Messiah Stradivarius

The violin is in like-new condition, as it was seldom played. Although modifications were made, according to the Ashmolean Museum, "The varnish, however, is almost unworn, the carving is as crisp as the day it was made and the painted edge-work on the scroll survives intact." ==List of modifications==

• Neck was lengthened • Bass bar was replaced (the original is displayed next to the violin) • Bridge replaced • Tailpiece replaced • Pegs replaced • Sound post likely replaced • Strings likely replaced The neck was lengthened in the 19th century, likely due to pitch inflation. This in turn necessitated replacement of the bass bar to counteract the increased downforce from higher-tension strings (plus from any increase in break angle of the strings over the new bridge). The bridge, tailpiece and pegs were also added in the 19th century. One may assume the strings and sound post are not original as well—both are regularly replaced with use and age, plus a longer neck needs longer strings. ==Sound==

The tonal potential of the instrument has been questioned due to the conditions of the Hill bequest. However it was played by the famous violinist Joseph Joachim, who stated in a letter of 1891 to the then owner of the Messiah, Robert Crawford, that he was "struck by the combined sweetness and grandeur of the sound". ==Construction==

The top of the Messiah is made from the same tree as a P.G. Rogeri violin of 1710. The tuning pegs and the tailpiece (that shows the Nativity of Christ) are not original, but were added by Vuillaume. ==See also==