Thanks again, Global Cooling/Warming!
all those little fungi singing harmony can’t hurt.
Well, the author may know science, but definitely not history. The man’s name was Antonio Stradavari. The violin is a Stradavarius.
Bump for wife.
Which Strad was it?
Even among Stradivarius’ violins, there are good examples and not-so-good.
From the story, “The fungal attack changes the cell structure of the wood, reducing its density and simultaneously increasing its homogeneity.”
LOL. You must have really meant to say "Global Cooling/Warming/Cooling/Warming/Cooling..."
I heard about this research sometime last year.
They took violin spruce (Alpine I think) and in a controlled environment introduced several types of molds and let it proliferate. I saw a photo of a sample and it was shrouded with this white colored felt. The caption explained that this was was the “split gill” fungus—perhaps the most common, and it’s what researchers determined was the best.
You can’t believe how thick the mystique of the Strad is among violin makers. For years they thought it was the varnish. There’s a scientist, Navygary, who claims to have discovered the secret every five years or so. Each time it’s different.
This research is good stuff: they found that the mold eats most of the Hemicellulose, a sugar like component with a strong affinity to water, and leaves a honey comb structure that is lighter, more stable but just as strong as the original .
Lighter tops are more responsive, strenth to mass ratio just like racing cars.
It’s speculated Strad and co. stored their wood outside. Before they got it the logs were probably floated part way to their destination and stored prior to purchase by the dealer. (Guild regulations barred luthiers from cutting they,re own) We think the mold was allowed to propagate for a few years. They weren’t doing this deliberately, just craftsman’s lore that wood needs to age.
ping