|
July/ August: After the summer break: Finishing
touches to the latest 2 instruments, re-organizing my wood store, and
getting ready with some autumn projects: a viola commission and a
Cello once time allows.
June:
The Guarneri Violin
(photos uploaded now) has recently been 'played in 'by Robert
Hyman of the Bath Pump Room Trio.
Since finishing that I have been very busy starting 2 new instruments
for a forthcoming exhibition later in the year.
I shall be exhibiting my instruments at
the forthcoming ' String Day' at the RNCM in Manchester.
Sunday 21 June 2009, 9.30am until late afternoon.
Please
contact me if you wish to make an appointment to see and
try a specific instrument.
May: The Guarneri violin is almost ready now -
pictures of the varnished instrument coming soon....a few shots of the purfling style and
arching concept:
some Guarneri del Gesu arching & edging details
April: Come and visit the forthcoming
Lutherie 2009 event in Newark on Trent,
Saturday, 2nd May 2009
10.30 - 4.30.
Always an interesting event with varied topics of interest to the
maker and Violin enthusiast and a wide range of trade stalls.
I shall be attending with a selection of seasoned violin wood and
violin books.
Any special requests - please
contact me
before with your requirements.
Here some pictures of the del Gesu violin in progress:
a deeply flamed Bosnian maple back with
matching ribs, and an Italian spruce front are the right combination
to achieve my ideal del Gesu sound: a dark and warm quality with rich
overtones and a good projection.
To achieve that I am looking for a
low density front (light weight and strong) and a firm 'punchy' back.
Together with a del Gesu specific thicknessing system, arching shape,
a pinch of garlic and the right wine (after closing shop for the day)
its well on the way....
my own and a facsimile label glued
in
purfling tools and groove marked out
ribs with linings and
blocks bottom block with brand stamps
March: A new modern violin after Guarneri del
Gesu is taking shape on the bench.
Photos of the 2009 Mantegazza Viola are now online
here.
The BVMA exhibition in early March was a successful
event, with many musicians trying instruments and getting to know many
of the exhibitors who come together for this ever more important
showcase of contemporary making. Many thanks here to all who tried my
instruments and who I had the pleasure to meet in person.
February: For sale on behalf of a
professional musician:
A very nice Violin by Leon
Mougenot after Guarneri del
Gesu model ca. 1930.
I shall be exhibiting my work at the forthcoming
BVMA makers day in London.
Sunday, 8. March: 10am – 4pm; The Old Sessions House, Clerkenwell Green.
Please
contact me if you wish to make an
appointment to see and try a specific instrument.
A new 16'' (406mm) Viola after Mantegazza is well on the way. More
details and photos coming up soon.
January 2009: The latest Viola inspired
by Grancino is
finished and can seen in detail
here.
On the instruments page is a new link to the
'archive'
where you can retrieve photos and description of my instruments
made and sold in previous years.
In the workshop 2008
December/November 2008: The Viola after
G.B.Grancino
has been making steady progress and is awaiting varnishing.
November/October: Both the
Strad violin
and
Guarneri viola are now finished and
pictures are uploaded.
The next project is a Milanese Viola model taking
inspiration from both Grancino and Testore. Updates here as soon as
time allows!
August/September: The Strad violin has been
making steady progress and is almost ready for varnishing....
and a new Viola after Andrea Guarneri is under work as well.
The Mantegazza
Viola has just been sold to a professional player in
Germany.
July: The new 'Strad' belly next to a golden period
Strad plaster cast with the typical ff wing fluting - click to
enlarge.
Meanwhile
I have been developing a new Stradivari model based on the PG mould
(one of his inside forms/moulds used
during his golden period). This next violin is based on that design
and is also taking inspiration from the 1709 Viotti Strad which is now at home at the RAM London. I have found a
very close matching front and back for it and I am presently hollowing
the plates.
RAM Viotti Strad 1709
The
Bergonzi Violin is now ready, fitted
up and 'ready to go'.
May/June: In recent weeks I have been busy with
a restoration of a nice old English Cello. I normally just concentrate
on new making, but sometimes I feel the need to get involved in
another challenge.
But the Bergonzi Violin has been making steady progress and is now
awaiting the varnishing stage. More on it soon.
April/May: The
Mantegazza Viola is fitted up
and playing and will have its first outing at the RNCM Manchester
Viola day.
Photos are now uploaded.
My next 'lobby' exhibition will take
place during the RNCM Viola day in Manchester on
Sunday, 27. April 2008.
Just like last year I will have a number of my instruments on display
for trial. Please
contact me
beforehand if you have interest to see any particular instrument.
The
2008 da Salo inspired Viola is
finished - pictures are now uploaded. The first professional sound
trial was very positive, the sound even and colourful, and both
players found it easy and comfortable to play.
March: The Brescian style Viola after da Salo
is now varnished and awaits fitting up - pictures here soon.
The next projects are going to be a 16'' (406mm) Viola after the
Mantegatia brothers of Milano from 1793
and a Carlo Bergonzi Violin from 1737.
The Mantegatias ( also 'Mantegazza') were very talented makers
- following somewhat in the Landolfi style - but were also kept busy
by the first Violin collector Count Cozio de Salabue, who supplied
them with plenty of Cremonese Instruments from his collection to be
fitted up, neck grafted or altered, 'tonally improved' (sic!)
which might well have included the re-thicknessing of original
graduations in instruments by del Gesu and Stradivari!
Compared to today with probably no Cremonese instruments left in original AND unopened
condition, the Mantegatias were in an enviable position. Many makers and restorers would gladly be present and able
to view and learn from a truly original instrument. Quite a pity that
all we have today by these first hand observers is the 'Carteggio'
of De Salabue - his diary style entries and observations on his
instruments, dealings with the Stradivari family and early research on
makers.
The Mantegatia Viola is a medium sized model, with an outline of Amati
proportions, broad but yet comfortable to play. My last
Viola to this model goes back quite a few years - so out came the mould and original
tracings of that fine instrument and at time of writing the ribs and
scroll are done and I am looking forward to the carving of the plates.
The one piece back is from my favourite 1994 sycamore tree, the belly
from European Alpine spruce.
The Carlo Bergonzi - the last true classical Cremonese
master - is an exciting new venture for me. Latest research and
thoughts seem to believe that he was not a Stradivari pupil (as often
quoted in the literature) but probably connected to the Ruggieri
workshop. Howevere, he was friendly with the Stradivari family and did
even rent the old Stradivari house and workshop from Paolo Stradivari,
and also had the use of tools and forms (which many years later Count
Cozio tried to buy from the Stradivari family).
Bergonzi's violins are often a touch smaller and narrower then the
golden period Strad, but with a longer stop. This particular 1737
model is nevertheless a strong modelled instrument which I am looking
forward to be adding to my 'portfolio'.
Again, at time of writing - ribs and scroll are completed - the one
piece back is of strongly figured Bosnian maple and a very
even grained Italian spruce front.
February: The latest modern
Violin after
Guarneri del Gesu is now fitted up and has settled in
quickly. Its sound is very free, yet having core strength and
projection.
At present it is strung up with medium Dominant strings
and a Kaplan Golden Spiral E.
The Brescian style Viola after da Salo is progressing
well with the slab back arched, hollowed and glued to the ribs.
The next steps are the carving of the belly and the scroll.
January :
I shall be exhibiting my work at the forthcoming BVMA makers day in London.
Sunday, 2nd March: 10am – 4pm; The Old Sessions House, Clerkenwell Green.
Please
contact me if you wish to make an
appointment to see and try a specific instrument.
The 2007 slab back
Guarneri Viola has now sold
- two other 16.1/4''
Violas are available at present.
Last years successful Brescian
Da Salo style
Viola has prompted me to make another with a slight
design change.
A deeply figured slab back and a superb Alpine spruce front
makes a promising combination for this model.
The
Strad model Cello is
varnished, fitted up and had it first professional sound trial. After
the initial settling in period and slight adjustments the sound is free, very even and
appears to have plenty of power in it.
The latest modern violin after Guarneri del Gesu ( ex Joachim 1737)
has also been varnished and awaits its fitting up. An update will be
soon posted here
Strad model Cello 2007
del Gesu Violin 2008 during varnishing
In the workshop 2007:
November/December: The Strad model Cello
is now finished and awaiting varnishing and then setting up. The
latest photos are on the
Cello project
page.
Meanwhile a new modern Violin is underway - based on
the Guarneri del Gesu ex Joachim 1737,
which I previously made as a
baroque violin. The 1 piece broadly flamed back
is cut from the same log as the one used for the earlier violin.
Oktober/November : Continuing work on the
Cello keeps me well occupied - together with an interesting study trip
to Berlin to see some exciting contemporary makers work. The Cello is
now in its final stages - neck fitting and purfling remains to be done
- and then of course the always hugely enjoyable varnishing process.
The Gasparo Viola has already sold - it had some very positive
reviews by a number of players and makers who have seen it and maybe
it was no surprise that it was purchased almost instantly by a young
promising British viola student.
August/September : The
Gasparo da Salo Viola is
now finished, more details and photos through the link.
After our summer holiday a new
Cello after A. Stradivari's'
B-form' ( the golden period instruments) is now in progress.
Through the above link - or click on the photo - you will be able to follow the progress of this
instrument.
The forthcoming BVMA annual conference in
Dartington Hall, Devon from 14.-16.9. promises to be as exciting as
ever. As most years I will have a stall showing some of my violin
books and making wood, meeting friends and colleagues, and comparing
notes over the instruments on show. Anyone not knowing about the BVMA
( British Violin Makers Association), I urge to have a look at its
website and consider becoming a member.
Some impressions from the Brescia exhibition:
A Da Salo Viola ff and back, the 2 Viola players of the
Gio:Paolo Maggini Quintet (playing on
a Da Salo and a Maggini from the exhibition), and finally a stunning
Rogeri violin.
June 2007: The last 2 Violas after Andrea
Guarneri
and A.&H.
Amati are now completed, fitted
up and sounding.
More details & photos on the
instruments page or through the
above links. Any trial is welcome.
Is 2007 going to be the year of the
Viola?
Certainly on my bench it appears to be the case!
Latest project - just started - is a 16. 3/4'' - 424mm
Viola - proportionally designed after Gasparo da Salo.
To my knowledge there is no original ( uncut) Viola by that maker of that size - so I
decided to fill that gap. The back is of wonderful deep flamed
sycamore and the spruce front of the most impressive hazel
figure I have ever seen.
Watch this space for more info - or email if you are interested to see
and try when it becomes ready.
The final inspiration for a Brescian style Viola
was the forthcoming exhibition of Brescian makers in June/July 2007.
This promises to be a unique and worthwhile event - not to be missed.
May 2007: In the last few months my time was
taken up with 2 new exciting Viola projects:
one after Andreas Guarneri - the Conte Vitale of 1676 and the other
after an even earlier
Alto model by the brothers Amati - Antonio and Hieronymus. These 2 Violas will be available for trial shortly.
Please email/ phone to be kept informed.
For the
Guarneri
I have chosen a spectacular 1
piece slab back of well seasoned
English sycamore (actually the real European maple - acer
pseudoplatanus)
- not unlike the one found on the ex Primrose Guarneri - only mine
with less knots!
The front is of Italian spruce with a very attractive hazel figure
(Germ.: Haselfichte; amer. - bearclaw spruce).
The body length is just over 16.1/4'' - 413mm with a string length of
373mm.
2007 A.Guaneri model of 1676 A.Guarneri Vla - ex Primrose
The photos show 'work in progress' - with the ground coat and the 1.
colour coat applied. The 2. and final coat brings the instruments
colour to a
glowing transparent orange brown, maximizing the visual impact of the
woods character. The sound should have the warm resonating tenor
quality expected from this model and its deeply fluted arching.
The
Brothers Amati Viola is inspired by the
ex Danks / Stauffer (now back at home in Cremona) of 1615. It is one of the earliest Alto Violas in existence - and
the earlier one of the 2 known by the Brothers Amati.
Its body length is also 16.1/4'' - 413mm with a slightly shortened
'Stop' to bring the string length to a comfortable 376mm.
The outline is of a flowing elegance with typically long Amati style
corners ( and the matching long purfling mitres).
It is narrower across its bouts then the Guarneri and promises to have
more of an Alto character in sound.
The back is of the most handsome Bosnian Maple, cut on the quarter and
one half 'flipped' over
to give an continuous appearance of the deep flame - a customary 'trick'
by the Amati family.
The front is of dead straight even grained Italian spruce - showing
close similarities to the original.
Brothers Amati
The photo again shows 'work in progress' - ground coat and 1
colour coat
of my own oil varnish already applied - the final
2cd. coat to give a warm golden amber colour allowing
maximum clarity and visual depth.
March 2007: The latest Viola after
Andrea Guarneri
is just completed.
An exciting instrument made from a wood selection to mirror the
acoustic properties of the original. Trials are welcome. Big,
warm and even sound with a good projection. Its a great and popular
model for those players looking for a 16.1/4 '' Viola with a
comfortable string length of 373mm.
January 2007: During the making of the last Baroque violin after
del Gesu
I
took some photos
to illustrate the alignment of the nailed neck with the help of a
cross structure
(utilizing the location pins - an essential part of
most classical Italian instruments).
|
