Response By
Simone Luti
Guy Lombardo’s Violin, early 1900s
various materials Collection of Museum London
This violin was owned by London-born Guy Lombardo (1902-1977), leader of the popular big-band group the Royal Canadians. Lombardo’s 1929 rendition of “Auld Lang Syne” continues to be the first song of the New Year in Manhattan’s Times Square.
Response
A violin in its case. In case it’s a violin.
In case it’s a fiddle, should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Fiddle! Play! Reach out!
Seas between us roar now more than ever,
and now more than ever
I want to fiddle a gentle melody,
to reach my brother, on the other side of the bridge.
There is a hand, my trusty friend.
keep the case open, then!
Let the violin play.
In case it’s a violin.
Simone Luti is an orchestral conductor and pianist, originally from Lucca, in Tuscany, Italy. He has conducted orchestras around the world, including in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Albania, Romania, England, the United States. He is Music Director and Conductor of both Western University’s Symphony Orchestra and Opera Program.