This short documentary from Stellenbosch University tracks the construction of a very special violin, crafted entirely from indigenous African tonewoods. The project allowed the university’s Department of Forestry and Wood Science to investigate the acoustic properties of new potential tonewoods, as well as provide a new violin for the daughter of the project’s head, Professor Martina Meincken.

Here’s a chance to hear how the violin sounds.

In Afrikaans with English subtitles.

 

Read: Violin crafted entirely from wood of indigenous African trees

Read: Ask the experts: What should a luthier look for when choosing tonewood?

Read: Analysis May 2021: Seeing the wood for the trees

Read: New study reveals the wood treatments used by Stradivari, Amati and Guarneri

Watch: Trees of Music create musical campaign for Pernambuco wood with Indigenous orchestral collaboration

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