All Historical articles – Page 9
-
Premium ❘ Focus
Making Matters: Her dark materials
Why do so many violins from German-speaking countries in the later 18th century have such dark varnish? Michel Lorge advances a theory that makes no assumptions about the luthiers’ abilities
-
Premium ❘ Focus
In Focus: A c.1870 viola by Niels Larsen Winther
Jens Stenz looks at the Danish luthier’s instrument
-
News
Violin dealer and expert Norman Rosenberg has died
The London-based dealer was a respected authority on stringed instruments and an occasional contributor to The Strad
-
News
Foundation 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
-
Focus
In Focus: A vihuela de arco
Pablo Soriano explores this mysterious vihuela de arco found in Spain
-
Premium ❘ Feature
Making 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
-
News
Violin maker Jacek Wesołowski has died
Luthier Andrew Fairfax pays tribute to his friend and colleague, who died in October 2021 aged 43
-
Premium ❘ Article
Auction 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
-
Premium ❘ Feature
Making 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
-
News
Luthier Marten Cornelissen has died
The Dutch-born craftsman made more than 600 instruments during his lifetime
-
News
New registry for fine instruments launched
The Si-Yo Fine Instrument Registry will store and update information on the musical treasures of the past
-
Focus
The 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
-
Focus
The 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
-
Premium ❘ Feature
Historical 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
-
Premium ❘ Feature
Double 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
-
Focus
The Strad Calendar 2022: G.B. Guadagnini cello 1750
The Guadagnini cello has intense deep reddish-brown varnish to spare
-
Premium ❘ Feature
Double 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
-
Focus
Alchemy 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
-
Premium ❘ Feature
Wood treatment: Choosing resonant wood
Rémy Gug examines a method of selecting wood for making instruments. From January 1991
-
Focus
The 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