Nick Fitzgerald Plays Authentic 18th Century Violin:
Senior Nick Fitzgerald bought this baroque violin on eBay.
Photo by Stephen Salpukas
Rockin' It Colonial Style
W&M Music Ensemble keeps it real (old).
William and Mary's Early Music Ensemble brings medieval, renaissance and baroque music into the mainstream. But until Nick Fitzgerald arrived on the scene, the hurdy-gurdies, lutes and sackbuts on campus were all reproductions. Nick, a self-described "baroque music snob" and business major, broke all of his own rules and bought a real 18th-century violin on eBay.
"It really is a work of art," said Fitzgerald. "It really is much more than an instrument, and to know that it's that old is kind of cool. It's not something that everybody has."
The old-school instrument debuted at performances of the Early Music Ensemble during the fall 2007 semester. Ruth van Baak Griffioen, an adjunct professor of music and director of the ensemble, has worked with early music students for 30 years. Though many of her student musicians have reproduction instruments, Nick is the first student to bring in the real thing.
Ruth said that the authentic instrument just adds to the experience that the ensemble provides.
"There's just a thrill in knowing that this instrument is as old as the music that we're playing and almost as old as the buildings we are lucky enough to play in here in Williamsburg," she said.
