Italian Revival, Workshops, and the Foundations of the Modern Cremonese School At the turn of the 20th century, Cremona stood at a crossroads. Universally recognized as the historic home of Antonio Stradivari, Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, and the Amati family, the city no longer functioned as a major center of violin production. By the late …
Although the violin-making traditions of Cremona, Milan, and Mirecourt have long dominated discussions of European lutherie, England fostered a remarkable and distinct school of craftsmanship that flourished from the early eighteenth through the mid-nineteenth century. English cello making, in particular, developed along lines that drew from Italian exemplars yet reflected the social, musical, and material …
The English Cello Makers: Craft, Identity, and Legacy Read More »
Nestled on the border of Saxony and Bohemia (modern-day Czech republic), Markneukirchen was already a thriving violin-making center by the 18th century. Its remarkable output gave the region its nickname: the “Musikwinkel,” or music corner. What set Markneukirchen apart was a commitment to international commerce and a well-established luthiers’ guild, dating back to 1677, that …
The History of German Bow Making in Markneukirchen Read More »
A bow is crucial to stringed instruments. Without it, every note would have to be pizzicato! For professionals, choosing a bow is as personal as choosing an instrument. However, bows were not always considered as important as they are today. In the beginning of lutherie, they were an afterthought, and most early bows were hastily …
