Historical
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NewsDextra Musica presents an instrument Advent calendar
The Christmas calendar features instruments from the foundation’s extensive collection
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2024: 1742 ‘Lord Wilton’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin
Best known as Yehudi Menuhin’s instrument for much of his career, the violin is still in an excellent state of preservation
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NewsLost Guarneri documents resurface after nearly a century
Florian Leonhard shares some insights from recent investigations of a freshly re-discovered volume of archives, which mainly focus on the presence of Andrea Guarneri (1623-1698) and his sons
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2024: 1733 ‘Sassoon’ Antonio Stradivari violin
Made when the master luthier was 89 years old, it has plentiful, rich reddish-brown varnish
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Premium ❘ FeatureLuigi Mozzani: Renaissance Man
As a luthier, musician, composer, teacher and successful businessman, Luigi Mozzani spread his talents far and wide. Lorenzo Frignani examines his eventful career, which produced all kinds of instruments
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2024: 1737 ‘Panette’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin
For years the main instrument used by Isaac Stern, it is now in the hands of Renaud Capuçon.
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Premium ❘ FeatureFilippo de Filippi: From Vatican to varnish
The 19th-century violin maker Filippo de Filippi had an unusual route to his chosen career, taking in the Papal court, the Risorgimento and Rome’s cultural milieu. Stefano Pio explores his intriguing life
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2024: 1739 ‘Beatrice Harrison’ Pietro Guarneri of Venice cello
One of only five or six cellos made by the luthier, it was the British cellist’s principal performing instrument for many years
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2024: c.1580 Gasparo da Salò viola
One of the very few violas by the Brescian luthier that has never been cut down
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2024: 1737 ‘King Joseph’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin
Once considered the crowning achievement of Guarneri’s career, this instrument has pristine golden-orange varnish
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Premium ❘ FeatureGerman bow makers in America: Across the Atlantic
Many, if not most, of the earliest bow makers working in America originally hailed from Germany. Raphael Gold discovers how they helped lay the foundations for the industry
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2024: 1740 ‘Fritz Kreisler’ Carlo Bergonzi violin
One of the finest existing examples of Bergonzi’s work, the instrument still retains its original neck
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2024: 1713 ‘Bass of Spain’ Antonio Stradivari cello
An extraordinary instrument by the master luthier, with an even more incredible provenance
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2024: 1709 ‘La Pucelle’ Antonio Stradivari violin
Considered to be the first instrument made during the master luthier’s ‘golden period’, the violin is in an excellent state of preservation
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NewsCremona Museo del Violino dedicates room to Simone Sacconi
The influential Italian luthier and scholar died 50 years ago at the age of 78
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Premium ❘ FeatureNorwegian Wood: The history of the Hardanger fiddle
Regarded as Norway’s national instrument, the Hardanger fiddle is the product of a long evolution beginning in medieval times. Wiebke Lüders presents a history of the instrument’s development, profiling some of the most notable artisans
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2024: 1676 ‘Conte Vitale’ Andrea Guarneri viola
The ‘Conte Vitale’ is one of only two instruments in the collection to have retained its original neck
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2024: 1715 ‘Baron Knoop’ Antonio Stradivari violin
The favourite instrument of collector David L. Fulton, for whom its tone is ’silvery with lots of “sizzle”’
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2024: 1698 ‘Shapiro’ Pietro Guarneri of Mantua violin
The first fine instrument ever bought by collector David L. Fulton is a genuine rarity
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Premium ❘ FeatureIn Focus: an 1870 Ludovico Rastelli violin
Alberto Giordano takes a look at a violin by the Italian maker