easter! ;)
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