SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: Of the twenty-one players, only eight chose an old violin as the best. Even a recently made violin was judged to be much better sounding than the world famous Stradivarius. Ms. Fritz says the difference between the old and new instruments is only in the mind of the player. Modern luthiers were happy that she found what they believed.
But some
professional musicians think the test had little value. One noted that violins are meant to be heard in a concert hall, not a hotel room.
MARIO RITTER: Researchers have performed tests like
this many times in the past. But Ms. Fritz says those tests asked average listeners to try to predict which violin was made by a master. Her test was given to concert violinists who play at the highest level. They are the ones you would expect to have the best “ear” for great sound.
There is an old saying that, “beauty lies in the eye of the beholder.” If that is true, then perhaps your opinion of how an instrument sounds to your ear is really what matters.
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: This SCIENCE IN THE NEWS was written by Brianna Blake and Jim Tedder. June Simms was our producer. I’m SHIRLEY Griffith.
MARIO RITTER: And I’m Mario Ritter. Listen again next week for more news about science in Special English on the Voice of America.
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2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25