Boasting beautiful orange–red varnish, it was formerly played by Emil Heermann, concertmaster of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
The Canada Council for the Arts is the country’s public arts funder. Through its programme of grants, services, prizes and payments, it supports and promotes the nation’s arts scene both across Canada and internationally. The Strad Calendar 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of its Musical Instrument Bank by showcasing twelve of the finest instruments in its collection.
1700 ‘Taft’ Antonio Stradivari violin
The ‘Taft’ violin of 1700 is named after Anna Sinton Taft, wife of Charles Phelps Taft who was the half-brother of the 27th US President William Howard Taft. Charles was also a politician, as well as a newspaper publisher, lawyer and philanthropist; he founded the Taft Museum of Art which still houses a fine collection of European old masters, and Anna allowed his Stradivari violin to be used by Emil Heermann, concertmaster of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, of which Charles was one of the founders. After Taft’s death the violin went through a number of different hands before being sold in 2000 for $1.3 million, the anonymous buyer donating it to the Musical Instrument Bank in 2003.
Made at the very start of Stradivari’s so-called ‘golden period’, the ‘Taft’ is an exemplary violin in excellent condition. The one-piece maple back displays strong figure descending from left to right, with the wood of the ribs and scroll well matched to that of the back. The two-piece spruce top displays some hazelling in the upper left bout, while the f-holes are pristinely cut, the purfling perfectly inserted and the arching harmonious. The whole instrument is covered in orange–red varnish over an amber ground. It is currently played by Daniel Dastoor.
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Photo: Donna Santos Studio
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The Canada Council of the Arts’ Musical Instrument Bank is 40 years old in 2025. This year’s calendar celebrates some its treasures, including four instruments by Antonio Stradivari and priceless works by Montagnana, Gagliano, Pressenda and David Tecchler.
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