In the News

“Il Cannone” Visits Norway
“Il Cannone,” Nicolò Paganini’s famous 1743 del Gesù violin, made a rare appearance at the Olé Bull Celebration in Bergen, Norway, May 26–June 9. “At this exhibition, [the violin] seems to be better lit for viewing than I have ever seen it,” reported Chicago violin dealer and expert Jim Warren, who was delighted to get a good look. The exhibition, he says, also featured several late-period del Gesùs, including the 1738 “Kemp,” possibly the earliest of the “late”-period instruments, which Paganini selected when commissioned by Napoleon to find a match for “Il Cannone,” and Bull’s famed (and now much-copied) 1744 violin, a rakish instrument made in the last year of the maker’s life.

Amati Family Reunion Continues
The exceptional Amati collection at the National Music Museum, on the campus of the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota, now includes a violin by brothers Antonio and Girolamo Amati, dated 1595, painted with the armorials and motto of King Henry IV of France (1553–1610).

The donation was made on May 7.

A grand opening for the violin, to be displayed with a violin case from the time of Louis XVI, will take place sometime this fall. The newly donated Henry IV violin is in good, but not original, condition. “The scroll is good,” says Arian Sheets, the museum’s curator of stringed instruments, “but the neck has been replaced.” The body has been slightly shortened and the top is not original. Its origin is uncertain, but dendrochronological analysis suggests wood used by Andrea Guarneri. Whatever the origin, “it’s been on there a long time,” says Sheets.

The violin was purchased from the Copernicus Foundation, a Polish cultural organization that owns several fine instruments and lends them to musicians. Violin expert Claire Givens and restorer Andrew Dipper, who have served as caretakers for the instrument for many years, became increasingly worried about the fragile condition of the painting on the back. Given its historical importance, they recommended that it no longer be played.

Givens, a museum board member, realized that it would be an excellent addition to the museum’s collection. At a presentation to the board’s financial committee, Sheets says, board member Kevin Schieffer offered to donate the funds for its purchase to celebrate the birth of his and his wife’s first child.

For more about the National Music Museum, visit usd.edu/nmm.

From the Manufacturers

E. Wilfer Violins
Wilfer, the famous German bass-making family now in its fourth generation, has launched a line of high-quality student violins. The instruments are built workshop-style by several makers in the Bubenreuth area, then inspected and set up at the Wilfer shop.

The E. Wilfer violins are made using the family’s supply of high-quality seasoned European tonewoods—the V-50 model is constructed of mildly flamed maple while the V-60 wood has more flame. Both models are made on a Strad pattern with handsome, tastefully antiqued varnish and come with Wittner tailpieces and Dominant strings.

The quality of workmanship, tone, and appearance is impressive for the price. The violins that Strings tested were comfortable to play and responsive, and produced a warm, clear, surprisingly complex tone. Wilfer cellos will be available soon. V-50 violin, $2,500 (MSRP); V-60 violin, $3,000 (MSRP). Distributed in the USA by Metropolitan Music, metmusic.com.

From the Makers

Chinese Violin-Making Competition Debuts
The First China International Violin Making Competition took place May 5–17 at the music conservatory in Beijing. First prize for violin went to Ulrich Hinsberger of Germany; first prize for viola went to Yongcheng Xu of China; and South Korean Min-Sung Kim, who lives and works in Cremona, won the cello prize. “I thought the judging went well,” says David Burgess, one of the judges, recovering from jet lag in his Ann Arbor, Michigan, workshop. The organizers made a real effort to maintain integrity, he says—in fact, the judges were offered their original scoring sheets to compare with the tabulated final results. Interestingly, the workmanship judges were also invited to score the final round of tone judging. “Makers can have a different perspective from musicians,” he says.

Banff Prize Bows Ready for a Home
The winners of the Banff International String Quartet Competition will take home a quartet of bows by leading bow maker Francois Malo of Montreal. This is the second time the competition and the Royal Bank of Canada have commissioned bows from Malo. “It’s a little bit like the Tubbs prize bows, only 100 years later,” says Malo, who will also demonstrate bow making on site at the competition, August 30–September 5. banffcentre.ca.

From the Auction Houses

Koussevitzky Bass and Roisman Violin at Brompton’s
At least two instruments of important provenance go up for sale at Brompton's Auctioneers on June 14.

The Domenico Montagnana violin, bearing an unusual handwritten label dated 1723, was the concert instrument of Josef Roisman, longtime violinist of the popular Budapest String Quartet, which made some 55 recordings from the early 1930s to the 1960s. The violin is sold with certificates from W.E. Hill & Son (1928) and Emil Herrmann (1942). A condition report from John Dilworth states that this “extremely fine example of the work of Domenico Montagnana” is well covered in original varnish and “is in a very fine state of preservation.” Estimate: £250,000–£350,000.

Also on the block, a double bass belonging to virtuoso bassist and Boston Symphony Orchestra conductor Serge Koussevitzky. The unlabeled bass, which sports a finely carved lion-head finial, was made Bologna, ca. 1720. Legend has it that Koussevitzky used this instrument to smuggle his wife’s jewels out of Russia in 1920. Sold with various letters and receipts confirming that the bass belonged to Koussevitzky. Estimate: £60,000–£80,000. bromptonsauctioneers.com

Moennig Shop Sale in Progress
Bidding has already begun at Tarisio.com for items from Wm. Moennig & Son, the Philadelphia violin shop that closed last December. Items range from a “Teeny Tiny Itsy Bitsy Violin” (body length 5.6 cm) to large display cases, photo archives of over 5,000 instruments, and autographed photos of great musicians of the 20th century. Bidding closes June 23, 24, and 25, depending on lot number. Click here to view a selection of autographed photos included in the auction sale at AllThingsStrings.com.

Calendar
2010 Events Calendar: Including exhibitions, competitions, auctions, and trade shows.