Had I not lost my splendid guarneri violin, the exponent of all the artistic success I had so far attained, I could have lightly borne the loss of clothes and money."
"Great Violinists And Pianists"
George T. Ferris
Spohr managed to borrow a Steiner violin, with which he gave his concert, but he did not for years cease to lament the loss of his grand guarneri fiddle.
"Great Violinists And Pianists"
George T. Ferris
There may be several good reasons for this; among them the fact that Carlo Bergonzi and Joseph guarneri were working in rivalry at the time, and bidding for public favour less on account of fine workmanship than force and magnificence of style and general aspect, and that public attention was to some extent diverted in their direction; further, and perhaps more cogent, the recognition of the great brilliancy and largeness of Joseph guarneri's tone, that must have seemed to the musical cognoscenti of Cremona remarkably fresh and vigorous.
"Antonio Stradivari"
Horace William Petherick