All Historical articles – Page 12
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NewsFoundation launched to renovate Antonio Stradivari’s house
Founded by violinist Fabrizio von Arx, the Casa Stradivari Foundation aims to reopen the house and workshop by November 2022
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FocusIn Focus: A vihuela de arco
Pablo Soriano explores this mysterious vihuela de arco found in Spain
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Premium ❘ FeatureMaking Matters: The price is right
Could a skilled violinist born around 1700 have afforded a new Stradivari violin? Wenjie Cai and Hwan-Ching Tai examine the economics of Baroque music making, and find that the answer is yes
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NewsViolin maker Jacek Wesołowski has died
Luthier Andrew Fairfax pays tribute to his friend and colleague, who died in October 2021 aged 43
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Premium ❘ ArticleAuction Report: January 2022
The autumn sales saw a newcomer take the stage, in the form of Tarisio’s Berlin sale room. Kevin MacDonald reports on some of the highlights in London and Germany
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Premium ❘ FeatureMaking Matters: Seeing in a different light
Andreas Hudelmayer and Andreas Hampel conclude their two-part investigation into the use of UV light by examining its use in varnish drying – and offer tips on using it effectively
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NewsLuthier Marten Cornelissen has died
The Dutch-born craftsman made more than 600 instruments during his lifetime
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NewsNew registry for fine instruments launched
The Si-Yo Fine Instrument Registry will store and update information on the musical treasures of the past
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FocusThe double basses of Domenico Busan
Busan was an assistant to Matteo Gofriller, the first maker of what is unambiguously a double bass. Here, Thomas Martin, George Martin and Martin Lawrence compare the styles of the two makers
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2022: Antonio Stradivari violin c.1716 ‘Paul Godwin’
One notable feature of the Stradivari is the angled grain when looking at the side of the scroll
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Premium ❘ FeatureHistorical lutherie methods: Salts of wisdom
Remy Gug examines the treatment of wood described in several manuals of the 16th to 18th centuries, in this article from July 1987
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Premium ❘ FeatureDouble Bassist magazine: Matteo Gofriller c.1708 bass
Barrie Kolstein marvels at a magnificent 18th-century instrument by Matteo Gofriller, in this feature from the Autumn 2001 issue of our now-discontinued sister publication, Double Bassist
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2022: G.B. Guadagnini cello 1750
The Guadagnini cello has intense deep reddish-brown varnish to spare
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Premium ❘ FeatureDouble Bassist magazine: The Master’s Voice - Bottesini's bass
Made in 1716 by Carlo Antonio Testore, this stylish double bass was once the companion of Giovanni Bottesini. Stefan Krattenmacher examines the instrument and its history, in this Summer 2000 article from our now-discontinued sister publication, Double Bassist
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FocusAlchemy and wood treatment in Cremonese instruments
Wenjie Cai and Hwan-Ching Tai discuss the possible influence of alchemy in Cremonese wood treatment, in this extract from the December 2021 issue
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Premium ❘ FeatureWood treatment: Choosing resonant wood
Rémy Gug examines a method of selecting wood for making instruments. From January 1991
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2022: Michele Angelo Bergonzi violin c.1750
Bergonzi used plain maple for the ribs but opted for a beech scroll with widely projected eyes
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Premium ❘ FeatureDouble Bassist magazine: The Merchant of Venice
Taken from our now-discontinued sister magazine, Double Bassist, this Winter 1996 article sees Barrie Kolstein admiring a beautiful bass by the maligned 18th-century luthier Francesco Gofriller
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Premium ❘ FeatureLutherie in the US: An American Dream
Violin making in the US was built on the aspirations of a few woodworkers with talent – and in two centuries it has evolved into a multimillion-dollar industry. Ahead of the publication of a new book, The American Violin, co-author Philip Kass traces the advancement of American lutherie and shows ...
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2022: Gennaro Gagliano cello 1734
The Gagliano scroll is a perfect example of the Neapolitan style
