Bernard Millant was a French bow expert, dealer, and author whose work had a lasting influence on the study, attribution, and preservation of historical violin bows. Based in Paris, he became one of the most respected authorities on French bow making, particularly of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Millant established his shop in Paris …
Bernard Millant (1920–2011): Bow Maker and Expert Read More »
For families beginning violin lessons—whether through a school music program or private study—choosing between renting and purchasing a violin can feel uncertain. This guide outlines the practical differences between violin rental and purchase, with a focus on helping families make a sound decision that supports a student’s growth. Families in the San Francisco Bay Area …
Violin Rental vs. Purchase: What Families Should Know Read More »
Italian Revival, Workshops, and the Foundations of the Modern Cremonese School At the turn of the 20th century, Cremona stood at a crossroads. Universally recognized as the historic home of Antonio Stradivari, Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, and the Amati family, the city no longer functioned as a major center of violin production. By the late …
Otello Bignami was one of the leading figures of the 20th-century Bolognese school of violin making. Born in Bologna in 1914, he developed an early interest in the craft and pursued formal training in the city’s long-established tradition of lutherie. He studied under Gaetano Pollastri (1886–1960), the most influential Bolognese master of the mid-century, inheriting …
Otello Bignami (1914–1989): Successor to the Pollastri Tradition in Bologna Read More »
Although the violin-making traditions of Cremona, Milan, and Mirecourt have long dominated discussions of European lutherie, England fostered a remarkable and distinct school of craftsmanship that flourished from the early eighteenth through the mid-nineteenth century. English cello making, in particular, developed along lines that drew from Italian exemplars yet reflected the social, musical, and material …
The English Cello Makers: Craft, Identity, and Legacy Read More »
Giuseppe Sgarbi (1818–1905), known by the nickname “Jarino,” was an Italian violin maker active in Finale Emilia, Modena, and later Rome. Though trained within the general traditions of the Emilia-Romagna region, Sgarbi followed an independent path, producing instruments that reflected both imagination and individuality rather than strict adherence to classical models. His career spanned the …
Giuseppe Sgarbi (1818–1905): An Independent Voice in 19th-Century Italian Violin Making Read More »
A violin string is called false when its thickness and mass are not consistent along its length. This irregularity disrupts the way the string vibrates, causing it to sound out of tune at different finger positions—even when the open string itself is tuned correctly. How Uneven Mass Affects Intonation The pitch of a vibrating string …
Cesare Candi was an Italian luthier known for his careful workmanship, distinctive style, and his role in shaping the Genoese school of violin making in the early 20th century. Born in Minerbio, near Bologna, in 1869, he began his training in 1884 with Raffaele Fiorini, an influential figure in the revival of Italian violin making. …
Cesare Candi (1869–1947): A Genoese Violin Maker with a Lasting Legacy Read More »
Stefano Scarampella was one of the most influential Italian violin makers of the early 20th century, widely regarded for his bold, expressive style and strong connection to the Mantuan tradition. Born in Brescia in 1843, Scarampella came from a family rooted in woodworking and musical craftsmanship. His older brother, Giuseppe Scarampella, was already an accomplished …
Stefano Scarampella (1843–1925): A Central Figure in Mantua’s Violin Making Revival Read More »
Joseph Grubaugh and Sigrun Seifert are widely regarded as one of the finest violin making teams working today. Partners in both craft and life, this husband-and-wife duo has been collaborating in the art of violin making for over forty years, earning international acclaim for their instruments’ exceptional tone, refined craftsmanship, and elegant aesthetic. Their instruments …
Joseph Grubaugh and Sigrun Seifert – Violin Makers Read More »
