Beautiful Arrangement - Anniston Star

Our edit on a violin maker moving to the developed former military installation is complete with a musical interlude.

The link is -- http://www.annistonstar.com/opinion/2005/as-editorials-1116-editorial-5k15u0257.htm

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Beautiful arrangement

In our opinion 11-16-2005

From what are seemingly the most common of elements — wood and string — the craftsman produces a violin. Of course, as any aficionado of string instruments can tell you, making a finely tuned violin is not so simple.

The skilled employees at Anniston’s Howard Core Co. tell us that converting wood and string into an instrument that makes beautiful music takes time, skill and tremendous effort. The types of wood must be precisely cataloged. Shaping and bending of the wood requires precision. The varieties of string capable of subtle differences number in the thousands. The types of lacquer applied to unfinished violins can make all the difference in sound and quality. Give a student a well-made violin, and he or she can hear the potential of their instrument. Give them a poorly made product and watch their enthusiasm crash and burn.

At McClellan’s JPA building on Tuesday the melodious sounds that filled the air were a living example of such artistic effort. The occasion was the formal vote by the JPA to enable Howard Core, a stringed instrument wholesaler and manufacturer known worldwide, to move from its current Anniston locale to buildings on the former military installation. In honor of the vote, a trio of musicians entertained the crowd with their violins.

Howard Core and its approximately three dozen employees will occupy a pair of buildings totaling 50,000 square feet, enough room for the company to grow. The firm’s Alex Weidner said Tuesday that once the facility is refurbished it will be "the finest setup shop in the world" for stringed instruments.

What Howard Core’s move represents is a significant piece of a larger orchestral work at McClellan. The conversation from military facility to new community is on its way. It too requires skill and effort. It takes various part of the community working in harmony to produce a wonderful arrangement, which is precisely what we are witnessing.

Various arts events have put a toehold at McClellan. Most prominent among them is the summer Music at McClellan series. Restaurants, businesses and people already call McClellan home. More will come. When they do they will come with the knowledge that the world-famous violin company Howard Core is in their midst.

Bob Davis

Editorial Page Editor

The Anniston Star

bdavis@annistonstar.com

256-235-3591

Fax: 256-241-1991