Newsletter February 2004

Welcome to another newletter from Gainesville Violins. Note the QUIZ below; the first correct answer gets the prize!

At the end of this newsletter you will find our travels Schedule.

Please note our contact details:

Our shop hours are Monday-Friday 1-6 pm. During these hours you can reach us on 352-372-8264. See the Schedule below (as well as on our website www.gviolins.cc) for departures from these hours. These departures mostly involve our regular visits to Jacksonville (Orange Park) and Tallahassee and our services at festivals and so on.

Our email address is info@gviolins.cc, while our fax number is 352-374-4160. Our website address is www.gviolins.cc.

Our address is 3631 NW 41st Lane, Gainesville FL 32605.

Best regards,

Jan and Anna van Rooyen.

CONTENTS:

Quiz
New products
CodaBow
Fiddle contest
What customers say
Schedule.

Quiz

Please email your answer to jan@gviolins.cc. The first correct answer wins the book "One step up" by David Basch and Daniel Whitman. The book deals with approaches towards buying a stringed instrument and is very instructive though funny.

The question: Name the three tone poems for orchestra that Respighi wrote that involve Rome; what is Respighi's first name; and when did he live?

Customers crazy about new products

Our customers are simply crazy about the new products that we have been offering and are currently offering.

Each month we have several excellently restored antique German violins available. These instruments have been classically improved and have met with the approval of the most critical and sophisticated teachers. These violins typically sell for around $2,000.00 and carry our lifetime guarantee. The development of this line of instruments has been highly acclaimed. They are beautiful, mature-sounding and powerful. At last we can supply some of the constant demand for high-quality antique violins! From time to time we also have less expensive antique violins available.

We have also become dealers in beautifully hand-made and hand-varnished violins from Workshop Cracovia in Poland. These instruments are a great step-up from the famous Rudoulf Doetsch brand (which we can also supply). The Cracovias are highly in demand and sell quickly.

From Romania we have the very reasonably priced handmade Dunov Superior violins regularly available.

From Workshop Cracovia in Poland we have wonderful violins which are an excellent upgrade from the popular German-made Rudoulf Doetsch brand (which we also supply). The Cracovias are entirely handmade and hand-varnished.

There are several more offerings from Romania, which country has a rich and long tradition of violin-making. New on the list are violins by the small and excellent Calin Wultur workshop. These violins amaze with their powerful and beautiful tone. From the same country comes the long-popular Marco Bartolini line of instruments of which we can never have enough.

As a step-up student instrument, they remain highly acclaimed. A further popular high-class line of instruments is the Dunov Superior, likewise from Romania. These compare very well with Rudoulf Doetsch instruments.

Our reputable top-of-the-line Panis Angelicus violins continue to sell unabatedly. They are loved by many prize-winners such as Suliman Tekalli from Orlando who played Paganini’s Violin Concerto No 1 on it with full orchestra. Several of the other students of Mr Lev Gurevitch (Suliman’s teacher) use Panis Angelicus violins as well.

Trend to composite bows led by CodaBow

As pernambuco forests get depleted there is a noticeable trend towards composite bows. Not the heavy and ugly fiberglass bows of yesteryear, but modern high-tech composite carbon-graphite bows. Like wooden bows, they range from the mediocre to the good. Some even come in various trendy colors. A great sorting-out is taking place to determine which composite bows are worthwhile and which not. In tests such as those done by Strings magazine, CodaBow has consistently rated as a top performer, presenting great value for money.

Isn't it time for you to audition one of these leading modern bows? CodaBows have character and satisfy sophisticated soloists and teachers! For reviews, models and prices see www.codabow.com as well as www.gviolins.cc under "CodaBows". We sell CodaBows at a 10% discount.

To try out some of these bows risk-free in your own home, call Jan van Rooyen, Gainesville Violins, 372-8264 Mon-Fri 1-6 pm or visit the shop at 3631 NW 41st Lane, Gainesville FL 32605.

Annual Sawgrass Fiddle Contest

On March 20th from 9am to 4pm the Annual Sawgrass Fiddle Contest for children and teens will take place at Paynes Prairie State Preserve near Micanopy. For information contact Annemieke Pronker-Coron 352-375-7151. This is a chance to participate in a day of musical fun in the great outdoors! Visit www.sawgrassfiddle.com.

What customers say ...

I love the violin you picked for me. Go ahead and charge it to credit card. If you need the number again let me know or if you want me to do something else, please advise. Thank you so much for helping me obtain such a beautiful instrument.
- Carol P.

***

Good morning. Thanks again for setting Patrick up with his new violin. It
sounds wonderful and he is enjoying every minute of playing. All the best
to you and Anna until we see each other again.

- Tom B.

***

Dear Mr. Van Rooyen,

Thank you so very much for your quick turn around on the repair of Andrew's violin. If you could have heard his joyful squeal when the UPS truck stopped at our house, it would have warmed your heart. He ran out excitedly to get the box. The UPS man was surprised. He said the box is so light what's he so excited about? We explained it was his violin returning home after a repair. The UPS man smiled.

Andrew immediately opened the box and played his violin. Then he saw the receipt with the necklace. Time for another yelp of joy! He quickly put on the necklace and went to the mirror to admire it. He wore it to bed and to school this morning. Thank you for such a sweet gift. It was a huge hit with my son.

When Andrew opened the rosin section of his case and found the little rubber snake he squealed and laughed and ran around chasing the dog with it. Then he decide it was time to put it back in the violin case to protect the violin as your note said!

I can't thank you enough for turning what started as a dreadful experience when his violin fell into a joyful reuniting of a boy and his coveted instrument!

Have a great day!

With appreciation,

Andrew's mom, Jean B.

Schedule

Please Note: Dates may be changed at the last moment, so please call to confirm by calling 352-372-8264 (listen to the message which will contain the changes, if any) or our cell-phone which will be operational while we are traveling or on location: 352-278-1899. In order to watch out for sudden changes in plans, you may also check this site, as well as your e-mail if you are subscribed to our free e-mail Newsletter, which we use to communicate really fast with subscribers. Please subscribe to the Newsletter if you have not done it already. If your e-mail address changes, please re-subscribe. You may subscribe right now, in this website... just go to Newsletter.

Please e-mail us or call us well ahead of time if you want us to bring you a specific instrument or accessory. Please also enquire by e-mail or phone if you feel uncertain about our schedule or need more information. Even if we state that we are "closed", we'll be open for confirmed appointments.

Default Locations and Times (unless the calendar below says otherwise):

In Tallahassee we set up shop on campus, in the hallway in front of KMu 103 (Kersteiner Music Building, Room 103). In Jacksonville, we set up shop at Suzuki Talent Education, 589 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park.

Please e-mail us well ahead of time if you need us to serve you in a special way.

Date: Whereabouts:

February 6 Closed to prepare for Jacksonville.
February 7 Jacksonville.

Feb 13-14 Booth at Festival (Oak Hall School): free mini-repairs and help with emergencies.

Feb 20 Closed to prepare for Tallahassee
Feb 21 Tallahassee

March 5 Closed to prepare for Jacksonville
March 6 Jacksonville

March 20 Sawgrass fiddle competition, Paynes Prairie

March 26 Closed to prepare for Tallahassee
March 27 Tallahassee

April 2 Closed to prepare for Jacksonville
April 3 Jacksonville

April 16 Closed to prepare for Tallahassee
April 17 Tallahassee

April 26-30 Shop closed
May 3 Shop reopens

May 7-8 "State" in Jacksonville at the university: FFMC Junior Convention: free mini-repairs and help with emergencies.

May 14 Closed to prepare for Tallahassee
May 15 Tallahassee

June 4 Closed to prepare for Jacksonville
June 5 Jacksonville

NO VISITS DURING SUMMER. SHOP REMAINS OPEN.