[VIDEO LINK IS DEAD; NOT SURE THE ONE I FOUND MATCHES] James Galway is known for his golden flute, while Carol Wincenc has instruments made from varying metals, including platinum, depending upon what and where she's playing. The best clarinets are made from grenadilla, more commonly known as ebony. Bassoons are crafted from maple, mahogany, and other woods. In most cases, improved manufacturing techniques and materials have resulted in better instruments. The most-prized violins, however, are centuries old and cost millions. They also are, thus far, impossible to duplicate. You've most likely heard of Andrea Amati, who built the world's first four-string violin, and Giuseppe Guarneri. Both were talented instrument makers. To this day, however, it is the instruments built by Antonio Stradivari scientists and instrument makers continue to try to replicate.  Stradivari's violins are carried onto stages around the globe by the world's finest musicians, who have either managed to earn the cash it takes to purchase one, which runs into the millions, or are playing instruments loaned to them by various collectors or organizations. Either way, only about 650 of the instruments he made are known to exist. Over the years, this has driven many to try to discover the "Stradivarius secret." One of the most recent is Bruno Frohlich, a research anthropologist with the National Museum of Natural History. Frohlich is in his dream job. Since his childhood days in Denmark, he has been curious about why instruments do what they do. His latest quest: what makes a Strad a Strad? Below, you can go "inside" a Strad with Dr. Frohlich. -- Boyce Lancaster [youtube _FqCEL6gbWY]
How to Make Great Music
