This is fast becoming my signature violin model! I made it for the first time last year as a commission for a front-desk player in the Hallé Orchestra; I thought it would meet her requirements, and I love its quirky charm and asymmetry. There are many aspects of the design which work especially well to create a sound which is rich and warm but also responsive and sparkly when needed. The original violin is in the collection of the Royal Academy of Music, and I was lucky to be granted access … [Read more...]
Archives for August 2020
321: 14 1/4 inch (36.2cm) cornerless viola 2020
I don't know if there is any connection with the Covid-19 pandemic, but I've had a surge in interest in my small violas for young players. Perhaps it's just chance or maybe families and teachers are extra-focussed on the wellbeing and development of their children. Whatever the reason, I'm always happy to make these small violas, which are a model I designed years ago and have been refining ever since, with the aim of making affordable but musically satisfying instruments for children. The first … [Read more...]
