Edward Pamphilon: The complexities of England’s prolific Seventeenth-century violin maker.
Edward Pamphillon is one of the most prolific makers of 17th century England, but his instruments fall victim to the vicissitudes of history and circumstances. Benjamin Hebbert explores the environment in which they were made, and their reputation over three centuries of use. An extensive network of violin makers worked in the Essex villages of Clavering, Widdington […]
Scientists find secret behind sweet sound of Stradivarius violins
Another year goes by and another explanation for why Stradivari violins sound better than others. Now a new study published by the scientifically peer reviewed Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America has been picked up by the Guardian Newspaper for public consumption as an answer to one of […]
Yehudi Menuhin: A Life in Pictures
Almost 20 years ago I a chance opportunity allowed me to acquire the photographic archive of the London Illustrated News and the Daily Mail for Yehudi Menuhin, when during a brief moment the archives were in private hands. During the Menuhin Centenary in 2016, we exhibited one of the most comprehensive photographic narratives of Menuhin’s […]
Challenging the small viola.
Some instruments keep recurring in Violins and Violinists and my favourite small viola is one of them. Helen Michetschlager is renowned for making small violas that work fabulously, so I wanted to show her the extraordinary Matthew Hardie viola made from recycled parts of an old bass viol by Richard Meares of about 1670. At 15 1/4 […]
A Violoncello Piccolo by Barak Norman & Nathaniel Cross 1724
A small violoncello with a back length of just 632mm was made in London by Barak Norman and his assistant, Nathaniel Cross in 1724. The instrument is important as amongst the last works from Barak Norman’s workshop, dated at a time when he was incapacitated and anticipating his succession. The instrument itself has it’s own […]
Update on UK Ivory Bill 2017-19
Following up on the continued situation for antique ivory sales in the UK. The Ivory Bill was introduced to Parliament on 23 May 2018. This has not yet been passed into law, and may be subject to amendments. However as this stands the bill is good news for musicians, as it stipulates a 20% de-minimis […]
Thomas Britton, The Small Coal Man and his Musical Instruments 1714
Much interest surrounds the concerts hosted by Thomas Britton in the early eighteenth century. His collection of music attracted many of the great musicians of the time including George Frederick Handel to his home, and his musical instruments Thomas Britton (1644-1714) was one of the more remarkable characters of the late seventeenth century in London, alongside […]
Challenging ISO TSP 271
In May, EILA alerted us to a proposal for a new field of technical activity submitted by the Chinese delegation to the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) calling for a new committee to set out international standards for the manufacture of musical instruments and proposing that China should undertake the secretariat for the new committee. As the document was removed shortly after the […]
Harry Mairson’s Digital Amati
I’m delighted to be hosting Harry Mairson for a workshop on the Digital Amati project to be held at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford as a BVMA study day in November 2018. Harry’s work follows on from the brilliant discoveries of François Denis, whose Traite de Luthierie revolutionised the way we perceive the design forms of Cremonese violins, […]
Catgut Strings: Perspectives on quality and performance
In the Elizabethan times, New Years Gifts formed an important ritual for courtiers seeking favour with their queen. Amongst musicians and instrument makers, the Bassanos gave the Queen a Venice Lute. Mark Anthony Galliardello, the musician gave her ‘a fayre Cytrene with a Stone like an Emeralde in the sounde of the bellye’, and Thomas […]
