EarlyMusicNews.Org

“Jacek Wesolowski started playing violin at the age of 5 with classical studies at music school, later turning towards other genres such as folk and early music. From early on he was aware of the importance of a good instrument, not only in the quality of sound but the ergonomy and aesthetics of the form.

After completing his Masters degree in violin making at Poznan Academy of Music he went to England to specialise in early stringed instrument making at West Dean College under the famous early music specialist Roger Rose. He completed the three year programme with distinction. During this period he made instruments for various important musicians in both the modern and early music worlds (Alison Crum, Levon Chilingirian among others).

Jacek then moved to London where he was employed by the renowned dealers and restorers of fine stringed instruments, J & A Beare Ltd. He worked as a restorer and during his 5 years there he handled some of the best instruments in the world.

Now back in his hometown of Gdansk, Jacek Wesolowski has opened his own stringed instrument making and restoration studio. He also enjoys sharing some of his experience through giving lectures and continues his passion for research on specialist subjects related to stringed instruments.“

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Added on: Nov 08, 2012 | Hits: 153

“Matthew Farley is a luthier working in Cracow (Kraków), Poland. For four years he studied under master luthier Marco Salerno in his workshop in Zagarolo, Italy, assisting in the construction of over 100 instruments. Currently Matthew primarily makes bowed instruments for playing Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music. All of his instruments are carefully researched and designed in an attempt to approach the historical sound and appearance, while simultaneously taking into account the demands of modern musicians and modern concert venues.

Matthew builds each instrument of native European woods that are true to the materials largely available to and used by luthiers of the past. Starting from large billets of maple and spruce, he does all of the preliminary carpentry necessary to prepare instrument parts himself–thus allowing him to offer his instruments at a price reasonable for early music enthusiasts, as well as serious (but frugal) professionals. No part of his instruments is outsourced (save for the strings!), giving him the freedom to follow his own craftsman’s vision from the earliest stages to the final product.”

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Added on: Nov 08, 2012 | Hits: 154

“I am a musician, sharing my time between playing the baroque violin and the lute and making bows for baroque instruments. The bows I make are either based on existing historical models, or are reconstructions based on the combination of ongoing research into the aesthetic and acoustic principles of the 17th and 18th centuries, through the study of historical instruments and iconography, combined with the practical concert experience of my colleagues and my own.

My workshop is set in the beautiful hills of the Galilee in the north of Israel. I travel often to Europe for exhibitions and concerts.“

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Added on: Nov 08, 2012 | Hits: 92

“Since 1993 we  have been running the workshop ' Le Pin Lyre ', where I [Thomas Murach , Facteur de clavecins] make  harpsichords and Isabelle  restores violins, lutes and violes. In fact, we work together on lots of tasks, but that's the  basic setup. …

The following pages have some photos and links giving details on our work so far and are here for no other purpose than to encourage you, the musician and harpsichord player, to contact [us] …”

Tags: Thomas Murach, Facteur de clavecins

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Added on: Feb 26, 2012 | Hits: 213

Lute, theorbo and guitar maker.

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Added on: Feb 03, 2012 | Hits: 292

Construction and restoration of bowed instruments and bows. 

We ship to anywhere in Brazil by mail or carrier.

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Added on: Nov 28, 2011 | Hits: 356

“Floris-Jan van der Voort first started making classical violins and cello's.

In search for a more artistic approach, he went to West Dean College, where he studied the making of early bowed instruments. Since 1995, on leaving college, he specializes in instruments of the viol and baroque violin families.

His instruments are made to the highest standards, based on surviving originals and iconography.

They are valued by both professional and amateurs in many countries, including The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain and America.”

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Added on: Nov 13, 2011 | Hits: 247

“La mi Cinta Dorada appears as solution to the principal problem of early string instruments performers: to hold the instruments correctly. Our STRAPS are disigned in order to luthiers’ and performers’ needs, and have been tested by them before we sell them.
We work with first quality materials proceeding a rigorous process of confection of each product. Each STRAP is handmade and revised meticulously to guarantee a perfect finished and resistence.

Our principal care: ERGONOMICS and QUALITY of our products.“

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Added on: Sep 30, 2011 | Hits: 326

“ … I am particularly interested in the guitar of the early 19th century. The instruments described as "Romantic guitars" or "Biedermeier Gitarren" are of smaller shape. They comply with the acoustic aesthetics and musical demands of this period. …

Apart from conventional standard and reconditioning repairs I also carry out extensive restoration in my workshop. In most cases the aim of restauration is a playable instrument for musicians. Depending on condition and rarity of the instrument a pure conservative work may be more important. This decision must be made with the owner before restoration. I see conservative work as making each step of the restoration reversible.  …”

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Added on: Jul 16, 2011 | Hits: 288

“My workshop is in north Wiltshire, England. In the 38th year of my career, I find my time roughly divided into three equal segments.

MAKING: I specialise in late Renaissance lutes, but I also make guitars and other instruments. All my instruments are custom made and I am particularly pleased with collaborations with players who have special requirements, such as tone, decoration, playing technique or RSI.

RESTORATIONS: I have done restorations on many old guitars, particularly those by Louis Panormo and have restored several 18th century English guitars (a type of cittern).

REPAIRS: I do repairs for local musicians. Many classical, steel string and electric guitars pass through the workshop.“

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Added on: Jul 16, 2011 | Hits: 242

Hurdy Gurdy maker. 

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Added on: Apr 23, 2010 | Hits: 463

Stringed music instruments. 

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Added on: Mar 30, 2010 | Hits: 501

Medieval and Renaissance stringed musical instruments. 

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Added on: Mar 30, 2010 | Hits: 424

“Harps, Hurdy Gurdies, and Bowed Psalteries. There's nothing more magical than music made on these ancient instruments. Whether finding an honored place in your home or becoming a lifelong travelling companion, We make all our instruments with you in mind. Instruments should inspire the player..... bring out the magic in your hands.“

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Added on: Mar 30, 2010 | Hits: 460

“I have been a professional lute builder for almost 30 years.

Having started to play the lute as in the early seventies I decided to become a professional instrument maker. I completed a five year apprenticeship in the Dolmetsch workshops in Haslemere, where I learnt viol making under Roger Rose. In 1979 I established my first workshop in London and specialised in lute making.Since then I have made instruments for professional and amateur musicians In Europe, North America and Japan. Until 2002 I was Senior Lecturer on the Early Strings course at former London College of Furniture.“

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Added on: Dec 27, 2009 | Hits: 528

“

I first got interested in playing the guitar when I was 17. I liked ragtime/country blues (anyone remember Rev. Gary Davies?) and John Renbourn, though I never owned a steel string guitar. I taught myself to read music and started to explore the classical guitar repertoire. Then I went to college and got the chance of free(!) guitar lessons every week with Julian Byzantine, who taught me a lot about music as well as the guitar. My left hand underwent some pretty thorough training.

The next decisive moment was (about a year later) attending a lecture-recital given by Anthony Rooley in 1973. He was really friendly and enthusiastic and from that moment on I realised I had to play the lute. Being an impoverished student it took me some time to get around to buying a lute, and it wasn't until the end of my doctoral studies (1979) that I finally acquired a lute, aged 24 (me, not the lute). I filed off my nails, changed my right hand to "thumb-inside", put the guitar in its case and that was that.

In 1980 I attended my first Lute Society Summer School at Cheltenham. I was particularly impressed with Chris Wilson's recital of early 16th C music and went off to make myself a 6c lute. I subsequently had further lessons with Chris in London and continued to explore Spinacino, Capirola, Francesco, etc. My first concerts on the lute were around this time. I also met Stewart McCoy, and we've been playing lute duets ever since.

I made several more lutes for my own use, then started to take commissions in 1988. One of the first was from a lady called Claire who was looking for both a lute and an accompanist for lute songs. I made her a nice lute and she became my wife! ..“

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Added on: Sep 20, 2009 | Hits: 415

“After many years spent first building a hurdy-gurdy from a kit and then building several more hurdy-gurdies from scratch, we collected a catalog of parts, both metal and wood, crafted here in our own shop.

Visiting with hurdy-gurdy players at festivals and on line we discovered that hurdy-gurdy players are an independent and talented lot. Most are tweakers and many have attempted to build their own instrument with varying degrees of success. All have faced the problem of finding or building some of the more difficult parts.

Here at Hurdy-Gurdy Crafters, we would like to offer as much help as you need in the form of parts, plans, and kits based on the lessons we have learned. We also build finished hurdy-gurdies which are ready to play (except for a little tuning). At present we offer Symphonies and guitar bodied hurdy-gurdies.“ 

Added on: Sep 20, 2009 | Hits: 351

“Many years ago I saw a black & white Spencer Tracey Film Called “Captains courageous”.  Spencer’s character played a bizarre mechanical fiddle called a Hurdy Gurdy. From that point this instrument fascinated me. Finding one to play was not very easy, so it was sometime before I was courageous enough to make one. I had never seen a hurdy gurdy in the flesh before. This made troubleshooting a long and sometimes painful process. My intension was to make a quick and dirty hurdy gurdy by converting an old guitar. In the end I put more work and detail into it and ended up with a very playable instrument that I named George. From then on I was hooked. ..“  (Graeme McCormack) Hurdy-gurdy plans are also offered on the site.

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Added on: Sep 20, 2009 | Hits: 620

“I am passionate about hurdy gurdies and have been a player for over 20 years.

I initially studied instrument making with Zachary Taylor at West Dean College and then spent 3 years at the London Guildhall University on their Musical Instrument Technology course.

I have been making hurdy gurdies exclusively for the past 12 years and also give playing tuition, individually or in workshops. ..”

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Added on: Jul 29, 2009 | Hits: 426

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Added on: Jul 29, 2009 | Hits: 304

“Luthiers Chris Allen and Sabina Kormylo are hurdy-gurdy and lute makers producing a wide variety of stringed instruments including Hurdy-Gurdies, Lutes, Mandolins and Viols. We also undertake repair, adjustment and modification of existing instruments.

Almost all of our instruments are copied from or based upon existing historic instruments. We make close examination of historic examples and pride ourselves on the faithful reproduction of both external and internal detail and design. The design and construction of bespoke instruments is also undertaken.

We provide a friendly and personal service and are very happy to discuss and accommodate the special musical needs of our customers. ..“

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Added on: Jul 29, 2009 | Hits: 507

“George Stoppani inherited his Italian name from his Venetian grandfather, Pietro Faustino, who came to London in the early 1900s. George's father and mother were respectively a painter and a sculptress. George studied English and Related Literature at York University, graduating in 1972, but a few years on turned to instrument making. Circa 1977 he began an association with Northern Renaissance Instruments in Manchester where he developed an interest in historical matters and string making. He made a large number of period instruments but then began to make modern orchestral instruments as well.

Real Guts Strings started out purely on an experimental basis - to make strings for period instruments where what was currently available did not seem either satisfactory or even historically credible. Naturally, replacement strings were needed and friends of customers also wanted these strings and the enterprise gradually expanded to meet the demand. Baroque violinists Oliver Webber and Stephen Rouse take part in the making sessions and it is run in the spirit of a musicians cooperative. ..“

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Added on: Jul 14, 2009 | Hits: 415

“Hans Reiners

On these pages you can find information about many of the bows I make, both replicas of existing originals and bows designed after iconographic documents as well as my own inventions. They are as umcompromisingly like the originals—or contemporary pictures—as possible, because I am convinced that each period in musical history knew exactly the kind of instruments they wanted and how to make them. They are entirely hand-crafted using the same techniques and tools as makers of the period did, because every tool and every use of it leaves its mark on the finished product. Since it seems more likely to be good at what one likes, I have confined myself to pre-1800 bows.What you will not find are bows produced in series, anachronistic details, and materials such as finishing paper, modern bows disguised as early ones, and ivory. You can also find some information about how I came to do what I do, and why I am doing it the way I do. ..“

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Added on: Jul 14, 2009 | Hits: 474

“Henner Harders

Growing up surrounded by music and crafts, I was fascinated by working with wood and playing the viol from an early age.

In 1986 I went to England to study at the London College of Furniture, on the ‘early fretted instruments’ course. Since leaving college in 1990, I have run my own instrument building workshop, in both England and Germany. I was very lucky to have the opportunity to work in London with the viol maker Dietrich Kessler, where I handled, studied and played a variety of lovely old gambas.

Among my commissions has been a set of four renaissance viols for the English viol consort Fretwork, a set of viols for the Suomen Kulttuurirahasto in Helsinki, and a lira da gamba for Erin Headley. My instruments are closely based on those I have measured in museums and private collections in Europe.

I find that playing the viol myself helps considerably when setting up my instruments - particularly neck shape, action, bridge curve and height.

Susanne Küster

In 1989 I began my apprenticeship as a woodcarver in Flensburg at the Werkkunstschule. Besides carving in wood and working in clay, plaster, concrete and stone I gained a lot of experience in design and drawing. After leaving the school I went to Bremen, where I started carving heads for the viols of Henner Harders.

This is where the instrument-making bug infected me, so I went to the Newark School of Violin Making to learn the making and repairing of violins. When leaving this three-year course, I decided to go to London for two years and work with Adam Whone to get experience in the repairing and restoration of old violins. Now I make my own violins and carve heads for a variety of instruments.

Makers like Dietrich Kessler, Michael Heale, Jane Julier, Renate Fink, Helen Michetschläger, Wesley Brandt, Thomas Mace, Norman Myall, Robert Eyland.... have commissioned carved heads from me for their instruments.

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Added on: Jul 11, 2009 | Hits: 442

“ I have been making musical instruments since 1986. In 1988 I received a grant to study at the London college of Furniture / London Guildhall University and specialised in early stringed instruments, I graduated in 1993 with a degree in Music Technology. I have more recently experimented with making contemporary instruments including the electric guitar.“

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Added on: Jul 11, 2009 | Hits: 400