As a musician, strings are something I see as a luxury, one that I rarely allow myself. New strings - nice ones - are expensive and I can never justify spending the money when I have a million other things on the need-money-for-this list (for example, a custom car seat for Elisabeth.)
So you can imagine my joy when my mother presented me with a new set of strings for my birthday this month! It had been [embarrassingly] years since the last ones were put on.
When we returned from California life was busy - basketball, rehearsals, students, gymnastics, work.... I just hadn't found the right moment to put the new set on. And that's the silly thing about me, it has to be a moment. I mean, it takes but a few minutes to do the task, but I wanted it to be an experience, I wanted to soak it right up.
Yesterday afternoon, the opportunity arose. A few of the girls were gone, one was upstairs, and Elisabeth was resting on the couch. The house was quiet and there was sun streaming in the music parlor window. "This is it, this is my moment," I thought.
As I opened the first string I read the back of the paper sleeve and my heart just about burst with excitement...
It reads:
"I use Pirastro's Evah Pirazzi strings on my 1713 Stradivarius. I find that they offer the best combination of power and quality. - Joshua Bell
What???!!! I have the same strings as Joshua Bell?!! It might have been one of the most exciting discoveries of my life, haha!
(If you don't know who Joshua Bell is, quick! Go to YouTube!)
Then off with the old, and on with the new...
Ahhh....the sound of heaven.
New strings!
Glorious, clear, brilliant new strings!!!
New strings!
Glorious, clear, brilliant new strings!!!
P.S. I have more exciting news about Joshua Bell! Stay tuned!!
