Lutherie – Page 50
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Premium ❘ GalleryStradivarius at work in his studio by Edgar Bundy
2014 marked the 100th anniversary of the exhibition of British artist Edgar Bundy’s portrait of Stradivarius at work in his studio at London’s Royal Academy of Arts. Although there is some doubt as to the authenticity of the 1893 painting – as no definitive record of the luthier’s appearance exists ...
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VideoCloser to Nature – a documentary about violin maker Dmitry Badiarov
The Russian violin-maker Dmitry Badiarov (based in the Netherlands) developed his love for carving wood after deciding to build his first sailing ship, aged 5. Since then his love for making violins has co-existed with his passion for sailing and the sea. In this film, which was presented at a ...
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Premium ❘ FeatureHouse surveys are standard practice, so why not instrument surveys?
Roger Hargrave argues that buyers should insist that dealers provide full condition reports
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Premium ❘ FeatureAsk the Experts: purchasing the right Baroque bow
A trio of Baroque bow makers give their thoughts on what to look for when making the leap into historically informed playing
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FocusAlan Beavitt: how I became a violin-maker on a remote Scottish peninsula
The luthier shares his experience of living and working in Scorraig, a remote peninsula in the north-west Scottish highlands, recently featured in the news
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BlogsViola Rush: a 3-day collaborative instrument project
Earlier this year, Antoine Gourdon put together a team of four luthiers to make a small viola in three days during the Viola 2019 conference in Paris. Here he introduces the project, shares photos and more
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VideoBrian Paul Benning plays a 1997 Viola d’amore
Brian Paul Benning - Artist-in-Residence at the 65-year-old family-run business Benning Violins in Los Angeles, California - plays a Viola d’amore crafted by violinmaker Eric Benning in 1997.
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Premium ❘ FeatureIn focus: a 1782 cello by William Forster II
Bradley Strauchen-Scherer examines an instrument from Britain’s foremost dynasty of violin and cello makers
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Premium ❘ FeatureTrade Secrets: Regluing split corner-blocks
A reliable method for rejoining blocks split for a restoration, particularly useful for cello repairs
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Premium ❘ FeatureMaking Matters: Baroque to the future
Luthier Mathijs Heyligers has recently completed a project to give the same Baroque set-up to a chamber orchestra’s entire string section. What happened – and how did it change the sound?
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Premium ❘ FeatureA measured approach
Although the many varied methods of stringed instrument making have been analysed countless times, the actual production process has hardly been questioned in its 450-year history. Luan Amorim and Amanda Schwegler use techniques taken from engineering to survey the time and cost factors – and come up with some unusual ...
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FocusIn focus: the 1728 'Milanollo' Stradivari
Roger Hargrave examines the Stradivari ‘Milanollo’ violin of 1728, one of the few of the master’s instruments to keep its original sharpness
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Focus9 views on antiquing a modern violin
Tips and opinions from The Strad's archive on capturing a classic look in new instruments – or not
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VideoPaganini's 'Il Cannone' violin played in Columbus, Ohio
This clip from the Columbus Dispatch shows Columbus Symphony concertmaster Joanna Frankel trying out ‘Il Cannone’, Paganini’s favourite violin, during its weeklong stay at the Columbus Museum of Art. The violin, made in 1743 by Guarneri ‘Del Gesù’, was nicknamed ‘Il Cannone’ (the cannon) by Paganini because of its power ...
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VideoPBS NewsHour segment on Italian spruce tonewood forests
Severe storms last year tore down vast swathes of spruce forest in the Italian Alps, including in the Fiemme valley where conditions favour growth suitable for tonewood. As The Strad has reported, efforts have been ongoing to process trees suitable for tonewood before they begin to deteriorate.
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FocusJascha Heifetz – champion of modern violins
Dario Sarlo reveals a lesser-known passion of the great violinist, and how it led him to start his own lutherie competition
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VideoPaganini's violin arrives in Columbus, Ohio
This clip from WCMH news in Columbus, Ohio, shows ‘Il Cannone’, Paganini’s favourite violin, arriving for a weeklong stay at the Columbus Museum of Art. The violin, made in 1743 by Guarneri ‘Del Gesù’, was nicknamed ‘Il Cannone’ (the cannon) by Paganini because of its power and projection. It will ...
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Premium ❘ FeatureForms of mystery
Andrea Zanrè and Philip Ihle conclude their examination of Stradivari’s moulds, with the aid of micro-CT imaging by Rudolf Hopfner, by exploring whether the Cremonese master may have used more than the twelve forms that survive in the Museo del Violino
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Premium ❘ FeatureInside information
Very often neglected, the chamfers of a bow head can give intimate clues as to a maker’s working style and personal characteristics. Anton Lu and Dai-Ting Chung compare and contrast bows from the Baroque era to the present day
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FocusLooking after Paganini’s ‘Il Cannone’ violin
Entrusted with the task of conserving one of the world’s most valuable violins, Bruce Carlson has made it easier to play, while taking it closer to how it would have looked to Paganini. In this article first published in 2004, he explains
