What were some of Stradivarius contemporary violin makers?
Violin Makers: Nicolò Amati (1596–1684) and Antonio Stradivari (1644–1737)
Do modern violins sound better than Stradivarius?
Summary: Researchers have shown that recently-made violins have better sound projection than those built by the famous violinmaker Antonio Stradivarius. This study also shows that, despite the prestige of these old Italian violins, listeners prefer the sound made by recent instruments and cannot distinguish the two.
Could violinist tell the difference between a modern violin and a Stradivarius violin?
In a double-blind test by professional violinists, most couldn’t determine — by sound alone — which violin was an original Stradivarius and which was a modern instrument. Above, a 1729 Stradivari known as the “Solomon, Ex-Lambert.”
Who is the greatest violin maker?
Antonio Stradivari
Bowed string instruments have been handmade since the 16th Century in Cremona, which is also the hometown of Antonio Stradivari, perhaps the greatest violin maker in history.
What wood is used for Stradivarius violin?
maple
The woods used included spruce for the top, willow for the internal blocks and linings, and maple for the back, ribs, and neck. There has been conjecture that the wood used may have been treated with several types of minerals, both before and after construction of a violin.
How do I know if my violin is Amati?
You can find a label inside the (usually) left hand f-hole in the violin. Not all violins have labels, and you may have to blow away the dust and move the violin under the light to see whether yours does. Many labels are fake, but even fake labels might give an idea of who made the violin.
How do musicians afford Stradivarius?
Since musicians rarely can afford the instruments, the violins are owned by patrons—sometimes wealthy individuals, sometimes foundations or corporations. The patrons, in turn, need to find musicians to play the instruments, and musicians must have the instruments to perform. That’s where the dealers come in.
Which is the best Stradivarius?
1714 Soil Stradivarius Considered one of Stradivari’s finest violins, the ‘Soil’ (named after a Belgian industrialist) was played by Yehudi Menuhin for the best part of his career before being sold to Itzhak Perlman, who has favoured instruments of Menuhin’s previously.
Who owns the Messiah violin?
Today, the Messiah Stradivarius was under the guardianship of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England. The violin is very close to the original condition when it left Stradivari’s workshop in 1737. Though the Messiah Stradivarius has not been auctioned publicly, it was worth an estimated US$20 million.
Who is the best modern violin maker?
The quality of the instruments is exceptional and as the instruments age, they are only getting better.
- Daniele Tonarelli.
- Benedicte Friedmann.
- Gonzalo Bayolo.
- Ulf Kloo.
- Marco Cargnelutti.
What is the best violin ever made?
Stradivarius violins
A good reputation. For decades — even centuries — Stradivarius violins were considered to be the best ever made. And among many musicians and music lovers, they still have that reputation.
What wood is a Stradivarius made from?
The woods used included spruce for the top, willow for the internal blocks and linings, and maple for the back, ribs, and neck. There has been conjecture that the wood used may have been treated with several types of minerals, both before and after construction of a violin.
Are Stradivarius violins any good?
A number of these studies have focused on the chemical composition of the wood in violins made in Cremona by Antonio Stradivari in the 17th and 18th centuries. Others have considered the violins made by Stradivari’s contemporary, Joseph Guarneri del Gesu, whose violins are widely considered to be just as good.
What is a high-quality violin?
It’s also wonderful news for advanced and pre-professional violinists as it means a high-quality, violin that produces impeccable sound is realistically within reach. Ultimately, the quality of your violin and the bow outrank the age of the violin, and perhaps even its famous maker, the large majority of the time.
Why do violins sound so different from other instruments?
Joseph Nagyvary, professor emeritus of biochemistry at Texas A&M who first proposed the theory that chemicals used in making the violins – not so much the skill of making the instrument itself – was the reason Stradivari and others, such as Guarneri del Gesu, made instruments whose sound has not been equaled in over 200 years.
Why are violins made from different maples?
You may notice that the majority of the world’s most prized and coveted violins were predominantly made during the 17th and 18th-centuries. For this reason, scientists have studied every molecular thing about them, hypothesizing that unique climate and geographic conditions yielded a different quality in the maples harvested during this time.