Lutherie
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FocusIn focus: c.1690 violin by Willem van der Sijde
Hubert De Launay takes a close look at a violin with full arching, unusually placed f-holes and a slender swan necked scroll
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News
Stradivari's forests: ongoing effort to salvage tonewood trees felled by storms
A factory in the Fiemme valley is asking luthiers and the public to buy IOUs so it can quadruple its processing capacity before the wood deteriorates
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Video
Making fine violins out of fungus-treated wood
In this video we hear from the researcher Francis Schwarze, who, together with a Swiss violin maker has treated wood used for instrument making with Physisporinus vitreus, a white-rot fungus that attacks and destroys certain structures in spruce, in order to build violins that sound as fine as antique masterpieces. ...
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Focus
Is it a real Stradivarius? How to check the authenticity and value of a violin
A reader has inherited an old Italian violin, in this case a Landolfi. In fact, finding a violin in a grandparent’s attic is some people’s first introduction to the stringed-instrument world. What’s the next step regarding authentication?
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Video
In the workshop with luthier Noémie Viaud
Violin maker Noémie Viaud in her workshop in Denmark, filmed by Nikolaj Lund. Viaud is featured in the Strad’s February 2019 ‘My Space’ column, discussing her workshop and career to date: ‘I’ve been based in Denmark for the past twelve years. I’m originally from France and learnt violin making ...
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Focus
In focus: the 'Sachs' Stradivari of c.1666
John Dilworth takes a close look at one of the very earliest violins attributable to Stradivari
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Focus
The thief, his wife and the 'Huberman' Strad
The ‘Gibson, Huberman’ Stradivari now owned by Joshua Bell has a history worthy of a blockbuster thriller. Stolen twice in the 20th century, the second time it remained undiscovered for nearly 50 years despite being played in public regularly by its thief. In this article from January 1998, Carla Shapreau ...
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News
William Watson, bow maker: 1930-2018
The Hill’s trained bow maker made a vital contribution to the trade during a long career, writes John Milnes
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Video
The most exotic violin woods
California-based electric violin maker John Jordan introduces us to some of his most exotic woods, ranging from the pricey Tasmanian tiger rose myrtle to the Swamp Kauri, which is dug up from bogs in New Zealand and is certified to be a minimum of 30000 years old. ...
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Focus
In focus: 1751 violin by G.B. Guadagnini
One of two by the maker owned by Adolph Brodsky, it has a good claim to being the one on which he premiered the Tchaikovsky concerto, writes Stewart Pollens
