Lutherie
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FocusThe Cello Maker: Robin Aitchison
The Academy of Ancient Music has produced this film exploring the craft of cello maker Robin Aitchison, focusing on his copies of instruments by Stradivari, Montagnana and Guadagnini. The film is the first in a series called Breaking Down Baroque to be released by the Academy of Ancient Music ...
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Focus
In focus: 1675 violin by Francesco Rugeri
In this article from the December 2014 issue, Fausto Cacciatori takes a close look at a fine example of a rather enigmatic maker with links to Nicolò Amati
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News
Nicolò Gagliano violin stolen in Berlin
A violin by Nicolò Gagliano made in Naples in 1769 was stolen without its case in Berlin on 11 March
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Focus
In focus: c.1690 violin by Willem van der Sijde
Hubert De Launay takes a close look at a violin with full arching, unusually placed f-holes and a slender swan necked scroll
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News
Stradivari's forests: ongoing effort to salvage tonewood trees felled by storms
A factory in the Fiemme valley is asking luthiers and the public to buy IOUs so it can quadruple its processing capacity before the wood deteriorates
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Video
Making fine violins out of fungus-treated wood
In this video we hear from the researcher Francis Schwarze, who, together with a Swiss violin maker has treated wood used for instrument making with Physisporinus vitreus, a white-rot fungus that attacks and destroys certain structures in spruce, in order to build violins that sound as fine as antique masterpieces. ...
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Focus
Is it a real Stradivarius? How to check the authenticity and value of a violin
A reader has inherited an old Italian violin, in this case a Landolfi. In fact, finding a violin in a grandparent’s attic is some people’s first introduction to the stringed-instrument world. What’s the next step regarding authentication?
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Video
In the workshop with luthier Noémie Viaud
Violin maker Noémie Viaud in her workshop in Denmark, filmed by Nikolaj Lund. Viaud is featured in the Strad’s February 2019 ‘My Space’ column, discussing her workshop and career to date: ‘I’ve been based in Denmark for the past twelve years. I’m originally from France and learnt violin making ...
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Focus
Jacob Stainer: Micro-CT analysis of top-block and pins
In the April 2019 issue of The Strad, Rudolf Hopfner explains how the neck root and top-block of a Jacob Stainer violin made after 1650 gives insights into his working methods – and solves a mystery about the maker’s training in the process. This video, made up of hundreds ...
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Focus
In focus: the 'Sachs' Stradivari of c.1666
John Dilworth takes a close look at one of the very earliest violins attributable to Stradivari
