A violin is the lifeblood of the violinist. As a professional
musician, distinguishing yourself is crucial. Every ambitious
musician longs to play an original instrument designed by an
Italian Master such as Antonio Stradivari or Guarnieri del Gesù.
Their sound is unmistakable and resonates in every note. Few can
afford such a luxury, though. Until now, the solution has been
to buy a new violin made in the style of the Old Masters in an
attempt to recapture that singular sound. But these two violins
can never produce the same sound, despite one being a copy of
the other. Even one Stradivarius differs from the next, although
the violins were made by the same hand.
Therefore, when
crafting a new handmade violin, the question is: Is it better to
strive to follow a standard process that is not your own? To try
and imitate the Old Masters? Or should we follow the rules of
the past while making violins with a unique sound best suited to
modern violinists?
My solution: a handmade violin that
provides a full-bodied style, inspired by the Old Masters, made
in the tradition of ancient Greek and Roman open-air theatres,
and crafted to match your professional sound character and
specifications.
The latter is what the Old Masters taught us and how I handmake
violins. I am inspired by the past but find the creative freedom
to craft the best style as a modern violin maker. Ancient Greek
and Roman architects created open-air theatres with enviable
acoustics using harmonic ratios. I use the same principles when
designing your violin.
Pablo Nassarre (1724) describes how
the different parts of a stringed instrument should be
harmonically proportional to each other: “Keeping the said
proportions, they make it instrument full-voiced.” These
harmonic ratios set the basis for the rough dimensions of the
instrument. The rest is hand drawing, the highest form of
artistic creativity. This results in a wonderful modern
instrument with a powerful and balanced sound, designed along
the basic principles of Greek and Roman architecture. In effect,
each handmade violin is a miniature open-air theatre with
perfect acoustics.
I have always admired traditional Japanese blacksmithing. Modern
practitioners of the art blend centuries-old techniques with
their own artistic personalities. The result is a precision tool
that will withstand a lifetime of use.
To me, this blending
of artistry and tradition represents the way in which I create
violins, and I use tools handmade in Japan when I make your
violin. I care about keeping tradition alive while bringing a
modern sensibility to the art, as these blacksmiths do with
their craft.
Your violin will have the best of both worlds
– and will be handmade, from the tools to the handcrafting of
the wood. A truly one-of-a-kind stringed instrument.
This is the most common question asked of a modern violin maker
and also the most difficult to answer. Good stringed instruments
can be found on the market for a few thousand euros; if you are
not an ambitious violinist, this is a suitable solution. Fine
handmade instruments are something different, however. The best
violin for you is crafted by a maker to your custom proportions
and sound character preference, using the sophisticated
techniques of a master luthier. If built with quality technique
and materials, a violin can last hundreds of years. So the
correct question is: how much does that violin have to be worth
to inspire you and enhance your reputation and personal
esteem?
Contact me to discuss the best modern violin made
expressly for your needs and to your specifications. An original
handmade instrument that shows the world your personal flair and
professionalism.
Can I play violin with small hands? Until now, musicians with
small hands had to sacrifice the sound of a full-size violin by
playing a 7/8 or even ¾-sized instrument. For a professional
musician, this is inconceivable. There is no reason why you
should not be able to play a quality violin with a full-sized
sound.
My solution: an instrument designed according to
harmonic proportions and customized to suit your hands. The
result is a unique, professionally handmade violin with the
sound of a 4/4. Your violin will be unique to you – made
specifically for your hands, easy to play, and having an
unparalleled sound immediately recognizable as your own.
Coming from an engineering background, I was fascinated with
other luthiers' precise and meticulous work. I studied under
musicians and master luthiers Dmitry Badiarov and Oleg
Ivanyschuk. In my apprenticeship, I discovered how fascinating
it is not only to build stringed instruments with a richer and
fuller sound but, above all, to develop one’s own style in the
designing process.
I follow an exacting process that combines the best in modern
violin making with the precision sound that comes from
harmonic ratios and ancient rules of crafting instruments.
