Sherlock's Violin

As all Sherlockians know, one of the strange (but good) habits Holmes has when on a case is scratching away at his violin. I believe it is referred to as being a Stradivarius, as pictured above.

This distinctive trait is one of my favorites. Being a music lover myself, I can see how it would help relieve stress and help him concentrate. Not to mention, violins are really beautiful instruments...to hear and see. It's much needed therapy for the detective, whose mind is constantly running. I really enjoy Watson's descriptions...it seems like he just...zones out, in the words of Grace...and "scrapes" away at it :D

Watson, after meeting Holmes and moving in with him, writes a nice long paragraph about Holmes' violin-playing habits that I really liked:

"I see that I have alluded above to his powers upon the violin. These were very remarkable, but as eccentric as all his other accomplishments. That he could play pieces, and difficult pieces, I knew well....Leaning back in his armchair of an evening, he would close his eyes and scrape carelessly at the fiddle which was thrown across his knee. Sometimes the chords were sonorous and melancholy. Occasionally they were fantastic and cheerful. Clearly they reflected the thoughts which possessed him, but whether the music aided those thoughts, or whether the playing was simply the result of a whim or fancy, was more than I could determine. I might have rebelled against these exasperating solos had it not been that he usually terminated them by playing in quick succession a whole series of my favourite airs as a slight compensation for the trial upon my patience."

- A Study in Scarlet

Then, two other times I found places where Watson comments on Holmes' violin habits:

"When I returned with the pistol, the table had been cleared, and Holmes was engaged in his favourite occupation of scraping upon his violin."

- A Study in Scarlet

"He took up his violin from the corner, and as I stretched myself out he began to play some low, dreamy, melodious air - his own, no doubt, for he had a remarkable gift for improvisation."

- The Sign of Four

It's very clear that Holmes loves music. Sometimes, he mentions that he is going to a concert, as he does very randomly in A Study in Scarlet. He comes home in a good mood after these outings, and is usually caught in a rare moment when he is willing to talk for quite some time about the concert itself.

Music, I believe, is the great detective's therapy - when the topic is mentioned, he is transformed into a different person. He needs his music to cope with the monotony of every day life (I think, as much as HE thinks he needs cocaine). In this way, I feel like I am somehow tied to Sherlock Holmes - we both love music, and need music. Without it, life would be a bore. Which I think he understands.

The inmitable Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes, "scraping at his violin" I had to do some major editing so I hope that picture looks as good as it does on my computer...It was very pixelly. lol