For Semi Professional Violin DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS and EXTRA PHOTOS please click

MASTER VIOLINS:

Master Violins DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND PHOTOGRAPHS:

(SN:200 – S$2190) Information on “the Cremonese Stradivarius” violin (4/4) of 1715 

The “Cremonese Strad” copy is a very fine quality violin with excellent craftmanship and can be described as follows: balanced on all 4 strings. a powerful, bright, rich tone suitable for solo performance. It has a good response, which makes it a good choice for advancing players. The 2 piece book-matched top spruce is extremely fine grain, and not made too thin, giving the violin the potential to grow into a mature old instrument.

About the Original Stradivarius “Cremonese” – made in 1715:

The Cremonese violin is one of Stradivari’s greatest masterpieces made during his Golden Period. The Cremonese was once owned by the famous violinist, Joseph Joashim. It was returned permanently to the Italian city of Cremona in 1961. The choice of wood, pattern, arching, varnish, and sound is proof of Stradivari’s genius. The instrument has inspired some of the greatest makers in history and continues to be an inspiration today. The Cremonese is unique in the way it combines the sweetness and grandeur of a good Strad, while having the depth of a fine del Gesu. Original “Cremonese” Dimensions: Body length 357mm, Upper Bout 168mm, Center Bout 112mm, Lower Bout 207.5mm.

The Construction and Materials of this Violin:

• · Varnish:          Italian antique varnished
• · Top:               Excellence Aged Russian spruce dried for 20 years
• · Back:              Selected Seasoned Flamed Maple Back dried for 15years
• · Fitting:           Ebony  or rosewood fitting
• · Fingerboard: Advance Ebony
• · Soundpost:    European spruce
• · String:            Synthetic string
• · Bridge:           France Aubert bridge
• · Purfling:        Hand inlay

The Dimensions of this copy of the “Cremonese” violin are:

– body length: 357mm; lower bout: 208mm; upper bout: 170mm; middle: 113mm.

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(SN:206 S$1890) Master Violin-Copy of Joseph Guarneri Del Gesu “Cannon” Violin of the year 1743-Russian Spruce

About the Original Guarneri Del Gesu “Cannon” Violin – made in 1743:

“The Cannon” violin is also known by the variants Il Cannone del Gesù, Cannone or Canon, and is often appended with the maker’s name “Guarneri del Gesù” which is also the Guarneri trademark. The violin received its name as the Cannon from a former owner, the Italian violin virtuoso Niccolo Paganini (1782–1840), because of its power and resonance. Paganini called it “my cannon violin,” referring to the explosive sound that he was able to make it produce. This is considered one of Guarneri’s masterpieces. The violin has distinct features that set it apart from modern instruments, including a slightly shorter and thicker sound box and a markedly curved neck. Its tone is distinctly bright, yet full. The violin has survived intact and whole and was given by Paganini to the city of Genoa. Original “Cannon” dimensions: Body length 354mm., Upper Bout 168mm., Center Bout 111mm, Lower Bout 207mm.

The Dimensions of this copy of the “Cannon” violin are:

– body length: 355mm; lower bout: 205mm; upper bout: 165mm; middle: 115mm.

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(SN:210 S$1890) Master Violin-Copy of Joseph Guarneri Del Gesu “Cannon” Violin of the year 1743-Russian Spruce

The Dimensions of the violin are:

– body length: 355mm; lower bout: 205mm; upper bout: 165mm; middle: 115mm.

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(SN:213 S$1890) Master Violin-Copy of Stradivarius “Viotti” of the year 1709-Russian Spruce

About the Original Stradivarius “Viotti” Violin:

This violin is one of the best masterpieces made by Stradivari during his golden period. If the “Messiah” is preserved in a superior condition, then we can say that the “Viotti” is in a very good condition. Besides the wonderful craftsmanship, the wood is superior and the ruby-like varnish also makes this violin incomparable. In France, the Viotti was admired and highly sought after among the instrument makers of the era, most notably Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume. The first biography of Stradivari, authored by Francois Fetis, explained the unparalleled quality of his instruments and contained a list of the best examples, placing the Viotti third.

The Dimensions of this copy of the “Viotti” violin are:

– body length: 358mm; lower bout: 208mm; upper bout: 167mm; middle: 111mm.

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(SN:215 S$1890) Master Violin-Copy of Nicolaus Amati Violin-1670-Russian Spruce aged 20yrs

The Construction and Materials of this Violin:

• · Varnish:           Italian antique varnished
• · Top:                Excellence Aged Russian spruce dried for 20 years
• · Back:              Selected Seasoned Flamed Maple Back dried for 15years
• · Fitting:           Ebony  or rosewood fitting
• · Fingerboard: Advance Ebony
• · Soundpost:    European spruce
• · String:            Synthetic string
• · Bridge:           France Aubert bridge
• · Purfling:        Hand inlay

The Dimensions of the violin are:

– body length: 355mm; lower bout: 206mm; upper bout: 166mm; middle: 117mm.

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(SN:218 – S$1890) Master Violin-Copy of Joseph Guarneri Del Gesu Violin-1730-Russian Spruce.

ABOUT Giuseppe Guarneri ‘Del Gesu’  ranks today as one of the two greatest violin makers of all time, although the marked difference between the appearance and sound of his instruments and those of Stradivari makes comparison almost impossible. Some simply prefer Stradivari, and some prefer del Gesu. Giuseppe trained with his father. The earliest known insruments that are entirely his own work date from the late 1720s, but it was not until 1731 that he began to insert the label with the monogram IHS. He seems to have been strongly influenced by the Brescian school, and his work combines the best of the Cremonese tradition with the stretched C-bouts and exaggerated f-holes of Maggini and da Salo. Tonally, his instruments retain much of the sweetness of a Stradivari, but have a seemingly unlimited depth and darkness of sound, irrespective of the pressure of the bow. It is the later instruments that have come to represent all that is characteristic of del Gesu the unbridled creativity, the astonishing disregard for the details of workmanship, and the sheer daring of design and construction that are the natural conclusion of the deeply ingrained individuality of the Guarneri family. The rapid spread of del Gesu’s fame in the mid-19th century was largely due to the patronage of Paganini, who played the ‘Cannon’ of 1743 for most of his career.

The Construction and Materials of this Violin:

• · Varnish:           Italian antique varnished
• · Top:                Excellence Aged Russian spruce dried for 20 years
• · Back:               Selected Seasoned Flamed Maple Back dried for 15years
• · Fitting:           Ebony  or rosewood fitting
• · Fingerboard: Advance Ebony
• · Soundpost:    European spruce
• · String:            Synthetic string
• · Bridge:           France Aubert bridge
• · Purfling:        Hand inlay

The Dimensions of the violin are:

– body length: 355mm; lower bout: 208mm; upper bout: 168mm; middle: 115mm._

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(SN:223 S$1690) Master Violin-Copy of Guarneri Del Gesu “Goldberg-Baron Vita” Violin-1730

The Goldberg is named after a famous violinist, Szymon Goldberg, who had a long and distinguished career as violinist, conductor, and teacher. It is currently played by the violinist Nicholas Kitchen.

The “twin” of the Baron Vitta Guarneri, is the Kreisler Guarneri del Gesù that had belonged to the legendary violinist Fritz Kreisler. Both the Baron Vitta and the Kreisler Guarneri were made in the 1730s by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù from the same blocks of spruce and maple.

The Construction and Materials of this Violin:

• · Varnish:         Antiqued varnished
• · Top:                Aged spruce dried for 15 years
• · Back:              Selected Seasoned Flamed Maple Back dried for 15 years
• · Fitting:           Boxwood fittings
• · Fingerboard: Ebony
• · Soundpost:    European spruce
• · String:            Synthetic string
• · Purfling:        Hand inlay

The Dimensions of the violin are:

– body length: 355mm; lower bout: 206mm; upper bout: 166mm; middle: 110mm.

SN:223 S$1690-Guarneri Del Gesu “Goldberg-Baron Vita”-1730

(SN:223 S$1690) Copy of Guarneri Del Gesu “Goldberg-Baron Vita” Violin-1730

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(SN:227 S$1890)  Copy of Stradivarius Francesca 1694

This copy of the Francesca Stradivarius has a convincing antiqued varnish which makes it convincingly antique in appearance.

The Construction and Materials of this Violin:

• · Varnish:         Antiqued varnished
• · Top:                Aged spruce dried for 15 years
• · Back:              Selected Seasoned Flamed Maple Back dried for 15 years
• · Fitting:           Jujube fittings
• · Fingerboard: Ebony
• · Soundpost:    European spruce
• · String:            Synthetic string
• · Purfling:        Hand inlay

The Dimensions of the violin are:

– body length: 355mm; lower bout: 206mm; upper bout: 166mm; middle: 110mm.

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(SN:238 S$1890) Master Violin-Copy of Nicolaus Amati “Alard” Violin of the year 1649-Russian Spruce

The Construction and Materials of this Violin:

• · Vanish:           Italian antique varnished
• · Top:                Excellence Aged Russian spruce dried for 20 years
• · Back:              Selected Seasoned Flamed Maple Back dried for 15years
• · Fitting:           Ebony  or rosewood fitting
• · Fingerboard: Advance Ebony
• · Soundpost:    European spruce
• · String:            Synthetic string
• · Bridge:           France Aubert bridge
• · Purfling:        Hand inlay

The Dimensions of the violin are:

– body length: 352mm; lower bout: 202mm; upper bout: 163mm; middle: 110mm.

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(SN:239 – S$1890) Master Violin-Copy of Joseph Guarneri Del Gesu Violin-1730-Russian Spruce.

ABOUT Giuseppe Guarneri ‘Del Gesu’  ranks today as one of the two greatest violin makers of all time, although the marked difference between the appearance and sound of his instruments and those of Stradivari makes comparison almost impossible. Some simply prefer Stradivari, and some prefer del Gesu. Giuseppe trained with his father. The earliest known insruments that are entirely his own work date from the late 1720s, but it was not until 1731 that he began to insert the label with the monogram IHS. He seems to have been strongly influenced by the Brescian school, and his work combines the best of the Cremonese tradition with the stretched C-bouts and exaggerated f-holes of Maggini and da Salo. Tonally, his instruments retain much of the sweetness of a Stradivari, but have a seemingly unlimited depth and darkness of sound, irrespective of the pressure of the bow. It is the later instruments that have come to represent all that is characteristic of del Gesu the unbridled creativity, the astonishing disregard for the details of workmanship, and the sheer daring of design and construction that are the natural conclusion of the deeply ingrained individuality of the Guarneri family. The rapid spread of del Gesu’s fame in the mid-19th century was largely due to the patronage of Paganini, who played the ‘Cannon’ of 1743 for most of his career.

The Construction and Materials of this Violin:

• · Varnish:           Italian antique varnished
• · Top:                Excellence Aged Russian spruce dried for 20 years
• · Back:               Selected Seasoned Flamed Maple Back dried for 15years
• · Fitting:           Ebony  or rosewood fitting
• · Fingerboard: Advance Ebony
• · Soundpost:    European spruce
• · String:            Synthetic string
• · Bridge:           France Aubert bridge
• · Purfling:        Hand inlay

The Dimensions of the violin are:

– body length: 355mm; lower bout: 208mm; upper bout: 168mm; middle: 115mm.

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(ON ORDER – S$1890) Master Violin-Copy of Stradivarius Messiah of the year 1716-Russian Spruce

About the Original Stradivarius “Messiah” Violin:

The Messiah is considered the greatest surviving Stradivari violin by most leading experts. Thickness graduation maps of the “Messiah” violin show similar characteristics to those of the Betts (1704), Cremonese (1715), Tuscan-Medici (1716), and other Golden Age Stradivarius violins. Top plates are generally thin (2-3 mm), with the thickest areas (3-4 mm) occurring between the c-bouts and the f-holes. Back plates have a central concentric zone of greatest thickness (4-5 mm), in which the center of thickness lies distinctly left of the centerline in the Cremonese, Tuscan-Medici, and Kashininov violins. The thickness pattern on the back of the Messiah violin is almost identical to that of the Cremonese violin, including asymmetrical center of thickness points located more than 30 mm left of center. The Original “Messiah” Dimensions: Body length 355mm, Upper Bout 167.5mm, Center Bout 108.3mm, Lower Bout 208mm.

The Dimensions of this copy of the “Messiah” violin are:

– body length: 355mm; lower bout: 208mm; upper bout: 167mm; middle: 116mm.

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(ON ORDER by request) Copy of Giovanni Paolo Maggini Violin-1630

ABOUT THE INSTRUMENT: Loud, roundness, responsive. This gorgeous instrument delivers a powerful, mature tone with great projection and response. The instrument is crafted carefully giving players a wide variety of tonal qualities with the highest standards of playability.

The Construction and Materials of this Violin:

• · Varnish:          Italian antique varnished
• · Top:                Excellence Aged Russian spruce dried for 20 years
• · Back:              Selected Seasoned Flamed Maple Back dried for 15years
• · Fitting:           Ebony  or rosewood fitting
• · Fingerboard: Advance Ebony
• · Soundpost:    European spruce
• · String:            Synthetic string
• · Bridge:           France Aubert bridge
• · Purfling:        Hand inlay

The Dimensions of the violin are:

– body length: 360mm; lower bout: 215mm; upper bout: 170mm; middle: 120mm.

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How To Save a Copy of a Video to your Computer:

1. click the YouTube sign on bottom right of the video

2. copy the Youtube address of the Youtube video,

for e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss1URTJYlfQ

3. go to  www.keepvid.com

4. paste your youtube link into the Download tab where it says: “enter the link of the video you want to download” then

5. click the download button on the right of the entered link (not the one underneath!)

6. wait and right click the link that says Download MP4 then

7. select “save link as”, this will take you to a popup on your computer to save the MP4 wherever you select to save it.

8. Click save in the bottom right and you are done! To play this file just click on the file and your media program will play it without needing to go on the internet.

For the 2014 Student Concert Videos please click on the following links: