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The Overlooked Great Makers of Today?Instruments: Who makes great violins today that are underestimated?From shane musser Anyone know?
From Scott Cole
Anyone can make a great-looking fiddle these days. The question is, what will it sound like in 50 or 100 years? No one knows or can know.
Posted on February 12, 2008 at 02:48 AM From James Dew
Right! Nobody knows today. We are told here at v.com that really good violins sound really good right off the bench then improve with age. WhoPosted on February 12, 2008 at 04:18 AM knows, maybe a David Burgess work of art will some day equate to Strad or Guarneri. From LUIS CLAUDIO MANFIO
Well, it seems Van Gogh sold just one painting in his lifetime... was he a bad painter? No, he was just recognized later. There are parallels in the violin making world. Rocca asked the local authorities to be declared legally poor. Scarampella lived from hand to mouth, and that happened to many makers, as pointed out by the Hills in their book on Stradirai.Posted on February 12, 2008 at 10:49 AM So, if you have "violin culture" you can get good instruments for a good price today, indeed. From Barry Dudley
Manfio is absolutely correct. there are many great builders that are making and selling fine instruments. I am also sure that history will bear this truth out. Todays makers have studied the great instruments from the past and learned. One of the real problems is that the playing community has a bias toward anything that is not old. There have been many blind test where modern instruments were selected over historically instruments by a panel of experts.
Posted on February 12, 2008 at 01:51 PM From Raphael Klayman
I've recommended Edward Maday, of Long Island, NY on other threads. He custom made my current favorite violin, and I just commissioned another from him. But there are many first rate violin and bow makers today. If they do things properly, choose good wood, graduate and arch properly, and in many other ways don't cut corners, they should be fine for the long haul. I currently own about half a dozen violins, and of course, many others have come and gone. I have about 10 bows. Most of this stuff is contemporary work. I've never had a violin go South on me, though indeed, I've sometimes been diasppointed that a violin didn't improve as much as I hoped it would.Posted on February 12, 2008 at 07:25 PM Just a couple of basic criteria. The violin should be decent in its response, quality and sonority from the get go. Then there is a good chance that with time and playing, it will become more responsive and more complex. But even hot off the press, it shouldn't feel like you're pulling teeth to play it. From Cynthia Marcus
I would also reccommend Ed Maday. I played one of his violins for many years and made the bridge on my current violin.Posted on February 12, 2008 at 04:08 PM www.edmaday.com From Carl Göransson
Hello!Posted on February 12, 2008 at 06:53 PM Here in Sweden we got a very talented violin builder, Peter Westerlund. His violins has defeated both Stradivarius, Guadagnini and Gagliano in a test the union for violin teachers in Sweden did some years ago. His violins are super! From Ed Darby
I know of a maker that due to geography and politics ( South Africa ) is largely over-looked, but is a top class maker out of the Newark violin making school. Some of his school mates are better known having stayed in Europe, Roger Hargrave and John Dilworth for example.Posted on February 13, 2008 at 12:08 AM He made the violin that David Juritz, concertmaster of the London Mozart Players, used to go round the world raising money for charity. http://aroundtheworldandbach.com/ His name is Brian Lisus. You also might have seen Yo-Yo Ma playing his cello when he shot a film with the Bushmen of the Kalahari desert. http://www.violinafrica.co.za/ http://www.maestronet.com/lisus/ Charles Beare was amazed at how good his work was being isolated in South Africa. You would think that the Rand taking a dive would cause people to buy from South Africa, but it is just to far from the everyday hassle that the violin world produces in the major centers to even be noticed. From Andreas Tespolulos
Not sure if he is not very well known, but after playing so many moderns, mostly from the "who's who" in Europe and in American, I have to say that the best I have played is the Needham I played while in L.A. Posted on February 13, 2008 at 03:05 AM As soon as I save some money I am putting my money where my mouth is and getting one of my own. From Sean Themar
I really like Piccinotti's violins, his violins seem almost perfect when you look and play it. Not to mention the sound quality of his violins.
Posted on February 13, 2008 at 03:21 AM From Ron Gorthuis
It is a verrrrrry subjective evaluation.Posted on February 13, 2008 at 03:35 AM But Barry Dudley above is correct: bind tests have revealed interesting results. Case in point: the strad mystery video posted on youtube. In the blind test, all panel judges picked a Fustier over the sound of the Strad. Does anyone know anything about a "Fustier"? how to contact Mr Fustier? price range? pedigree, etc? From Ihnsouk Guim
How much do violins by these overlooked great makers cost? Do makers have used instruments for sale as well or do they make an instrument on commission only? We are looking to upgrade our instrument. Thank you.Posted on February 16, 2008 at 03:22 AM Ihnsouk From Bill Townsend
This is a good question. As part of The Amati Foundation's goals of identifying the top makers out there, I spent over 2 years investigating the works of modern makers and identified about 40 people who make incredible instruments from $8,000 on up to $50,000. There is a full list at http://www.amatifoundation.org/historicalcollection.html Posted on February 16, 2008 at 04:54 AM All are amazingly talented and deserve consideration by today's performers. While I don't want to offend anyone on the list, I do have a couple personal favorites for various reasons which I'll share with you. But let me start by saying, finding the right maker really depends on what you're looking for. If I wanted a Strad model of the Messiah I'd go to David Burgess. A superb sounding deep red, nearly flawless "new" Ruggieri cello would be Raymond Schryer. If I wanted a great viola I'd contact Chris Germain. Amazing varnish coupled with soloist tone-- Gregg Alf. A composite, advanced violin to push the edge of acoustics-- Joseph Curtin or Martin Schleske. A perfect recreation of a famous Italian-- Peter Beare. A copy of the Lord Wilton-- Feng Jiang. A copy of Paganini's il Cannone-- Joe Grubagh and Sigrun Seifert. A copy of my favorite violin of all time, the Stradivari il Cremonese-- Philip Injeian. So you see, there are a lot of great makers working today and finding what you want from an instrument is as easy as talking to several of these men and women and discussing your needs. They're based all around the world so it is easy to get ahold of them. Finally, as an investment vehicle, I honestly believe you cannot go wrong with the top tier of today's makers. As Strads, Guarneris, Amatis and others get priced out of the market because of foundations and the very wealthy purchasing them, musicians will turn to choosing between a 2nd tier historical instrument which may not give them all the juice they need and a new instrument that will be a fraction of the price but can be made to their requirements. My feeling is the new instruments will offer substantial upside, plus since the maker should be alive during your lifetime, they can adjust the instrument and care for it, thus offering a beneficial relationship between maker and player. Bill From Jennifer Laursen
Among my favorite modern makers, not yet mentioned, are Philip Perret in New York, David Gusset in Eugene, Oregon, and Frank Ravatin in France. All three around $21,000.
Posted on February 16, 2008 at 02:24 PM From Ihnsouk Guim
Bill and Jennifer - Thank you. That helps a lot. We are looking for one for an advancing student. I suspect that it will be upgraded again in a few years. We are interested in used instruments made by contemporary makers. Posted on February 16, 2008 at 03:58 PM Ihnsouk From Lawrence Price
While Geary Baese of Fort Collins, Colorado, is not a prolific maker, he is the researcher that developed the acoustical system that he taught to Needham and others with such great success. His varnish research informed Gregg Alf. He rarely makes instruments but they are marvels of beauty and tone.
Posted on February 16, 2008 at 03:31 PM From Xavier & Deanndra Deblack
Fustier JacquesPosted on February 16, 2008 at 05:10 PM 1, rue Puits Gaillot "Luthier installé à Lyon, Jacques Fustier dont la réputation est mondiale, a été formé à l'école de Mittenwald en Allemagne. Il fabrique sur commande des violons qui ont de la puissance." Trained in Mittenwald, Germany From Danny Sheu
David Wiebe of Woodstock, New York.Posted on February 16, 2008 at 08:10 PM http://www.violoncello.com From Andreas Tespolulos
Needham learned from Bease? Who is Bease? Well, I guess he learned it well because the Ax I played in CA rocked!
Posted on February 17, 2008 at 01:03 AM From Nate Robinson
Yes I agree with Bill Townsend. Phillip Injeian is a fantastic maker. I use his violin for my studio recordings and performances quite regularly. This violin I own made by Phillip, is a copy of the Cannon del Gesu made in 2004. My teacher Erick Friedman also tried my violin by Phillip Injeian and commented on how rich the tone of the instrument was. He also pointed out how good the carrying power this instrument had when he played on it. Phillip will be featured in this month's upcoming edition of the Strad Magazine with the Miro Quartet.
Posted on June 15, 2008 at 05:10 AM From Nigel Keay
Overlooked or underestimated by who? Not routinely mentioned on violinist.com, but his instruments are played on by many string players in known orchestras throughout the world. Friedrich Alber (Montpellier, France).
Posted on June 15, 2008 at 09:39 AM From Emil Albanese
An enormously talented violin maker I know is Charles Rufino in New York (he is on Long Island, too) . His instruments are extremely well crafted, and sound incredible. I recently had the pleasure of listening to a member of the Metropolitan Opera orchestra play his Rufino that he had recently purchased. It was powerful with wonderful tone and warmth. He gave up a highly valued centuries old Italian violin in favor of his recently made violin which is a nice testament not only to Charles Rufino but modern makers in general whose violins are too often underestimated. Posted on June 15, 2008 at 08:40 PM Charles Rufino also has a very impressive background having graduated the Newark School of Violin Making in England, and he worked in Europe and eventually in Chicago with Carl Becker for a number of years. You can't go wrong including him on your short list when looking for a violin, viola or cello. From Joey Brown
I recently purchased a new violin for college, and went with a modern maker down in Florida.Posted on June 23, 2008 at 08:19 PM Nothing but good things to say. Jan Van Rooyen makes great violins and violas, and he isn't insanely popular. It's a shame; his violins, according to many (Joshua Bell), compare favorably to old 250 year old italian violins. From Alexandra Birch
Jan Spiedlen (Czech)Posted on June 24, 2008 at 05:05 AM Paul Hiliare (French-Mirencourt) not really overlooked, but a great maker!!!...I'm sort of biosed though and a local maker that I know, George Blum makes nice modern instruments that are very playable. |
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