0161 972 0839 helen@helenviolinmaker.com

Helen Violin Maker

modern violin maker

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Work In Progress

327: 14 1/4 inch (36.2cm) cornerless viola 2021

16th April 2021

This viola is a commission from America, from a player who does a lot of chamber music and who wants a small, manageable instrument that will hold its own. Abi and I have discussed what they are after, by Zoom and email, so I’m ready to start. The first choice is the wood. The front …read more

326: 15 inch viola based on 18th century English instrument

16th April 2021

This viola is a commission from a player who has braved the complications of lockdown to try and find her perfect instrument. I sent two small violas to her by courier to try, which she liked but which didn’t quite fit the bill. After discussing by email and video call we have established, I hope, …read more

324: violin based on Carlo Bergonzi 1731

3rd April 2021

New year, new lockdown. We violin makers are so lucky to have work we enjoy and I really feel the benefit of a nice warm, quiet, safe environment to work in. Never has my lovely purpose-built workshop seemed more enticing. As orders are thin on the ground I’m enjoying continuing my exploration of models I’ve …read more

325: 16 1/4 inch (41.2cm) viola based on Antonio Stradivari 1672 ‘Mahler’, 2021

10th March 2021

As lockdown continues into February of 2021 and customers are thin on the ground, I’m continuing my survey of what I call the Stradivari Outliers: the models which are atypical of the Stradivari workshop output. This started by accident, when I measured and then made the 1734 ‘Habeneck’ violin, in fact by Francesco Stradivari, Antonio’s …read more

323: cello based on ‘de Munck’ Stradivari 1730

26th February 2021

I’ve had a long period of catching up with odd jobs, varnishing and finishing instruments, also preparing and cooking resins for varnish, and some work for the charity I chair which supports student violin makers, www.rabtrust.org. Now at last I’m properly back at the workbench, with an exciting new project. I’ve had this cello model …read more

322: 14 1/4 inch (36.2cm) cornerless viola 2020

28th October 2020

This viola is a commission from a family in the West Midlands, UK, for their musical son. He’s on a smaller viola at present and we have timed  making the viola, I hope, so he will be just ready for it when it’s finished. The back and front are made from solid wood, two pieces …read more

321: 14 1/4 inch (36.2cm) cornerless viola 2020

29th August 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 …read more

320: Violin based on Antonio Stradivari 1734 ‘Habeneck’

15th August 2020

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 …read more

319: 16 5/8 inch (42.3cm) viola based on Gasparo da Salo

21st July 2020

I’ve had a break of several weeks from the workbench: I had to move out of the workshop to work temporarily in the house in mid-January, as the workshop was suffering water ingress and had to be stripped out and tanked. Fortunately the builders finished just before the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown, and my wonderful brother …read more

318: 16 inch (40.5cm) viola based on Gasparo da Salo

12th July 2020

  This is one of my favourite viola models; I’ve made it many times and a number of my earlier versions are now playing full-time in orchestras including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and City of London Sinfonia. It’s based on a tenor viola that is in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, …read more

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Contact Helen

1A Grasmere Road
Sale
Manchester
M33 3QU
UK

helen@helenviolinmaker.com
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0161 972 0839
0044 161 972 0839

Latest from Helen

327: 14 1/4 inch (36.2cm) cornerless viola 2021

This viola is a commission from America, from a player who does a lot of chamber music and who wants … Read More...

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