Meisteratelier für Geigenbau · Bamberg
Di
09
Jul
2019
2 Violas
Making violas is always a great joy for us. There seems to be slightly more room to express ourselves, as the field is not so much dominated by a „perfect“ form (as the Forma B for cello or the grand Stradivari or Guarneri models are) in a sense of a model that is suitable for a contemporary musician. There is the matter of size (not too big but sounding like that) and the matter of sound (sounding big, dark, deep and colorful, but still focused with carrying power and a fast, direct response). Stradivari seems not to have experimented as much with violas as he did with violins and cellos. Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù did not make a viola at all.
What comes close to a „perfect form“ - at least it is very much in fashion these days - is the contralto form by Andrea Guarneri which produced as famous instruments as the 1676 „Conte Vitale“ or the 1697 „Primrose“ (which is essentially the work of Giuseppe Guarneri „filius andreae“, the father of „del Gesù“). With 41,3 cm body length it is not too small, but still manageable for many players. We have added some pictures of a viola we built on this model, inspired by the „Primrose“ and the 1690 „Josefowitz“ with its enormous archings. This kind of arching still is rooted very deep in the Amati tradition, resulting in a quite silvery yet deep voice.
This model was the departing point for us to create a model which would transfer the developments of Stradivari’s and especially Guarneri del Gesù’s violins to the viola.
At first we changed the outline. Using a double cross mould (see article in our Testimonials’ section), the main dimension defined by the blocks and the upper and lower width were kept the same. The middle bouts were enlarged and the curves flattened, which is one of the characteristics of late Cremonese instruments. All was done by eye and free style, so the resulting outline is irregular and asymmetric.
The archings are flatter, but fuller to the edges. The sound holes are inspired by the 1731 „Messeas“ cello (made by del Gesù).
The beautiful one-piece back on the slab corresponds well with the not too regular one-piece top with a rather high density (about 0,47 g/cm³).
The resulting sound is very full, broad, dark and deep but with shine and a strong carrying power.
Mo
25
Jun
2018
We are moving our workshop!
At the moment it looks quite chaotic (at the old adress), but we promise, it will be better in July!
Please understand that we cannot take any appointments at the moment and only a limited number in July.
Our new adress:
Heinrichsdamm 7, 96047 Bamberg
Mi
20
Sep
2017
Photo: VDB Photography
New cello:
This 3/4 will be lent to a talented young musician at the end of the competition "Con-takt junior" , taking place September 22nd-24th.
It was made on behalf of the German foundation "Esther und Silvius Dornier Stiftung" and provided to "con-takt junior".
Mi
21
Sep
2016
Photo: VDB Photography
Klanggestalten 2016
We are very happy to have been invited again to the Klanggestalten exhibition this year. It takes place in Berlin from 4.-6. November. It is a great opportunity to play and compare the instruments and bows of Europe's fines instrument and bow makers.
More information, as well about the con-takt project with students from the academy of music "Hanns Eisler":
Mo
07
Mär
2016
Photo: VDB Photography
New cello model:
This cello is an interpretation of the styles of Andrea Guarneri and his son, Joseph filius Andreae Guarneri.
The tonal ideas behind the low arching (full to the edges) and the robust graduations are a transmission of the late violins by the grandson, Joseph Guarneri "del Gesù".
More pictures:
http://www.dreysse-hoffmann.de/startseite-deutsch/instrumente/
For music.