I am trying to track the origins of my violin. My mother bought it for me when I was still in school in Mauritius. She used to go to Loretto Convent Port-louis, and had a friend there called Monique Bassy, whose father played music at the Immaculée Church in Port-Louis. Her father taught her to play the violin, and my mum and her classmates admired her for this.
The school attended a music concert at the Port-Louis Theatre one day, and Monique Bassy fell in love with Herbert Barnes, who played in the police band. They had a full-blown love affair and Herbert eventually left his wife to live with Monique.
Subsequently, Monique passed away from cancer, and when I got interested in playing the violin, my mother thought of Monique and called Herbert to see if maybe she could buy Monique's violin. But Herbert did not want to sell, but suggested two sisters who lived in Rose-Hill, who may have a violin to sell.
I remember visiting them with my mother, and seem to recall that one of the sisters played the cello, and the other played the violin; but she was having problems with her left wrist, and could not play the violin anymore. That was why she was selling it. She also gave us some sheet music. This is what I remember.
If anyone out there knows the name of the two sisters and more information on the violin, please let me know. :-)
Thanks.
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