“Ships become obsolete; fine furs are ravaged by moths, faded by the sun, worn by rubbing against show cases; garments go out of style; the gold watch grandfather handed down is replaced by a thin one. Change and decay is all around—except in violins. Death rarely comes to the violin.” 

So wrote Arland Weeks in 1929, in The Scientific Monthly.

Dr Laura Case gives Andy a potted history of the violin in Australia, from 1788 to 1914 – and beyond. It's a history of class and gender lines in the colony but it's also about how the violin has been an instrument of both assimilation and resistance by First Nations violinists.

Music at the start of the show:

Title: Etude No. 1Composer: Rodolphe KreutzerArtist: Elizabeth WallfischAlbum: 40 EtudesLabel: CPO

Title: Sonata No. 4 in A minor, Op. 23; No. 3; i. PrestoComposer: Ludwig Van BeethovenArtist: Elizabeth Wallfisch, David BreitmanAlbum: Beethoven: The Sonatas for violin & fortepiano Nos. 1-5Label: Nimbus

Title: The Highlandman SetComposer: trad.Artist: Chris DuncanAlbum: Fyvie’s EmbraceLabel: ANC Music

Title: Was There Anything I Could Do? Composer: The Go-BetweensArtist: The Go-BetweensAlbum: 16 Lovers LaneLabel: Mushroom

Title: Biamanga Juxtaposed, Sound of Past with Future; ii. Ancient ImprovComposer: Eric AveryArtist: Eric Avery, Ensemble OffspringAlbum: Biamanga JuxtaposedLabel: ABC Classic

Music in the interview with Laura:

Title: Duos Op. 64; No. 1; B.509 – iii. Adagio - CantabileComposer: Ignaz Josef Pleyel Artist: Indira Gonzalez, Emmanuel SiffertAlbum: 6 Duos, Op. 64Label: VDE-Gallo

Title: High Road to LintonComposer: TradArtist: Sharon ShannonAlbum: The Winkles TapesLabel: Kata Songs

Title: Maritana, Act 1: Opening ChorusComposer: William Vincent WallaceArtist: RTE Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra, Proinnsias O DuinnAlbum: MaritanaLabel: Naxos

Title: Violin Sonata No. 8 in G major; Op. 30, No. 3; iii. Allegro vivaceComposer: Ludwig Van BeethovenArtist: Anne-Sophie MutterAlbum: Beethoven: The Violin SonatasLabel: Deutsche Grammophon

Title: Hermit of Killarney & The Black Cat Piddled in the White Cat’s EyePerformed live in studio by Dr Laura Case

Title: Biamanga Juxtaposed, Sound of Past and Future; iii. Eagle and CrowComposer: Eric AveryArtist: Eric Avery, Ensemble OffspringAlbum: Biamanga JuxtaposedLabel: ABC Classic

Music at the end of the show: 

Title: Go To Sleep (The Legend Of Ŋamini Baŋ’ Baŋ’)Artist: Andrew Gurruwiwi BandAlbum: Sing Your Own SongLabel: Independent release

Technical production by Nathan Turnbull. 

The Music Show is made on Gadigal and Gundungurra Country.