Historical
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ArticleA family tree of Italian violin makers
This illustrated representation of violin making in Italy first appeared in The Strad’s August 1891 issue
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News
Sheku Kanneh-Mason loaned 1700 Gofriller cello
The instrument ‘presents a kaleidoscope of tonal qualities’ and ’has an uncanny capacity to respond’ according to the cellist
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Knopf dynasty: A tangled web
Three bow makers of the Knopf family are well known: Christian Wilhelm, Heinrich and Henry. But the dynasty comprises more than a dozen members, many of whom deserve recognition. Gennady Filimonov draws on archive material supplied by the Knopf descendants
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Vincenzo Postiglione: Fair copies
Vincenzo Postiglione was one of Naples’ leading instrument makers in the late 19th century, and his work is well represented in its Conservatory of Music. Luigi Sisto examines two copies of instruments by Mariani and Gofriller, to find what they reveal about his making style
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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
Violin found in attic identified as Guarneri ‘filius Andreae’
Dendrochronology study confirmed the date of the wood on the basis of a WhatsApp photo
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Focus
‘Is $16 million for a violin too much to pay? Not these days’
In this excerpt from his new book Big Notes: How A Stradivarius Makes Money and Music, author and conductor John Axelrod considers why old Italian instruments can command such high prices
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Azzo Rovescalli: The cream of Crema
The city of Crema has a unique violin making tradition, and Azzo Rovescalli was its most prominent maker in the 20th century – even though it never made him rich. Lorenzo Frignani and Vittorio Formaggia examine his life and work, along with the instruments of his sons
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Song of the gut string makers
In 1877, Markneukirchen in Germany was at the heart of the world’s string making industry. The townsfolk were so proud, they even composed a drinking song all about it. Kai Köpp explains what the lyrics (translated into English for the first time) reveal about this convoluted process
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News
French luthier Philippe Dupuy dies aged 88
The grandson of Eugène Sartory, Dupuy was an accomplished violin maker and author in his own right
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Blogs
Desmond Cecil: my search for the perfect violin
Excerpt from Desmond Cecil’s newly published memoir: ‘The Wandering Civil Servant of Stradivarius’
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Article
A beginner’s guide to identifying a Stradivarius
Figuring out the maker of an unknown violin takes a trained eye and a detective’s skill, says luthier John Dilworth . Here he gives his personal perspective on the clues and processes of elimination that help experts pinpoint an instrument’s origins.
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Ludwig Bausch: Gone… but not forgotten
Respected during his lifetime, Ludwig Bausch was almost unknown just a few years after his death – and his bows were considered unremarkable junk. Josef P. Gabriel reveals why the maker and his family were almost lost to history, and why his work deserves to be listed among the greats ...
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Focus
Steven Staryk on violins and bows as investments
The former concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw and Chicago Symphony Orchestra, among other ensembles, shares his thoughts on the value of violins and bows as investments
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Lutherie Dynasties: a family affair
In this globalised era, there are still many families that keep up their strong lutherie traditions, with parents passing on their secrets and skills to the next generation. Peter Somerford asks how such formative influences can affect their craft, for better or for worse
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Steven Staryk on being a virtuoso violin collector
The former concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw and Chicago Symphony Orchestra, among other ensembles, shares examples of virtuoso violinists who were also virtuoso violin collectors
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Francesca Dego: chance of a lifetime
For Italian violinist Francesca Dego, the opportunity to perform and record on Paganini’s ‘Il Cannone’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ of 1743 was a dream come true. She shares with Tom Stewart her experiences with the rarely accessed instrument – which came complete with security guards and its own dressing room
