All Historical articles – Page 6
-
Premium ❘ FeatureThe Lost Art of Cremonese Violin Archings
The old Cremonese luthiers’ method of designing violin archings has been lost in the mists of time. Andrew Dipper uses evidence from 18th-century manuals to propose how they might have done it, through a system encompassing string lengths, internal forms… and a lot of mathematics
-
Video
The Strad Calendar 2021: G.B. Guadagnini cello 1783
Formerly owned by Rostropovich, the fully arched model provides great depth of tone
-
Video
The Strad Calendar 2021: Tommaso Balestrieri violin 1759
The Balestrieri has a fine and well-preserved covering of rich red-brown varnish, which has worn softly in the manner of Cremonese recipes
-
Premium ❘ Feature
Giuseppe Ceruti: In the name of the father
The Cremonese luthier Giuseppe Ceruti is often overlooked in favour of his more famous son, Enrico. Duane Rosengard examines two matching double basses by Giuseppe to discover the secrets of his making style
-
Premium ❘ Feature
Pride of Norway: The Strad calendar 2021
The Strad’s 2021 Calendar celebrates 15 years since the start of the Dextra Musica foundation, whose instrument collection has swiftly become one of the finest in the world. Unlike many other valuable collections, these instruments are in daily use. John Dilworth highlights some of the treasures
-
Premium ❘ Feature
In Focus: An 1899 cello by Paul Blanchard
Written by Philip Brown and Kathrin Hügel
-
Gallery
My Space: Violin workshops around the world
Some of the most photogenic workspaces to have graced The Strad’s pages in the past few years
-
-
Premium ❘ Feature
Lutherie in Mexico: Adapting to Change
The history of stringed instrument making in Mexico is one of adaptability and innovation. Pablo Alfaro and Jaime G. González show how European arts and crafts were rapidly adopted by the indigenous people, and how the 20th century saw more creativity than ever
-
Video
Ray Chen compares a $69 factory-made violin with a $10m Stradivari
’Even on the open strings you can tell the difference. The Strad has this resonance, clarity and warmth’ Violinist Ray Chen compares a $69 factory-made violin with the 1735 ’Samazeuilh’ Stradivari violin worth around $10m. Watch: Ray Chen: What do you do when your E-string breaks in a ...
-
Premium ❘ Feature
Stradivari violin ‘Benecke’: Unconventional Beauty
The 1694 ‘Benecke’ violin is a masterpiece of Stradivari’s ‘Long Pattern’. Andrea Zanrè and Rudolf Hopfner take a look at this exquisite example, detailing its provenance and revealing what CT scans can tell us about its construction
-
Premium ❘ Feature
Vihuela de Arco: Unlocking the secrets of the past
A popular instrument of the Middle Ages, the vihuela de arco is only known today from contemporary references and pictures. Javier Martínez explains its significance in the history of bowed instruments, and debunks some of the myths surrounding it
-
-
Focus
A genuine Amati or a clever fake?
Could the cello shown here be one of the eight ‘bass violins’ ordered by Catherine de’ Medici for the court of Charles IX of France? Luthier Filip Kuijken explores the known history of the instrument and considers whether it could be an original Andrea Amati – or a clever fake ...
-
Premium ❘ Article
Auction report: June 2020
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, sales continued at the London auction houses in March. Kevin MacDonald gives a tour of the highlights
-
Premium ❘ Feature
In Focus: A c.1930 violin by Annibalotto Fagnola
Philip Brown examines an instrument by the Turin violin maker
-
Premium ❘ Feature
Napoleonic Bows: French Connections
Several violin, viola and cello bows still survive from the Imperial Court Orchestra of Napoleon III. Gennady Filimonov examines their history, and provides evidence that the so-called ‘Napoleonic-type bows’ originated with the first Emperor rather than the third
-
Premium ❘ Feature
An Amati Mystery
Could the cello shown here be one of the eight ‘bass violins’ ordered by Catherine de’ Medici for the court of Charles IX of France? Luthier Filip Kuijken explores the known history of the instrument and considers whether it could be an original Andrea Amati – or a clever fake ...
-
Focus
We are living in a golden age of violin making - but where do we go from here?
Philip Kass takes stock of the violin making industry, and identifies highlights and challenges - aside from the current threat posed by Covid-19
-
Article
Tabea Zimmermann on playing Beethoven’s viola
The German violist speaks to Amanda Holloway about recording on the historic instrument in The Strad’s May 2020 issue
![4b C.W.KnopfViolaBowFerrule[12337]](https://dnan0fzjxntrj.cloudfront.net/Pictures/100x67//9/8/9/17989_4bc.w.knopfviolabowferrule12337_802362.jpg)
