All Historical articles – Page 21
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Premium ❘ FeatureNorthern double bass makers: Northern lights
The 19th century witnessed a thriving double bass making scene in the Manchester area of England. This northern school, which had its own distinct style points, flourished for a longer time than its southern counterpart, as Thomas Martin, Martin Lawrence and George Martin explain
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VideoBrian Paul Benning plays a 1997 Viola d’amore
Brian Paul Benning - Artist-in-Residence at the 65-year-old family-run business Benning Violins in Los Angeles, California - plays a Viola d’amore crafted by violinmaker Eric Benning in 1997.
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Premium ❘ FeatureIn focus: a 1782 cello by William Forster II
Bradley Strauchen-Scherer examines an instrument from Britain’s foremost dynasty of violin and cello makers
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FocusIn focus: the 1728 'Milanollo' Stradivari
Roger Hargrave examines the Stradivari ‘Milanollo’ violin of 1728, one of the few of the master’s instruments to keep its original sharpness
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VideoPaganini's 'Il Cannone' violin played in Columbus, Ohio
This clip from the Columbus Dispatch shows Columbus Symphony concertmaster Joanna Frankel trying out ‘Il Cannone’, Paganini’s favourite violin, during its weeklong stay at the Columbus Museum of Art. The violin, made in 1743 by Guarneri ‘Del Gesù’, was nicknamed ‘Il Cannone’ (the cannon) by Paganini because of its power ...
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FocusJascha Heifetz – champion of modern violins
Dario Sarlo reveals a lesser-known passion of the great violinist, and how it led him to start his own lutherie competition
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VideoPaganini's violin arrives in Columbus, Ohio
This clip from WCMH news in Columbus, Ohio, shows ‘Il Cannone’, Paganini’s favourite violin, arriving for a weeklong stay at the Columbus Museum of Art. The violin, made in 1743 by Guarneri ‘Del Gesù’, was nicknamed ‘Il Cannone’ (the cannon) by Paganini because of its power and projection. It will ...
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Premium ❘ FeatureForms of mystery
Andrea Zanrè and Philip Ihle conclude their examination of Stradivari’s moulds, with the aid of micro-CT imaging by Rudolf Hopfner, by exploring whether the Cremonese master may have used more than the twelve forms that survive in the Museo del Violino
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Premium ❘ FeatureInside information
Very often neglected, the chamfers of a bow head can give intimate clues as to a maker’s working style and personal characteristics. Anton Lu and Dai-Ting Chung compare and contrast bows from the Baroque era to the present day
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FocusLooking after Paganini’s ‘Il Cannone’ violin
Entrusted with the task of conserving one of the world’s most valuable violins, Bruce Carlson has made it easier to play, while taking it closer to how it would have looked to Paganini. In this article first published in 2004, he explains
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Premium ❘ FeatureIn focus: c.1870 viola by Carl Mettus Weis
Jens Stenz examines a c.1870 viola by the Danish maker
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Premium ❘ NewsTop lots from the London sales
A record-breaking Gofriller and possibly the oldest British viola drew Kevin MacDonald’s attention in the March auctions
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NewsHome visit for Cremonese instruments from US National Music Museum
The Museo del Violino prepares to welcome instruments by Stradivari, the Amatis and others from collection housed in Vermillion, South Dakota
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FocusIn 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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FocusIn 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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FocusIn focus: 1751 violin by G.B. Guadagnini
One of two by the maker owned by Adolph Brodsky, it has a good claim to being the one on which he premiered the Tchaikovsky concerto, writes Stewart Pollens
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DebateWhy musicians should appeal against the ivory act
Benjamin Hebbert on the ethical tightrope of campaigning for exemptions to the Ivory Act while supporting its aim to put a stop to the slaughter of elephants
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FocusIn focus: c.1737 cello by G.F. Celoniato
From a Turinese maker with a relatively short but successful career, from which only a handful of instruments survive, comes this elegant cello. Article by Simon Morris
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VideoFrank Peter Zimmermann talks violins
In this video, Frank Peter Zimmermann describes what it means to have a long-term relationship with your instrument, and how you know which violin is right for you.



























