The "Sleeping With The Strings To His Heart" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading in the "Arts" section of the local newspaper about a young man who lived in Dallas, Texas.  If you remember, Texas recently suffered through one of the coldest weeks in history.  Was below freezing for quite a few days and many people found their heating systems couldn't keep them warm during the cold spell.  One such person was Southern Methodist University music professor Aaron Boyd.  Aaron was a fabulous musician who played the violin.  During one cold spell he decided to take his favorite violin, a 1690 Matteo Goffriller Venician violin that was made in Venice.  Mr. Goffriller built the violin during the golden age for luthiers in Italy.  The French word "luthier" means an artisan who builds and repairs stringed instruments.  During the 16th and 17th centuries, the northern Italian cities of Brescia and Ceoa were hubs for the craft.  Dremona was home to Antonio Stradivari, whose instruments are coveted by musicians and collectors alike for their supposedly superior sound and resonance.  Mr. Boyd remembers seeing the instrument for the first time.  "It was love at first sight," he said.  He bought the violin at a violin shop in New York about 10 years ago.  The sales person took the violin from the safe and showed it to Mr. Boyd.  

Aaron Boyd with his violin.  Photo by Smiley Pool
(Don't you just love that name!)

After viewing the price tag, he realized it would take him at least six months to save for the violin.  His love affair with the violin finally came to fruition.  During the cold spells in Texas during mid-February, Mr. Boyd's home dropped into the 40s when they lost power for a few days.  He became alarmed since it is said that if violins are exposed to the cold, the wood can split, ruining the instruments.   He wasn't sure if it was cold enough or if the instrument would actually split, but he didn't want to take the chance.  So, he and his son slept with the instrument which was nestled in it's case under many blankets, next to them.  Goffriller is more famous for his cellos than his violins, but Mr. Boyd says his violins are just as good as his cellos.  Mr. Goffriller would have been Venice's foremost luthier when composer Antonio Vivaldi lived and worked in the city so Boyd wonders if his violin might have been involved in one of the premieres of Vivaldi's music, even the Four Seasons.  When Mr. Boyd needs his instrument cleaned or needs maintenance, he usually brings it to New York city due to the many excellent technicians in New York.  But, now all he is doing is trying to keep it warm and keeping its temperature and humidity at stable levels.  His final comment was..."That's how I ended up with the violin in bed."  Those who own instruments made by famous artists have a certain respect for those instruments and will do just about anything to protect its integrity.  And...Mr Boyd appreciates his fine instrument and realizes both its integrity and sentimental value.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.