Stradivari married his second wife, antonia maria zambelli, on 24 august 1699. Italian violinmaker, associated throughout his life with cremona, where he brought the craft of violin making to its highest pitch of perfection. The instrument itself was to begin an unsettled period. He was born in or around cremona in 1644, and his 71year career is a vivid account of early mastery, fluid and ingenious innovation, and indelible craftsmanship and artistry. Acoustic evolution of old italian violins from amati to. Pollens notes ruefully that it is unlikely that stradivari, as well as his predecessors and contemporaries. Hill, 9780486204253, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
The legacy of antonio stradivaris lifetime of violinmaking is a heady subject for a firsttimeout author. Index of 3,500 names of past or present stradivari owners. Woodward notes, his productivity, never high to begin with, has slowed with age. Antonio stradivari, his life and work dover books on music. While only about 650 original stradivari instruments harps, guitars, violas, cellos, violins survive, thousands of violins have been made in tribute to stradivari, copying his model and bearing labels that read stradivarius on them. The project gutenberg ebook of antonio stradivari, by horace. These at first followed the smaller of amatis models, solidly. At a very tender age, he started his apprenticeship with the famous violinmaker nicolo amati.
Mobi files can be read on kindles, epub files can be read on other ebook readers, and zip files can be downloaded and read on your computer. Antonio stradivari his life and work 1644 1737 by hill. This free downloadable ebook can be read on your computer or ereader. Join facebook to connect with antonio stradivari and others you may know. Some believe that he was the pupil of nicolas amati, the grandson of the great violin maker andrea amati. Read download antonio stradivari his life and work pdf. Hall said in an interview today, as a dealer who authenticated the violin last week. The new styles of violins and cellos that he developed were remarkable for their excellent tonal quality and became the basic design for all modern versions of the. Chapter four, stradivaris violoncellos internet cello society. The latinized form of his surname, stradivarius, as well as the colloquial strad are terms often used to refer to his instruments.
Even though antonio had a very long working life, it is impossible for him to have crafted more than 1,000 instruments entirely by. His violins and cellos remain the platonic ideal and the template for contemporary luthiers. I have an old violin which has inscribed inside antonius. Many of these are in museums and private collections, and many are used by the worlds leading string players. This is the definitive work on stradivarius and one of the great musicology books. Stradivari spent his entire life producing instruments, but only about 650 survive. Stradivari died in cremona on december 18, 1737, which, if the 1644 birth year is correct, probably made him 93 years old. See all 5 formats and editions hide other formats and editions.
Nov 26, 2016 his life can be divided into three periods. It sought to explain the unparalleled quality of his instruments and it contained a list of the best examples, placing the viotti third. His life and work 16441737 paperback june 1, 1963 by w. December 18, 1737 cremona, italy italian violin maker. The violin dates back to 17, when the famed cremona violinmaker antonio stradivari was at the height of his prowess. Maybe for once in his life he was telling the truth, ms.
Antonio stradivari was born in 1644, and established his shop in cremona, italy, where he remained active until his death in 1737. Antonio stradivari italian violin maker britannica. And this apartness was as obvious to his sons, and even the bergonzis who lived on in the casa stradivari, making and selling new instruments as well as salvaging and finishing partly completed work for a good 20 years after antonios death. There are no significant proofs of his birth date, but he belonged to a family of nobles. Here he matured in his art and created his greatest works, most notably the violins that set the standard for perfection in the music world. Leading appraisers of fine musical instruments agree that in the art of making violins, no one has ever gone beyond the achievement of antonio stradivari. It covers construction methods, woods, varnishes, types of instruments, and special features as well as the life of the composer. With the new violin and the new colours to work with, i started reimagining the works that i had played for years. Old italian violins like those made by stradivari are famous for their ability to project their sound. His life and work dover books on music kindle edition by hill, w.
During the 1680s, stradivari moved away from nicolo amatis style, experimenting with his own soundhole shapes, softer varnish, wider purfling the inlaid border near the edges of the violins back and front. Treatises on the life and work of the patriarch of violin makers. A stradivarius is a stringed instrument built by members of the stradivari family, particularly antonio stradivari. The new styles of violins and cellos that he developed were remarkable for their excellent tonal quality and became the basic design for all modern versions of the instruments. The first spelling antonius stradivarius is his formal latin name, the second spelling antonio stradivari is the more common italian name.
Antonio stradivari students britannica kids homework. The prospectus of the hills standard work on the guarneri fami ly. The extant examples of his work are numerousbut those from the great period 17001720 are relatively few. Stradivari pattern violin hand varnished and set up by paul michael stanton. You praised him, praised the great sabastian too who made that fine chaconne. During his career he produced at least 1,100 finest instruments,violins, violas,cellos,guitars. Antonio stradivari by horace william petherick teaching.
Instruments of antonio stradivari, with records of prices paid. May 14, 1987 a stolen stradivarius, a 51year old secret. Violins such as this one were largely made for students to learn on, and besides the models with stradivarius labels there are other examples that are named after famous early violin makers and have spurious paper labels with those names inside the body. Buy antonio stradivari, his life and work, 16441737 at. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Clearly stradivari marked the position of the nicks from the inside of the plate and with a compass, not as most modern makers now do, with an outside fhole template.
Stradivarius is recovered unharmed after theft the new york. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading antonio stradivari. Antonio stradivari was born in cremona, italy, where the violinmaking tradition was already more than 100 years old when he was born. Antonio stradivari biography life, family, children. Antonius stradivarius and antonio stradivari are the same person. Full text of antonio stradivari, his life and work 16441737. Pdf antonio stradivari his life and work download full. Catalog start subject stradivari, antonio, approximately 16441737 remove constraint subject. Domenico, where he lived and worked until his death in december 1737, when he is thought to have been 93 years old.
The woods used included spruce for the top, willow for the internal blocks and linings, and maple for the back. Antonio stradivari, violin, cremona, 1709, the viotti tarisio. Publisher s half calf, green cloth with stradivari arms in red and giltstamped on top cover. I talian violin maker antonio stradivari created instruments that are still considered the finest ever made.
Many instruments were a failure but this lead to the third period of his life. Several of his violins survive and they are more desired by players than those of any other artisan instrument maker. Stradivari moved to cremonas piazza san domenico in 1680, and from this point his work became more consistent and more prolific. Antonio stradivari, italian violin maker who brought the craft of violinmaking to its highest pitch of perfection. Of the more than 1,200 instruments built by stradivari over his 60year career, about 500 are still in circulation today. Surely part of any explanation of stradivaris greatness must reside in his unique combination of curiosity and almost unprecedentedly long life. It is clear from the number of forms throughout his career that he experimented with some of the dimensions of his instruments. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Before entering upon the subject of the labels inserted by stradivari in his instruments, we think a short statement on the much misunderstood question of the importance of those found in most old instruments will prove interesting. Furthermore, the vowel qualities of stradivari violins show reduced backness and height.
He took a basic concept for the violin and refined its geometry and design to produce an instrument which has served violin makers ever since as the standard. A third son, paolo, was a cloth merchant, but managed the business end of the stradivari family workshop after antonius death. The general proportions were approximately the same, but in outline we find stradivari s work more symmetrical, the elongated and less curved bout sharing more equally in the proportions of the whole. For over three decades leading up to 1700, antonio stradivari 16441737 applied his inspired instinct, vision and innovation with ferocious attention to detail and rigorous business acumen, to the artistic and commercial challenges of running an international highart workshop from his base of operations in cremona, italy. Antonio stradivari, his life and work, 16441737 by hill, william henry, 18571927. Stradivaris success in violin building was only matched by his neighbor, giuseppe guarneri del gesu dg, or joseph guarnerius. By 1720, his failing health including his poor eyesight started affecting his work and his sons along with another employee helped him during this period. Therefore, the presence of a stradivarius label in a violin has no bearing on whether the instrument is a. The incomparable visual beauty of his instruments and the infinite variety and magnificence of tone of which they are capable have by this time passed into the realm of legend. Photographs of 400 stradivari instruments with 1,500 views. Even if faber doesnt draw any startling new conclusions. The first biography of stradivari appeared in the middle of the century by francois fetis. During the 1690s, he worked to perfect a long pattern violin, with a longer, narrower body and a.
The famous violinist and composer joseph joachim, who had been presented with the violin on the occasion of his jubilee celebrations, died in 1907, five years after the publication of the comprehensive work by the london violin making experts. In 1902, the brothers hillwilliam henry, arthur frederick, and alfred ebsworth, scions of a british family that had been in the stringed instrument business for nearly 300 yearsproduced what remains the benchmark for stradivari scholarship, antonio stradivari. Antonio stradivari his life and work 16441737 we hill. Feb 07, 2014 a stradivarius violin that was stolen in late january from the concertmaster of the milwaukee symphony orchestra was found in an attic and appears to be undamaged, the authorities said. Antonio stradivari, his life and work, 16441737 walmart. His interpretation of geometry and design for the violin has served as a conceptual model for violin makers for more than 250 years. Antonio stradivari his life and work 16441737 we hill and co 1980. Antonio stradivari, his life and work 16441737, 1902. The presence of a stradivarius label does not confirm that the instrument is a genuine work of stradivari. The messiah was as exceptional to stradivari as it is to us. Antonio stradivari his life and work first edition. See all 4 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. By 1666 stradivari was producing instruments independently as well as continuing to work at his mentors an advisor and guide shop, which he probably did until amatis death in 1684. Aentonio stradivari, also known by the latin form of.
Inventory of 700 known or recorded stradivari string instruments. A stolen stradivarius, a 51year old secret the new york times. Master at work people have long puzzled over stradivaris secret. Not only the later generations of instrument makers who tirelessly copied his works in the hope of achieving similar levels of.
In 1667 he was married to francesca feraboschi and set up his own household and shop. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. His is one of the less expensive models, costing him only four hundred thousand dollars. The bowed instruments are famous for the quality of their sound, which has.
No one has ever significantly improved on the instruments stradivari designed. Shortly before the year of his death, joachim had donated the instrument to his nephew harold. May 05, 2009 antonio stradivari was born in 1644 and set up his shop in cremona, italy, where he made violins and other stringed instruments harps, guitars, violas and cellos until his death in 1737. Stradivari definition of stradivari by merriamwebster. Antonio stradivari was most likely born in 1644 in cremona, italy. In essence, all signatures are now properly bound in. Antonio stradivari biography stradivari violins ingles. Antonio stradivari, his life and work dover books on music paperback 1 jun. Antonio stradivari his life and work by hill w h abebooks. Jun 10, 2002 joseph nagyvary set the world of violinmaking afire in 1977 with his research into the legendary stradivarius violins. Collectors have paid many thousands of dollars for. Antonio stradivarius of cremona was the greatest of instrument makers.
Antonio stradivari is almost universally regarded as the greatest violin maker in history, and the value of his instruments reflects that exalted status. The instruments made by antonio stradivari in the 17th and 18th century. Most are violins, but there are also a few violas, cellos, guitars, mandolins, and harps. Other men will make other violins, but no man shall make a better one. Even fingerings changed as i discovered that i could use different strings on the violin for certain passages, because of the clarity high up on the a, d and g strings, which allowed me to attempt things i wouldnt have dreamed. But such is his almost mythical status that to attribute any part of his work to other hands can seem blasphemous.
Antonio stradivari biography childhood, life achievements. Stradivari s wife francesca died on 20 may 1698, and received an elaborate funeral five days later. Antonio stradivari, his life and work 16441737 1909. First edition of this welldocumented scholarly work prepared by a family. Dec 06, 20 what you have here is a stradivarius model violin that was made in germany at the turn of the 20th century or even a bit later. He finishes poems at the rate that antonio stradivari constructed a violin. Your soul was lifted by the wings today hearing the master of the violin. Many of the instruments produced during this time bore the inscription under the discipline of antonio stradivari.
He is credited with several design innovations and refinements that helped bring the violin to its modern form. Stradivari probably worked in the loft and attic, and he stayed in this house for the rest of his life. Antonio stradivari, his life and work by william h. Joshua bell on the stradivaris of his life focus the strad. Antonio stradivari instrument maker for the divine. In 1680, he opened his own workshop in the piazza s. Full text of antonio stradivari, his life and work 16441737 see other formats.
Antonio stradivari, his life and work, 16441737 by hill, william and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Antonio stradivari his life and work hill first edition. Antonio stradivari, his life and work 16441737 by hill, william henry, 18571927. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. Hill, alfred ebsworth hill at barnes due to covid19, orders may be delayed. Details about antonio stradivari his life and work 16441737 we hill and co 1980. God needs antonio by george eliot online literature. The objective view must be that antonio did not make over a thousand instruments entirely by himself, even over his remarkably long life. Discusses string instrument construction methods, woods, varnishes, known instruments, types of instruments, life, special features. For more than three hundred years, stradivarius instruments have been played, heard and admired by millions of people around the globe. The reputed golden period of stradivari late in lifehis later modifications of.
An italian violinmaker, antonio stradivari was known to revolutionize the design of violins which are still now known for their amazing tonal quality. As a boy the orphan antonio stradivari heard for the first time in his life the sound of a violin and he was fascinated by its voice. Antonio stradivari, cremona, 1715, the david hochstein. Stradivarius definition, a violin or other instrument made by stradivari or his family. There is a dispiriting side to reading this excellent book as we are continually reminded of the elusiveness of stradivaris ideals in relation to form, setup, andmost importantlysound. I dont know how recent your information is, but it is my understanding that the. The story of antonio stradivaris sons is a tricky one to negotiate. Lateperiod instruments made from the late s until his death in show signs of stradivaris advancing age. Anatomy of a stradivarius scientific american blog network. Bbc culture why cant anyone improve on stradivarius violins. Read online antonio stradivari his life and work and download antonio stradivari his life and work book full in pdf formats. One of my customers is a russian cellist whose brother also a russian, though a violinist owns a stradivarius.
Stradivarius observed, god needs violins to send his music into the world, and if any violins are defective gods music will be spoiled. Antonio stradivari, his life and work, 16441737 by hill. Vincenzo panormo was also one of the many luthiers who based many of his violins on strads. Dec 05, 2011 the violin dates back to 17, when the famed cremona violinmaker antonio stradivari was at the height of his prowess. Stradivari was still a pupil of nicolo amati in 1666 when he began to place his own label on violins of his making. I think i have a antonio stradivari violin yahoo answers. In the second, or middle period of his life, he experimented a lot with his new designs. Well, this is not the first boook on stradivaris life and works i have had, but somehow they have disappeared from my collection, mostly due to moving.
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