dreamed of a violin as blue as the depths of the sky, darker than azure, darker than the waters that rained on the day of the flood.

The soul resides somewhere inside, singing sweetly, responding to the player, attempting to enrapture him, and sometimes succeeding.

What was mute while living in the woods, what waited so long to age and grow wise until its time to speak, will live again, will breath, will whisper and chant and broadcast a scream when the bow finds the strings.

Every old sock meets an old shoe, said Kate...and every good bow finds a good violin. If not in this generation, then the next.

You see, time will tell for this blue girl. She needs not worry. She can wait, since life for a violin is long . There is no such thing as vintage, or classic. There is no such thing as senility or hospice. There is only time, love, and music.

She knows that when her player dies, there will be another.

NOTE on the materials used to finish the blue violin.

The violin 'in the white' (sans finish or fittings) was ordered from the distributor Saga Musical Instruments (model VW-10). This was finished with a sealer, then 2 coasts clear, then with blue artist oils (front: french ultramarine; back: thalo blue), then five more coats of clear, each coat being sanded and polished. The fancy ebony fittings were bought from the distributor St. Louis Music. Does it sound good? Yes, it sounds fantastic. In fact, the majority of the people who have played it have inquired about buying it. However, I've learned from being in retail that customers always want to buy anything that is on display but is 'not for sale!'

7/15/01 email:[email protected]