All Historical articles – Page 5
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Premium ❘ FeatureNewark School of Violin Making: Fifty years young
The Strad looks back on 50 years of the UK’s best-known institution for lutherie and the many well-known names who have passed through its doors as students
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The hidden treasures of Pietro Guarneri of Mantua
Pietro Guarneri of Mantua was an undisputed master luthier, even though very few examples of his work remain. Andrea Zanrè examines three ‘violettas’ that until now have been overlooked
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Blogs
Newark School of Violin Making: The early days
The UK’s Newark School of Violin Making celebrates its 50th anniversary in September 2022. Luthier Adam Whone, one of its very first students, recalls the learning environment he discovered, aged 16, and the three years of tuition at the school
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‘Interventions led to an almost total removal or retouching of the original materials’ - Comparing three 1734 Guarneris
Giacomo Fiocco explains the technical methods used to analyse a trio of 1734 Guarneris
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Revealing Sartory's secrets: A look at one of the 20th century's finest bow makers
Often called the finest bow maker of the 20th century, Eugène Sartory was a fastidious artisan whose work shows efficiency and reliability. Richard Morency examines a bow from Sartory’s middle period to reveal his working methods
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Review
Book review: The Luthier’s Manual by J.C. Maugin
Andrew Dipper delves into a new translation of the 19th-century treatise by John Saucier, W. Brad Holley and Kate Rickenbacker
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In Focus: An 1875 viola by Domenico Degani
Ernst Fuchs details an instrument by the accomplished maker, now best-known as the father of Eugenio Degani
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News
Scottish violin maker Brian Rattray dies aged 83
The luthier ran a successful workshop in Colinton, on the outskirts of Edinburgh
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François-Nicolas Voirin: The Second Tourte
The bows of François-Nicolas Voirin had more influence than those of any other bow maker after F.X. Tourte. In the first of two articles, Matt Wehling explores Voirin’s life and career, and examines why his bows were so successful with players
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News
‘Hellier’ Stradivari violin fails to sell at auction
The inlaid instrument was a highlight of Christie’s ’Exceptional Sale’ on 7 July
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Article
Deconstructing the Andrea Amati ‘King’ cello
In an article from June 2015, Matthew Zeller examines five centuries of alterations made to the world’s oldest cello, housed at the National Music Museum in Vermillion, South Dakota, and asks what they reveal about the evolution and development of the standard cello form
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Gallery
In Focus: a 1622 Brothers Amati Cello
In this article from the Strad’s June 2014 issue, Christopher Reuning examines an elegant masterpiece of delicacy and strength
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Focus
From the Archive: Andrea Amati, 1564 ‘Charles IX’ violin from the Ashmolean Museum collection
In this extract from an article from the December 1991 issue of The Strad, Roger Hargrave discusses the ‘Charles IX’ Andrea Amati instruments with particular reference to this 1564 example from the Hill collection at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford
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Feature
In Focus: a 1682 violin by Nicolò Amati
Precision and elegance abound in this grand pattern Amati once owned by the Italian virtuoso Spagnoletti, writes Christopher Reuning
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In Focus: A c.1680 double bass by Girolamo Amati II
René Zaal details an instrument by the son of the more well-known Nicolò Amati, and the grandson of his namesake Girolamo Amati I
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Focus
In focus: the ‘Sachs’ Stradivari violin of c.1666
John Dilworth takes a close look at one of the very earliest violins attributable to Stradivari
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News
Australian Chamber Orchestra acquires ‘ex-Dollfus’ Stradivari violin
The 1732 instrument will be played by ACO principal violin Helena Rathbone
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News
Stradivari’s c.1679 ‘Hellier’ violin to be sold at auction
The inlaid instrument will go under the hammer at Christie’s London on 7 July 2022
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Baroque Set-up: In a Land without Rules
With the growth in popularity of historically informed performance, more players are requesting Baroque-style instruments – but the process of converting an instrument is fraught with uncertainty. Sarah Peck presents an overview of the Baroque set-up process, and corrects some common misconceptions along the way
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Premium ❘ Article
Auction Report: June 2022
Kevin MacDonald finds some unusual offerings, including an interesting quartet of bows, at the capital’s March auctions
