Posted: 11/1/06 Section: News

Media Credit: John Paul Goguen The Daily Illini From left, Urbana resident Hilary Holbrook and her sister from California, Veronica Taylor, take a moment to look at the priceless set of instruments crafted by master builder Antonio Stradivari centuries ago that are on display at the Krannert Art Museum, Tuesday. [Click to enlarge]

They are almost 400 years old, but they still have personalities, many consider them to be beautiful, and they refuse to be kept silent.

The four ornamented Stradivari instruments that have come to the University - two violins, a viola, and a cello - are nothing short of extraordinary, said Robert La France, associate curator of pre-modern art at the Krannert Art Museum.

"Antonio Stradivari produced over one thousand instruments, only about 650 of which survive," said La France. "Of those, less than half are playable."

The exhibition of the famed instruments is one of many planned events that Scott Schwartz, director of the University's Sousa Archives and Center for American Music, hopes will help to raise the profile of American Music Month this November across the country.

Stradivari's string instruments are prized for their beauty and craftsmanship in addition to their tonal quality. The quartet is the centerpiece of an exhibit at the Krannert Art Museum entitled "The Arts in Concert," which features a number of paintings, books, prints, and pieces of music from Stradivari's time in addition to his instruments.

Scott Schwartz was a key player in bringing the "Strads" to the University through partnership with the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

"The University became a Smithsonian affiliate last August, and that helped us get the instruments here," Schwartz said. "The affiliation allows us to share resources and knowledge."

Gary Sturm, Smithsonian Museum curator in the division of music, sports and entertainment, said that the affiliation program and the exhibition of Stradivari's instruments is part of the institute's continuing mission to share national treasures with people all across America, not just in Washington, D.C.

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