Lutherie – Page 32
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Premium ❘ FeatureMaking its mark: How violin making began in Markneukirchen, Germany
From a formative guild of emigrés to world-conquering mass production, few places have as colourful a lutherie story to tell as Markneukirchen. Enrico Weller and William Wisehart assess the history and distinctive character of violin making in this corner of southern Saxony
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FocusThe ‘Amici Bernardi’ Stradivari sitting at the heart of West Sussex’s cultural life
With a price seemingly out of reach at £1.2 million, Andrew Bernardi shares how he convinced a group of investors to help acquire the violin to bring cultural enrichment to audiences in West Sussex, the UK and abroad
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FocusGood vibrations: How violin modes influence tone quality
In the August 2021 issue, Joseph Curtin examines the evolution of neck setting. In part two of his article about violin modal analysis from 2009, he discusses low-frequency resonances that influence a violin’s acoustic behaviour
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FocusStick your neck out: the pros and cons of adjustable necks
In this extract from the August 2021 issue, Joseph Curtin discusses how he experimented with adjustable necks, progressing from the various changes made in connecting an instrument’s neck to its body since the Baroque era
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Focus‘Makers should pay attention to these three modes’ - Joseph Curtin on violin acoustics
In the August 2021 issue, Joseph Curtin examines the evolution of neck setting. Twelve years ago he looked into a violin’s acoustic behaviours, and how its signature ‘modes’ indicate its sound and response
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Premium ❘ FeatureViolin modal analysis – part one: Scent of a violin
In the first of a two-part article from June 2009, Joseph Curtin investigates one of the low-frequency resonances that help define a violin’s acoustic ‘perfume’, and explains how studying it can benefit makers
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Premium ❘ FeatureViolin modal analysis – part two: Good vibrations
In the second of a two-part article from July 2009, Joseph Curtin continues his investigation of the low-frequency resonances that influence a violin’s acoustic behaviour
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Premium ❘ ArticleSoundpost: Letters to the Editor August 2021
A selection of letters The Strad receives each month from its readers around the world: August 2021 issue
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Premium ❘ NewsAnalysis August 2021: Adaptive learning
During the pandemic, some luthiers have begun making online courses to record their techniques and share their knowledge. Is it a viable alternative to one-to-one teaching? By Peter Somerford
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Premium ❘ FeatureTrade Secrets: Making a martelé button
A simple method for adding this small detail to your bows
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Premium ❘ FeatureMy Space: Gertrud Reuter
The luthier’s workshop, based in Basel, Switzerland, contains furniture from the Paris firms of Caressa & Français, Maucotel & Deschamps, and Daniel Moinel
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Premium ❘ FeatureMaking Matters: Something in the air
Steve Sirr and John R. Waddle use CT scans to examine the internal air volume of 20 Cremonese violins, and make a surprising discovery about the soundpost position
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ReviewBook review: Monograph of the Antonio Stradivari Cello c.1690 ‘Barjansky’
Florian Leonhard reviews an extensive study of the famous cello, including dendrochronology, CT scans and posters
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Premium ❘ FeatureHerrmann bow making dynasty: An enduring legacy
Like their close contemporaries the Knopfs, the Herrmann family of bow makers left behind a large number of bows, many of which show exquisite craftsmanship. In the second of two articles, Gennady Filimonov examines their history, their connections with the Knopfs, and several examples of their work
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Premium ❘ FeatureNeck setting: Adjustment to change
The method of connecting an instrument’s neck to its body has undergone seismic changes since the Baroque era. Joseph Curtin analyses the ancient and modern procedures, and examines the benefits offered by fixing an adjustable neck
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Premium ❘ FeatureRecording arching profiles: Ahead of the curve
Recording the archings of instruments is one of the most difficult areas of violin making and restoration. Charline Dequincey describes a method using dental compound which is accessible to anyone, and gives high-quality results
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FocusViolin making at Beijing’s Central Conservatory of Music
In this excerpt from the July 2021 issue, Sisi Ye examines a violin making programme in Beijing
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NewsPhilharmonie de Paris announces lutherie competition
The contest will be held next January for students and professional instrument makers
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Premium ❘ FeatureBaroque Instruments: Evolutionary Road
In the first of a two-part article from February 2013, Roger Hargrave traces the development of the violin from the Baroque era to modern times – and refutes some long-held beliefs in the process
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Premium ❘ FeatureBaroque instruments: Period of Adjustment
Although the basic violin set-up has changed little from Baroque times, many of its parts have altered radically. In the second of two articles, from March 2013, Roger Hargrave tracks the development of strings, fingerboards and the neck root
