Paul Bailly Violin maker (1844 – 1907) A member of a family of Mirecourt violin and bow-makers, Paul Bailly was born in 1844 and studied with Jules Gaillard before moving to Brussels to work for Nicolas Vuillaume. He then moved to Paris to work for Nicolas Vuillaume’s famous brother, Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume. He travelled extensively, working …
Honoré (Jean-Joseph) Derazey Violin maker Honoré Derazey was born in Darney France, a small town near Mirecourt in 1794. He apprenticed in Mirecourt before moving to Paris to work for a number of shops including J.B. Vuillaume between 1830 and 1839. In 1840 he returned to Mirecourt to establish his own workshop which quickly became …
Like a fine wine, violins just get better with age. Vintage violins allow us to touch and listen to the past, bringing our musical lineage to life. When you play an antique violin, you become a part of history. The instrument’s voice sings the story of its long journey to you. Maybe it began its …
Antique violins – Why violinists love to play centuries old violins Read More »
High-profile string players are always raving about their antique instruments from master makers. Yo-Yo Ma famously plays an eighteenth-century Domenico Montagnana cello, and Hilary Hahn’s violin of choice is a Jean Baptiste Vuillaume copy of an even older model, Niccolò Paganini’s beloved Guarneri del Gesù “Il cannone.” But what about violists? While there are some …
Professional Violas – Why Owning a Modern Viola is the Best Choice Read More »
Whether you are a beginner or a professional, buying a viola is an investment. Before you purchase your instrument, you should conduct some research to understand what goes into a viola’s cost. Thankfully, Dolce Violins has done the work for you! In this guide, we will explore the differences between five different viola price points: …
A lot of factors go into producing the sound on a violin, like the violinist’s skills, the room’s acoustics, and the skill of the violin maker. However, there is one more element that has a crucial effect on the music: the tonewood used to make the violin. This critical material makes up the overwhelming majority …
Even if you are not familiar with the names of many violin makers, you have heard of Stradivari. The name is sacred in musical circles, and an authentic Stradivari violin can fetch millions at auction. For modern appraisers, a violin’s price directly correlates to how close it is to Antonio Stradivari and his contemporaries. Stradivari …
Early Violin Making in Mirecourt The origin of violin-making in the northeastern French city of Mirecourt is debated, but a vibrant picture emerges from 17th century records. As many as 50 luthiers were operating in Mirecourt in the 1600s, and the oldest surviving apprenticeship contracts date as far back as 1629. The Mirecourt Guild and Expanded Economy In 1732, …
Mirecourt – A Storied History of French Violin Making Read More »
Congratulations! You’ve decided to play the violin. Maybe you’re a beginner, or perhaps you’re looking to take your study to the next level. Either way, you’re probably in the market for a new instrument. There are many factors involved in choosing a violin. But one of the biggest is violin cost. Violin prices can range …
Understanding Violin Cost: 3 Things You Need to Know About a Violin’s Price Read More »
In 1945, Fred Wilfer, a violin maker, found himself engaged in international espionage. Using a borrowed US Army truck, he was smuggling goods from the Czech region of Bohemia and his hometown of Markneukirchen, both of which had fallen behind the Iron Curtain, to West Germany. As he reached the border, Czech officials called for …
