There are incredible myths surrounding violins, bows, strings, and most things connected with string playing. The wheeling and dealing that goes on behind the scenes is usually held in strict confidence between the money-hungry people who have allowed their craft or business to become a debauchery, and the unsuspecting amateur who just wants the best buy for his money and is a sitting duck. Everyone is entitled to a profit, but 1,000%?
This book is the story of a Russian-born immigrant who landed in Green bay, Wisconsin in the early 1900's and yanked his way from laborer in a paper mill to head one of the largest and most respected music houses in America. When Robert Kagan moved to Chicago he began by giving violin lessons and playing in movie houses. After that he opened a music school while going to college to become a civil engineer. Soon he was importing violins for his pupils and strings for the musicians in the orchestras. How Kagan and Gaines Co., Inc. of Chicago became an oasis for artists like Oistrakh, Stern, Casals, and Menuhin during their concert tours in the Midwest, and who often stayed over with Bob Kagan, buying some of his instruments, swapping stories, and perpetuating the myths surrounding violins.
This book has something for everyone from amateur to connoisseur: Kagan tells all-about fictitious labels, how prices are determined, labels and certificates, recognition of instruments, playing quality versus monetary value, what determines monetary value, how to select a bow, scarcity of experts who really know bows, how to choose proper strings for your instruments, and a chapter on buyers, beware.
