FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 17, 2002 CONTACT Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 PROFESSOR TO SPEAK ABOUT VIOLINMAKING IN THE 17TH AND 18TH CENTURIES Joseph Nagyvary, professor of biochemistry and biophysics at Texas A&M University, will discuss his research on 17th and 18th century violinmaking in a speech titled “Renaissance Chemistry and Violin Making in Cremona, Italy” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, in Sheslow Auditorium at Drake University, 25th Street and University Avenue. Nagyvary has discovered that Antonio Stradivari and other master violinmakers were the beneficiaries of lucky coincidences with regard to their wood supply and varnishing techniques. His research shows that the highest refinement of tone color in fine violins, demanded by the best players, is primarily determined by material composition. In conclusion, Nagyvary has proven that tone quality can be defined objectively. In his speech, Nagyvary will compare an antique Italian violin with a newly created violin that produces a typical Stradivarius-like sound spectra. Misha Rosenker, assistant professor of violin at Drake, will demonstrate the sound quality of the violins. Nagyvary earned a degree in chemistry from the Eotvos Lorand University of Budapest in 1956. He went on to become a student of the Swiss Nobel Laureate Paul Karrer in 1957 and received his Ph.D. in chemistry of natural products in 1962. While in Zurich, Nagyvary had his first formal violin lessons on a violin that had belonged to Albert Einstein, a coincidence that turned his attention to the physical mysteries of the violin. The event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Ames Section of the American Chemical Society and is hosted by Drake. Refreshments will be provided at 7 p.m. For more information, call (515) 271-2596 or send an e-mail message to mark.vitha@drake.edu.