Jefferson Building
What a thrill to visit the Jefferson Building, the very first building of the Library of Congress built with granite mined from seven quarries in and around Concord, New Hampshire–also home of the famous Concord Coach. For both stories, see my first book Hidden History of New Hampshire. Thanks to Janice Ruth, of the Manuscripts Division, of the Library of Congress, I was delighted to be invited to present a talk about American Luthier: Carleen Hutchins–the Art and Science of the Violin to the Women’s History Discussion Group of the Library of Congress. Such a knowledgeable crew of librarians ...
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Old Fiddles Made New?
“New Life Violin Series” is the label inside one of Bob Murphy’s ole fiddles made new. By using acoustical techniques he taught himself–methods very similar to the “ditching” techniques used a half century ago by pioneering luthier Carleen Hutchins–Bob transforms a mediocre fiddle into one that SINGS! Thanks, Bob, for hosting Hutchins’ biographer Quincy Whitney last week to talk about American Luthier, the new, groundbreaking story of the 20th century American female luthier whose Harvard physicist mentor asked of her–“What is the feminine of Stradivari?”...
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Bridges, bridges everywhere!
Bridges, bridges everywhere!–behold the back wall of the workshop of Long Island luthier Bob Murphy, when he hosted biographer Quincy Whitney and her new book American Luthier. For colorful and eccentric bridges of a different sort that tell the story of the violin and the violin world, visit the fugue section of my website....
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Murphys and Community
This photo is a just one example of the strong community spirit that characterizes Murphys Music, Melville, NY. Rob Murphy, who helps his father Bob Murphy run their lutherie shop, is also, in his other life, a professional tenor. When the earthquake hit Haiti several years ago, Rob gave a benefit concert and Murphys Music donated instruments to these children in Haiti who are seen here in performance....
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Murphys Music Showroom
Thanks to Bob and Rob Murphy of Murphys Music, Melvile, NY, for hosting biographer Quincy Whitney and her new book American Luthier: Carleen Hutchins–the Art and Science of the Violin. No author could ask for a more gracious, knowledgeable or enthusiastic audience! Kudos and many thanks!...
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Ditching a Fiddle?
Luthier Bob Murphy, of Murphys Music, Melville, NY, demonstrates a technique he uses to make a mediocre factory violin better–a method that pioneering female luthier Carleen described as “ditching” which involves carving the free violin plate around the edges to make it more flexible. “The difference is night and day!” Bob exclaimed. Murphys Music on Walt Whitman Road in Melville consistently uses innovative techniques to improve instruments and enhance strong connections to the community. They enthusiastically hosted a short book talk last Wednesday afternoon featuring Quincy Whitney and her new biography American Luthier: Carleen Hutchins–the Art and Science of ...
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Real
This wonderful message painted on the wall of M & C, Amherst, NH—It reminds me of the importance of a sunny personality like Greg at M & C, who takes the time to recognize folks and even recall their stories. Recalling and sharing stories is what it’s all about! A few days ago, two special people showed up to a book event at Toadstool Peterborough. A woodworker named Wayne took time away from this workshop to come to Toadstool Bookshop because though he has lived by his hands and working wood, he has always admired the intricacies of carving a ...
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Porter Square Books
A dark and rainy Friday night still did not deter a small audience who came to Porter Square Books to hear about American Luthier. A great surprise to see two old friends who first came to the early meetings of the Boston Biography Group—Mary-Lou Breitborde and Louise Swiniarski—who had come just to root on a fellow biographer who had finally reached the light at the end of the tunnel! Mary-Lou, Associate Dean of Education at Salem State, and Louise, professor emeritus at Salem State co-authored Teaching on Principle and Promise, The Foundations of Education. Mary-Lou is working on the ...
Read MoreA Perfect Book Signing
A perfect book signing? I did not think they existed! But tonight at Water Street books is about as perfect as I have found so far! It was not just the “packed house” of 20 -25, or the enthusiasm of an engaged audience filled with fiddle students of fiddler Ellen Carlson. It was not the fact that Ellen played fiddle for us on her Hutchins Mezzo after she explained how Carleen had inspired her in her own life to follow her bliss. It was not just that we actually moved some books! The night was perfect for all these reasons! ...
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NCC Event
What a spectacular event happened last Friday night at the Nashua Country Club—literary and musical, harkening back a century when the original mission of the club, now celebrating its 100th anniversary, was to offer recreation and sport, and community events including literary ones! Fiddler Ellen Carlson and Tom Whitehead, at piano and guitar, performed bluegrass and swing tunes—fiddle, guitar, piano and vocals! The audience of fifty or so thoroughly enjoyed the Carleen Hutchins story—a true story of a most unlikely violinmaker—and the music was a true delight! Thanks to David Scaer, NCC General Manager, for believing in the cultural mission ...
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