Harold In Italy: Berlioz, Paganini and Henry Hill’s “incomparable” Barak Norman viola.
For lucky owners of Barak Norman’s violas there is the tantalising possibility that theirs was the one celebrated by Berlioz after the first London performance of Harold in Italy. One instrument in particular may shed light on Henry Hill’s fabled 1848 performance. Harold in Italy has spiritual connections with England because it is based on a set of poems […]
Benjamin Hebbert elected Chairman of the British Violin Making Association
I’m delighted and somewhat humbled to have been asked to stand as Chairman of the British Violin Making Association from September 2016. The association has done incredible work bringing together the fellowship of professional and amateur violin makers both in Britain and around the world, and I hope that in my time ahead we can […]
The Hill Bow Makers 1890-1962: BVMA Oxford Conference 2016
I was delighted to be a major sponsor and organiser of the British Violin Making Association’s 2016 Study Day celebrating W.E. Hill & Sons and their legacy in September 2016. The study day coincided with the launch of Derek Wilson & John Milnes important reference work on Hill bow making. Copies of the book can […]
Vintage chin rests by W.E. Hill & Sons
The W.E. Hill & Sons workshop produced an enormous array of accessories for stringed instruments. As the twentieth century progressed they were at the vanguard of research and development into the chin rest as it became an indispensable part of violin playing. Many of their designs take the names of leading proponents of particular designs including such names as […]
Matthew Hardie and the Alday Strad.
Paul Alday’s reputation as one of the most influential violinists of the late Eighteenth-century is all but forgotten, as is the Stradivari violin that he played. An important rediscovery of a violin by Matthew Hardie ‘the Scottish Stradivari’ sheds new light on the identity of the missing Alday Strad. Matthew Hardie’s reputation as the […]
The Violin Maker of Cremona
MARY PICKFORD’S starring role in The Violin Maker of Cremona comes at a time in the development of the silent movies where film producers were finding their feet, and the American love-affair with rare Italian violins was just beginning. We often blame the economic collapse of Europe following the first World War as the moment that the […]
Young British Soloists Competition 2015
I was delighted to be a part of the inaugural Young British Soloists Competition in 2015 and to celebrate Louise Alder as winner. As part of the prize, we sponsored the recording and distribution of the winner’s debut album with Orchid Classics. The outstanding reviews in the press say more than we possibly could. Congratulations […]
Catgut Strings: John Dowland’s “Other Necessary Observations” 1610
In 1610 Robert Dowland published his Varietie of Lute Lessons, evidently as an effort to gather favour with the Royal Court to become James II’s chief lutenist. Within the work his father, John Dowland, wrote his Other Necessary Observations belonging to the LUTE, an extended letter giving advice to lute players. Within it, the first epistle For […]
The coming of the ‘Messiah’
When Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume visited London in 1872 he caused a considerable fracas amongst British dealers through his antics at the Exhibition of Ancient Musical Instruments held at South Kensington. Benjamin Hebbert examines the circumstances of his visit, and reveals photographs taken of the ‘Messiah’ at the time of the exhibition whilst still in Vuillaume’s possession. First published in […]
August Wilhelmj’s spectacular Dodd bow.
August Wilhelmj wrote the transcription of Bach’s 3rd Orchestral suite that spawned Air on a G’ String, but it is his re-orchestration of Paganini’s violin concerto in 1882 and the cadenza he wrote for it that are his significant contributions to the pantheon of great works for the violin. Benjamin Hebbert explores the fame of this extraordinary musician and takes a look at one of his performing bows.
