May 2009

Sacconi's centenary

May 30, 2009 12:55

I hope something was prepared to celebrate such date in America, at least an article in some magazine or Journal, since without Sacconi violin making, expertise and restoration would not exist in America in the level we know it today, given the number of his ex pupils or persons greatly influenced by him in America:

Charles Beare
René Morel;
Jacques Français;
Dario D'Attili,
Hans Weisshaar,
Frank Passa;
William Salchow;
David Segal
Vahakn Nigogosian;
Luiz Bellini;
Carleen M. Hutchins.

His influence in Italy was huge also, Francesco Bissolotti being his pupil. Bissolotti told me he helped Sacconi to organize and classify the Stradivarian relichs which Fiorini (Sacconi's master) had left to Cremona.

Francesco Bissolotti organized a book with testimonies about Sacconi called "Dalla Liuteria alla Musica: l'opera di Simone Fernando Sacconi". published in 1985, I think.

Sacconi was invited to work with Herrmann in NYC but was almost prohibited to enter in the USA, which refused a VISA to him. His wife Teresita Sacconi wrote that:

We were supposed to leave Italy in December of 1930. We had sold the laboratoy (workshop) and had gone to Naples to take the ship, but at the Sonsulate they told us "We're sorry, Mr. Sacconi, but there's too much unemplyment in America, and you can't go. We wont give you a visa." And he explained, "But I've been invited". They anwered, "We're sorry". Then we had to go back to Rome as guest of my mother. Maestro Bernardino Mollinari (the conductor Bernardino Molinari, Teresita's brother-in-law) was here in America wainting for us. We sent him a telegram saying they hadn't given us a visa, and Molinari went to the Embassy in Washington. He knew a lot of people, because he came to America a couple of times a year to conduct. He told them, "You can't refuse a him a visa, because he is a type of artist that we don't have here", and he absolutely must come". In conclusion, instead of arriving in December, we got here on the 21st of April. . As you can imagine, it wasn't easy to stay in Italy as guests of my mother while we waited for the visa. He didn't have a laboratory - he didn't have anything, and there was no way he could work. Finally, they gave us the visa but then they told us we were going down the stairs at the Consulate, "Sacconi, the Consul wants to see you". I said "Oh my god, now they're going to take visa away again". The Consul received us saying. "You're Maestro Sacconi? I have to congratulate you, because we haven't given anyone a visa for seven years, and they're waiting for you in America" and he shook hands with him. "

www.manfio.com

3 replies | Archive link

A 16 inches viola - my latest, 'Fiammetta', continuing the Courtesans series...

May 23, 2009 05:15

Toby Appel asked me to develop a 16 inches viola. I was afraid of making it because I had never made a 16 inches viola with the sound I like, so I was not willing to risk...

What I did was keeping the same width of my larger violas, the C bouts are the same, I just reduced the upper and lower bouts in length to get a 16 inches viola. I'm not sure if it worked well visually but in terms of sound I'm really satisfied with this one.

"Fiammetta" ("Little Flame") was a famous Roman Courtesan. Thanks again to Andrès Lepage for the photos and for his precious help in the set up and sound evaluation!

www.manfio.com

2 replies | Archive link

Just received the visit of master maker Howard Needham

May 18, 2009 12:58

Just received the visit of master maker Howard Needham, he came here with a client. A very nice man and maker with a true love for his art.

As usual, in such occasions we talked about wood, models, varnish and other aspects of our obssessive/compulsive activity. It was an special day.

I liked his violin very much.