The Four Elements

Recently I finished my first string quartet called "The Four Elements". The first violin is "Water", the second violin "Wind", the viola "Fire", and the cello is "Earth". So in musical terms we can now create all things in music.

The ancient Greeks had a theory that the universe was composed of four elements: water, wind, fire and earth in various combinations. And so, I propose to create all harmonies in music with various combinations of four elements from the violin family.

Water, the first violin, has a big all-engulfing tone which leads the quartet. 

A tsunami descends upon a group of people on a beach much as the sound of music sweeps over the psyche.

Wind, the second violin, fills in all the spaces with its life giving vapor.

Fire, 

the viola, brings passion and warmth to all the harmonies.

The woman inside the viola meditates and feels the warmth and musical  mesmerization brought on by a flame.

Earth, the cello, is the foundation and building block of all music.

Earth's colors and layers add texture and substance.

It's been a long time since I posted, but then creation doesn't happen over night. 

Check out the article in Forbes Magazine with the link below:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/karstenstrauss/2013/06/21/an-american-master-violinmaker-at-work/

An inner world: Gaia, harmonious with the melody of life

Gaia in the end allows the good to remain and eventually erases all traces of folly.

Gaia, a cello

Gaia, eternally pondering the state of her world.

I carved this image on the front of the scroll with her hair flowing back, mane-like and becoming entwined in the roots and leaves of life on the sides and back.

To start the new year I now have my second hip-replacement installed. Thank goodness for modern medicine and the expertise of my surgeon, Dr. Ed Atler, for keeping me on my feet and now able to carry on making instruments for another twenty years or so.

At the end of 2010 I finished "Gaia", a cello, built for a young American currently a resident of Zaragoza, Spain. Phil Wilkinson asked for a Montagnana model with an all-encompassing tone, rich with possibilities in all registers. No small request. I think I came close. Phil decided to call his cello Gaia, expressed interiorly in poetry and pictures, and commending to posterity his concept of our world with Gaia intact and content.

At left Phil gets his first look at Gaia completed. On the right is Gaia posing in my front yard fittingly in front of a maple tree.

Attention all Small Cellists

The newspaper clipping is an old one I just came across while cleaning out my attic. Back in 1973 I was so excited about this vertical viola, that I gave a recital/demo of the instrument which was modeled after those of Carleen Hutchins. At the time I thought this instrument would be the VIOLA that could change the world of viola playing. And now over 30 years later, I still think violas should be played big and vertically. So, attention all small cellists, here is a dream instrument for you!

Guardians of the Bass Bar

How painful it is to see the bass bar mushed into the fragile top of a new violin. Actually, the maker has to be very careful not to let the crocodile clamps press down too hard or the top could be distorted. To insure the safe clamping, I invoked the aid of the Kitty-Sprites who are known to protect anything from anyone or anyone from anything. The violin is a 7/8th size instrument which is being made for Ann Guinee, wee wizard of Seattle.

Kingfisher

Here is the beginning of a violin with slightly smaller dimensions which will enable a slightly built young woman to play with physical ease and relaxation. The violin will be named the Kingfisher.

Back when we were cute ape-like creatures, I think we used to yodel back and forth to each other from tree to tree. That was before we could even say, "hi". Music came before language and is deeply embedded in the more ancient layers of our brains.

From the experience of many years teaching music and witnessing the upwelling of music in children unrelated to their IQ scores, language or reading levels, I have come to the conclusion that music is one of the most inexplicable talents that we as humans possess.

The cello, "Angel of Grief", you see on the left was recently completed for Aaron Baca. May he pass on his gift for music and this cello to his own child someday.

Kosmo

Kosmo poses with his new family. Check out Lester Kong on youtube.

Kong's Kosmo Goes to his Home Galaxy

After a journey in my shipping case, Noah, Kosmo has settled down in his new orbit.

Gaia, Earth Mother continued

Inscriptions and poems to next generations of musicians are also inside.

Gaia's portrait is on the neck block inside the cello.

Gaia, Earth Mother

To

Above is the finished inside painting in Gaia, and here is the sketch.

Cinamon, the cat checking out the progress of Gaia as the ribs are being glued on.
Phil, for whom the cello is intended and George, the cat who has made a temporary bed inside the ribs.
The photos coming up will show Gaia, a cello in various stages of development. Here you can see the back of the scroll which is adorned with leaves and flowers twined among the strands of Gaia's long hair.

Aaron's Agenda

The entire interior has taken on shape and some of its color as I try to give life to the inspired ideas Aaron Baca communicated to me regarding his ideal instrument.

This tiny tower appears in the distance of the landscape interior.

The idea for a dome in the landscape came from the interior space of the cello and was confirmed by Aaron Baca, cellist for whom the instrument is being created. Aaron spent some time in Florence where Brunelleschi's famous dome was erected.

Challenging Cello

The statue is sketched in and the night sky looks foreboding. The grain of the wood helps to determine the lay of the land. Aaron Baca who ordered the cello and the theme is hoping to give a message to humanity as well.

The interior of the Angel Cello is to be painted after El Greco's View of Toledo and include a Brunescelli-like dome and the Angel of Grief statue.

The Blank Slate - Actually a Poplar Slate.

The back is glued onto the rib garland. After the clamps come off, the interior will be ready...