It's Sound Chemistry

Handmade artisanal violins from the great masters produce a rich sound that remains unrivaled to this day. The question has always been, how?

Determined to unlock the secrets of this mystery, Texas A&M University scientist Dr. Joseph Nagyvary has spent most of his life investigating the instrument-making process. Forty years ago, Nagyvary posited his initial hypothesis: aside from skilled woodworking, masters such as Antonio Stradivari applied chemical treatments to their instruments that contributed to their pristine tones.

Now, Nagyvary and a team of international researchers have confirmed the use of chemicals, identifying some for the first time. Within the wood of aged instruments, researchers found borax, a longtime historical preservative and pesticide, along with zinc, copper, alum and lime water.

“The presence of these chemicals all points to a collaboration between violin makers and the local drugstore,” Nagyvary explained. “Both Stradivari and Guarneri would have wanted to treat their violins to prevent worms from eating away the wood, because worm infestations were widespread at that time.”

According to Nagyvary, the borax and alum salts cross-link the wood fibers, creating strong, thin planks that improve the violins’ durability and sound quality. However, exact recipes and wood-treatment processes appear to be well-kept secrets of the masters, learned from experimentation and hidden to gain a competitive advantage over rival craftsmen.

“Their violins have been unmatched in sound and quality for 220 years,” said Nagyvary. He said more research must be conducted on samples from Stradivari, Guarneri and other Golden Period makers to clarify other correlations between the wood, chemical treatments and tonal quality.