All Historical articles
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2027: 1707 ‘Boni-Hegar’ Stradivari cello
A cello from Stradivari’s ’golden period, it is now played by Andreas Brantelid
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Premium ❘ FeatureThe Liberty luthier: Nicola Utili
Stefano Pio examines the life and career of the early 20th-century Italian luthier Nicola Utili, who combined his natural skills in instrument making with a penchant for innovation and acoustic research
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ReviewBook review: Liuteria Mantovana Vol.2
Alberto Giordano reviews the second in the three-volume series by Andrea Zanrè and Philip Kass that shines a light on the myriad violin makers based in the city of Mantua over the centuries
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2027: c.1689 ‘Ragin’ Stradivari violin
An instrument from fairly early in Stradivari’s career, it still shows the influence of his mentor Nicolò Amati
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Premium ❘ FeatureShaping the modern bow: Viotti and the Tourte bow
Debate has raged over the role of Giovanni Battista Viotti in the development of the Tourte-style bow. Markus Laine sifts through the evidence
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2027: c.1694 ‘Ovcharov’ Stradivari violin
One of Stradivari’s Long Pattern instruments, the violin has a false label incorrectly dating it to 1705
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2027: 1705–10 ‘Maurer, van Veen, Elphinstone’ Stradivari violin
A fine example of Stradivari’s ‘golden period’, the instrument has a two-piece back of gloriously flamed maple
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2027: 1727 ‘Iwasaki’ Stradivari cello
Named after Japanese cellist Ko Iwasaki, the instrument has recently been loaned to Norwegian cellist Truls Mørk
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2027: c.1720 ‘Karl Klingler’ Stradivari violin
With a fascinating two-piece back, this violin contains wood from the same tree as that used for the celebrated ‘Macdonald’ Stradivari viola
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2027: 1710 Stradivari violin
The ‘golden period’ violin is currently played by the Danish National Symphony Orchestra’s concertmaster Ludvig Gudim
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2027: c.1725 ‘Da Vinci’ Stradivari violin
One of two Stradivari violins named after the Renaissance genius, the c.1725 ’Da Vinci’ is played by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s David Coucheron
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Premium ❘ FeatureThe Strad Calendar 2027: Norway’s pride and joy
The Strad Calendar 2027 features eleven Stradivari instruments, all taken from the collection of the Anders Sveaas Charitable Foundation. Christian Lloyd examines the treasures
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Premium ❘ FeatureAn overlooked wonder: Pietro Barbieri
Despite having made only a handful of instruments in his career, Pietro Barbieri proved to be one of Mantua’s most accomplished luthiers. Philip Kass and Andrea Zanrè look into his life and examine an instrument from 1826
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Premium ❘ FeatureIn the midst of transition: the French transitional period – part two
In the second of two articles on the French transitional period, Florent Boyer examines the development of the violin in Paris between 1790 and 1830 – and how Nicolas Lupot’s influence proved to be seismic
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Premium ❘ FeatureMatthew Hardie: ‘The Scottish Stradivari’
Matthew Hardie, who died 200 years ago this year, was possibly Scotland’s most influential violin maker. To mark the anniversary, David Rattray tells the story of his life and examines a selection of his violas
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Premium ❘ FeatureChanging of the guard: French transitional period – part one
The ‘transitional period’ in French lutherie usually refers to the period of change from the Baroque bow to the Tourte model. In the first of two articles, Florent Boyer illustrates how violin making also underwent a seismic shift through the 18th century and into the 19th
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Premium ❘ FeatureFrank Kovanda: bow man to the stars
Frank Kovanda is acknowledged as one of America’s finest 20th-century bow makers. Gennady Filimonov tells his story and examines some examples of his work
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FocusA 1911 cello by luthier Władysław Baczyński (1866–1935)
While the Polish luthier made more than 200 violins during his lifetime, only a handful of cellos are known. In the second of two articles marking the 160th anniversary of his birth on 25 June 1866, Grzegorz Kaproń looks at his limited forays into cello making, while Henry Riedstra examines ...
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FocusA 1908 viola by luthier Władysław Baczyński (1866–1935)
In the first of two articles marking the 160th anniversary of the Polish luthier’s birth on 25 June 1866, Grzegorz Kaproń gives a brief overview of his life while Henry Riedstra examines a typical viola by the maker
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Premium ❘ FeatureOut of the dark: the 1742 ‘Rovelli’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin
The ‘Rovelli’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin of 1742 was once believed lost – and its rediscovery in 2002 was a heart-pounding moment for the experts. Frédéric Chaudière recalls the compelling story of the instrument’s authentication
