The Stradivarius - A Golden Instrument ; Andre Rieu - A Golden Violinist
THE STRADIVARIUS
The Golden Instrument (Limelight, Nov. 2008)
A look at the most coveted of all stringed instruments and their legendary maker!
The Stradivarius name is the most revered by string musicians worldwide. His instruments command prices in the millions and the mystery of the 'Strad sound' has intrigued musicians and scientists for tree centuries. Many fine musicians today play Strads, including Yo-Yo Ma, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Joshua Bell and of course André Rieu.
Not Just A Violin
Rieu's violin is a Stradivarius, made in 1732. "It's of his latest violins," Rieu says. "For my hand, it's perfect to play and has a beautiful sound. Although I have to say, and I've heard this from other musicians who play Stradivarius instruments, for the microphone it's very difficult. It's so powerful modern microphones cannot cope with it. I can hear it in the headphones when I record, sometimes we have great difficulty putting the sound a Stradivarius produces onto a CD. Also, live, when I play in a big arena amplified, it's very difficult. So it's a strange phenomenon but it's a joy to play on it. it's fantastic."
There are only a few hundred Stradivarius violins left in the world today. It's a small community, as Rieu found. "From the moment I had the money to be able to buy a violin like that, it was known in a millisecond in the Stradivarius world, because it's a really small world. The dealers all phoned each other, all over the world, and they flew over to me like flies to a mushroom. I play on Yehundi Menuhin's violin. He was dead for only a week and somebody came with his violin straight to me - I didn't ask for it, they came to me. Of course Menuhin had a lot of violins so you don't know if it was the violin. It was a magnificent violin. But to me, it was a very intellectual violin. For me I like a violin that has a voice like Maria Callas, with more warmth. When we were in Vienna, a maker brought my violin to show me and I fell in love with it immediately."
Meet The Maker
The man behind these remarkable instruments was Cremonese luthier Antonio Stradavari (1664-1737), who made over 1,100 instruments during his 70 year career, about 650 of which survive today. His "early period" lasted from the time of his first known instrument, dated 1666, until about 1680 from which time fewer than 20 violins and a viola survive. These early instruments are termed "Amatise", indicating their close relationship to the craftsmanship of Nicolo Amati (1596-1684), who is believed to have been Stradivari's early mentor.
During the 1680's Stradivari's fame spread beyond Cremona and by after 1690, his work exhibited increasing individuality in design, towards what is now known as the 'long Strad'. The 'Golden Period' lasted from about 1700-1720, when the instruments gradually acquired the now well-known orange brown varnish, the magnificent flamed maple backs and the richness of tone and ease of response for which they are now renowned. Dating from this period is the 'Alard' (1715) believed to be the finest of his instruments, and the Messiah (1716), now the best preserved.
Between about 1707 and 1710, Stradivari also designed and made a smaller model of cello known as the 'Forma B', which has served as a model for almost every maker since the beginning of the 19th century. He also made violas, and a large variety of other stringed instruments. Although very few of these survive, his original designs do and are held in Museo Stradivariano in Cremona. Stradivari's work has been copied and today many violins bear false Stradivari labels.
The Secret Of Sound
No attempts to replicate the Strad sound have been successful and theories abound as to how it was achieved. Theories include the density of the back panels, the chemical make-up of the wood, the glue used, salt water soaking and the effect of the unusually cold European climate during Stradivari's lifetime on the wood and the varnish. Colin Gough of the University of Birmingham states, however, that the sound of the instruments we hear today is very different to the sound they would have made in Stradivari's time as many underwent "improvements" in the 19th century. So perhaps their sound will always remain something of a mystery.
The Golden Violinist
High Notes:
The 5 Top Strad Sales
1) Rostropovich's 'Duport' cello was recently purchased by the Nippon Music Foundation for a reported $20US million.
2) The 'Hammer' violin went for a record $3.54US million at Christies in May, 2006
3) The 'Solomon, Ex-Lambert' violin sold at Christies in 2007 for $2.728US Million
4) The 'Lady Tennant' sold at Christies in 2005 for $2.03US Million
6) The 'Bonjour' cello sold for $1.03US Million at Christies in 1999, and is the most expensive cello (Times Online)
Recent News
Exhibition of Stradivari Violins, Violas and Cello In Wallraf
21.09.2009/10: 06
March 2010: Einmalige Stradivari-Ausstellung im Wallraf March 2010: One Stradivari Exhibition in Wallraf
Next spring, the legendary legend is at the heart of a unique exhibition. Under the catchy title of "Stradivari -Myth and Music" shows the Wallraf-Richartz Museum in Cologne, more than50 original instruments from the hands of the legendary master. Never before have so many violins, violas and cellos built by Antonio Stradivari (1648-1733) be united in an exhibition.
This precious treasure is exclusive and for only 17 days, of 5 bis zum 21. to 21 März 2010, in March 2010, the Wallraf guest
Parallel to the exhibition important soloists such as Heinrich Schiff, Isabelle Faustor Valeriy Sokolov as part of a series of concerts in the museum tocome and play on her Stradivarius.
Antonio Stradivari during his lifetime was regarded as the best violin makers. Among his many clients included the Vatican, the Spanish royal family and Galileo Galilei. .Legends such as Nicolo Paganini, Yehudi Menuhin, Gidon Kremer, a laclassic artists and Anne Sophie Mutter and popular musicians such as David Garrett and Andre Rieu playing or played on his instruments.
A look at the most coveted of all stringed instruments and their legendary maker!
The Stradivarius name is the most revered by string musicians worldwide. His instruments command prices in the millions and the mystery of the 'Strad sound' has intrigued musicians and scientists for tree centuries. Many fine musicians today play Strads, including Yo-Yo Ma, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Joshua Bell and of course André Rieu.
Not Just A Violin
Rieu's violin is a Stradivarius, made in 1732. "It's of his latest violins," Rieu says. "For my hand, it's perfect to play and has a beautiful sound. Although I have to say, and I've heard this from other musicians who play Stradivarius instruments, for the microphone it's very difficult. It's so powerful modern microphones cannot cope with it. I can hear it in the headphones when I record, sometimes we have great difficulty putting the sound a Stradivarius produces onto a CD. Also, live, when I play in a big arena amplified, it's very difficult. So it's a strange phenomenon but it's a joy to play on it. it's fantastic."
There are only a few hundred Stradivarius violins left in the world today. It's a small community, as Rieu found. "From the moment I had the money to be able to buy a violin like that, it was known in a millisecond in the Stradivarius world, because it's a really small world. The dealers all phoned each other, all over the world, and they flew over to me like flies to a mushroom. I play on Yehundi Menuhin's violin. He was dead for only a week and somebody came with his violin straight to me - I didn't ask for it, they came to me. Of course Menuhin had a lot of violins so you don't know if it was the violin. It was a magnificent violin. But to me, it was a very intellectual violin. For me I like a violin that has a voice like Maria Callas, with more warmth. When we were in Vienna, a maker brought my violin to show me and I fell in love with it immediately."
Meet The Maker
The man behind these remarkable instruments was Cremonese luthier Antonio Stradavari (1664-1737), who made over 1,100 instruments during his 70 year career, about 650 of which survive today. His "early period" lasted from the time of his first known instrument, dated 1666, until about 1680 from which time fewer than 20 violins and a viola survive. These early instruments are termed "Amatise", indicating their close relationship to the craftsmanship of Nicolo Amati (1596-1684), who is believed to have been Stradivari's early mentor.
During the 1680's Stradivari's fame spread beyond Cremona and by after 1690, his work exhibited increasing individuality in design, towards what is now known as the 'long Strad'. The 'Golden Period' lasted from about 1700-1720, when the instruments gradually acquired the now well-known orange brown varnish, the magnificent flamed maple backs and the richness of tone and ease of response for which they are now renowned. Dating from this period is the 'Alard' (1715) believed to be the finest of his instruments, and the Messiah (1716), now the best preserved.
Between about 1707 and 1710, Stradivari also designed and made a smaller model of cello known as the 'Forma B', which has served as a model for almost every maker since the beginning of the 19th century. He also made violas, and a large variety of other stringed instruments. Although very few of these survive, his original designs do and are held in Museo Stradivariano in Cremona. Stradivari's work has been copied and today many violins bear false Stradivari labels.
The Secret Of Sound
No attempts to replicate the Strad sound have been successful and theories abound as to how it was achieved. Theories include the density of the back panels, the chemical make-up of the wood, the glue used, salt water soaking and the effect of the unusually cold European climate during Stradivari's lifetime on the wood and the varnish. Colin Gough of the University of Birmingham states, however, that the sound of the instruments we hear today is very different to the sound they would have made in Stradivari's time as many underwent "improvements" in the 19th century. So perhaps their sound will always remain something of a mystery.
High Notes:
The 5 Top Strad Sales
1) Rostropovich's 'Duport' cello was recently purchased by the Nippon Music Foundation for a reported $20US million.
2) The 'Hammer' violin went for a record $3.54US million at Christies in May, 2006
3) The 'Solomon, Ex-Lambert' violin sold at Christies in 2007 for $2.728US Million
4) The 'Lady Tennant' sold at Christies in 2005 for $2.03US Million
6) The 'Bonjour' cello sold for $1.03US Million at Christies in 1999, and is the most expensive cello (Times Online)
Recent News
Exhibition of Stradivari Violins, Violas and Cello In Wallraf
21.09.2009/10: 06
March 2010: Einmalige Stradivari-Ausstellung im Wallraf March 2010: One Stradivari Exhibition in Wallraf
Mehr als 50 Original instrumente im Frühjahr in Köln More than 50 original instruments in the spring in Cologne
Their shimmering gold dress, her body isperfect, the unique sound of their voice and their price almostpriceless - the queen of Stradivarius stringed instruments.Next spring, the legendary legend is at the heart of a unique exhibition. Under the catchy title of "Stradivari -Myth and Music" shows the Wallraf-Richartz Museum in Cologne, more than50 original instruments from the hands of the legendary master. Never before have so many violins, violas and cellos built by Antonio Stradivari (1648-1733) be united in an exhibition.
This precious treasure is exclusive and for only 17 days, of 5 bis zum 21. to 21 März 2010, in March 2010, the Wallraf guest
Parallel to the exhibition important soloists such as Heinrich Schiff, Isabelle Faustor Valeriy Sokolov as part of a series of concerts in the museum tocome and play on her Stradivarius.
Antonio Stradivari during his lifetime was regarded as the best violin makers. Among his many clients included the Vatican, the Spanish royal family and Galileo Galilei. .Legends such as Nicolo Paganini, Yehudi Menuhin, Gidon Kremer, a laclassic artists and Anne Sophie Mutter and popular musicians such as David Garrett and Andre Rieu playing or played on his instruments.
Thank you so much Jeanine Ann. This is a wonderful article.. well...two wonderful articles. I love the history of the violin here, of the Strad. I wonder what the Red Diamond sold for?
I would say any violin is only worth as much as the pleasure it brings... so Andre's is Priceless !
I think each violin must have it's own unique sound, personal for those who play it, just as Andre says. Each has it's own feel & story.That's why I love the story of "The Touch of The Master's Hand".