All Lutherie articles – Page 2
-
Focus
The Strad Calendar 2025: 1717 ‘Windsor, Weinstein’ Stradivari violin
The first Stradivari violin to be given to the Canada Council’s Musical Instrument Bank, it remains in top-class condition
-
Premium ❘ Feature
Making Matters: Speed of sound in bow wood
Why is it that a violin’s sound quality can change so radically with a different bow? Massimo Lucchi explains the principle behind the speed of sound in bow wood
-
Premium ❘ Feature
Five generations of the Weidhaas–Finkel bow making dynasty
Gennady Filimonov continues his survey of the great 20th-century German bow makers with a look at the Weidhaas–Finkel dynasty, which now boasts five generations in the profession
-
Focus
The Strad Calendar 2025: 1730 ‘Newland’ Giovanni Francesco Celoniato cello
One of only eight cellos known to be made by the Turin-based luthier, it is named after Canadian cellist Christine Newland
-
Blogs
Scottish luthier Robert Duncan and the Joseph Ruddiman London connection
David Rattray examines a firm link between the Aberdeen and London schools of lutherie in the 18th century
-
Blogs
How to photograph violins: Tarisio’s Robert Bailey speaks to the VSA
The auction house’s head photographer gives details on his camera set-up, lighting, studio layout and the different requirements of front, side, back and scroll shots
-
News
Winners announced at 2024 VSA instrument making competition
Bow makers Victor Bernard and Emmanuel Carlier were named ‘hors concours’ members, while Canadian luthier Fabienne Gauchet received a double gold for quartet - for the second time
-
Feature
Life as a violin maker in 16th-century Venice: an exclusive look
In the December 2024 issue we examine the history of the Linarol dynasty, one of the first violin making families in Venice. Here, Stefano Pio provides some context as to the 16th-century environment in which they worked, as well as a semantic discussion on the terms ‘viole’ and ‘lire’ ...
-
Blogs
Violin trivia: Can you beat the VSA’s top brains?
Test your violin knowledge with some of the questions from the VSA convention’s Trivia Night on Monday 18 November
-
Blogs
Where the wood came from: Peter Ratcliff speaks to the VSA
The British dendrochronology expert explains his latest research, revealing how wood from one source can appear in centuries-old instruments made thousands of miles apart
-
Video
Jordan Bak plays the ‘Silver Leaf Fiddle’ by Andrew Carruthers
The unusual violin is currently on display at the ‘New Instrument Exhibit’, part of the Violin Society of America’s 2024 convention in Indianapolis
-
Focus
The Strad Calendar 2025: 1820 Giovanni Francesco Pressenda violin
Possibly the first instrument ever made by Pressenda, it boasts a two-piece back of slightly burled quarter-cut maple
-
Blogs
Violin Society of America’s 50th convention kicks off in Indianapolis
Exhibitions, lectures and demonstrations were all in evidence on the first day of proceedings
-
Premium ❘ Feature
Merchants of Venice: Venetian lutherie
In the 16th century, the Republic of Venice was a hotbed of innovation for stringed instrument makers – and the members of the Linarol family were at the heart of the trade. Stefano Pio explores the archives to reveal their fascinating and often colourful lives and careers
-
News
Scotland’s oldest surviving cello to be heard in public for the first time since the 18th century
The 1756 cello by Robert Duncan, which once belonged to a fierce opponent of the slave trade, will take to the stage in a performance at the University of Aberdeen on 22 November
-
Focus
The Strad Calendar 2025: c.1696 ‘Bonjour’ Antonio Stradivari cello
A beautiful instrument with plentiful red–brown varnish, it has been played by Robert Cohen, Martin Lovett and others
-
Focus
The Strad Calendar 2025: 1747 ‘Palmason’ Gennaro Gagliano violin
Named for Canadian violinist Pearl Palmason, the violin has a back of one piece of maple with broad figure
-
News
New exhibition of Count Cozio di Salabue drawings to open in Cremona
The collection of manuscripts by the 19th-century Italian violin connoisseur is to be preserved for future study
-
Premium ❘ Feature
Trade Secrets: Making a wooden peg shaper
A method for creating a model with an interchangeable blade
-
Premium ❘ Feature
My Space: Yam Uri Raz’s Hawai’i workshop
The maker shows us around his shop in the city of Hilo