All lutherie articles
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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’ ...
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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
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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
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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
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News
Violin maker Ansaldo Poggi to be celebrated in new exhibition
One of the most highly regarded Italian luthiers of the 20th century, he was an apprentice of Giuseppe Fiorini
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Review
Book review: Violin Makers in Naples from the 17th Century
Christian Lloyd reads Ernesto de Angelis’s treatise on Neapolitan lutherie, now translated into English for the first time
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Focus
New in at The Strad Shop: The Best of Trade Secrets 6
The Strad’s latest collection of articles on all aspects of stringed instrument making and restoration
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Review
Book review: Polish Violin in the Musée de la Musique in Paris
Philip Brown reads through Jan Bartoś’ investigation into a mysterious instrument in the Paris museum’s collection, revealing the details that prove its Polish origins
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Premium ❘ Feature
Scarampella and Gadda: The art of the deal
Signed 100 years ago, an agreement between luthier Stefano Scarampella and his apprentice Gaetano Gadda has recently been discovered. Philip Kass explains how it shines a light on the business relationship between two of Mantua’s leading 20th-century makers
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Review
Book review: Liuteria Romagnola
Andrea Zanrè reviews Leonardo Cella’s book on ’Violin Making in Romagna: Masters, disciples and followers in the second half of the 20th century’
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News
Winners announced at the Paris International Violin Making Competition
Held from 17 to 21 January 2024, prizes were awarded to professional luthiers and up-and-coming student violin makers
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Premium ❘ Feature
Analysing the ‘Boissier, Sarasate’: Stradivari à la mode
George Stoppani presents the results of an investigation into the acoustics of the ‘Boissier, Sarasate’, focusing primarily on the ‘signature modes’
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Premium ❘ Feature
Filippo 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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Focus
Double Acts: Andrew Fairfax and Anneleen Fairfax-van der Grinten
Husband-and-wife violin makers and restorers Andrew Fairfax and Anneleen Fairfax-van der Grinten talk about their different professional strengths and their shared love of books, wine and Italy
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Premium ❘ Feature
Luigi 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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Video
Strauss’s Metamorphosen played on one luthier’s instruments
The ‘Echoes of the Ages’ festival, featuring the work of Icelandic luthier Hans Jóhannsson, concluded with a concert performance exclusively on instruments he made
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News
Missing: violin bow stolen in Miami Airport
The item, worth $10,000, went missing on 6 July 2023
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News
Reykjavík to host festival dedicated to contemporary luthier
Icelandic violin maker Hans Jóhannsson has made more than 300 instruments over his 46-year career
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News
Amati five-string cello bought by New York museum
The c.1610 instrument is thought to be the only surviving five-string cello made in Cremona from that era