Tuscan-Medici Violas by Antonio Stradivarius

Missing Stradivarius Violas?

Two violas were delivered by Antonio Stradivarius to Ferdinando di Medici (pictured below) in 1690. Only one survived! Where is this missing instrument? Provenance of historic instruments can be very important and interesting. And sometimes disappointing!

First, some viola background. Violas are older than violins and cellos! The first violas by Gaspar da Salo were  of large size than the current instruments. Later, the Amati family and Antonio Stradivarius constructed instruments of approximately this design but smaller . "Design rules " were not as specific as those for violins and cellos so variations exist!

The next question is "how many" did he make. This question is not so easily answered. Although Antonio Stradivarius made as many as 1,000 stringed instruments possibly as few as 10 were violas. While 700 violins and cellos remain, violas did not fare as well. A short list can be made from historic documents.

For example:

1672  one instrument, wide with large head, back and sides poplar, sound holes higher on the front,

1685  two instruments for Bartolomeo Grandi for Duke of Savoy, part of set of six instruments

1690  two violas for the Duke of Tuscany of which one survives. These were "long Strad violas"  with lower sound holes, high arching, broader edge, shorter corners (Stradivarius may have varnished finger board in place!) The surviving instrument may have been strung with more than 4 strings at one time!  In 1803 sold to an Englishman, then into France, back to England (sold in 1913 by Hill brothers) to the Wurlitzer Company (New York), then  in 1925 to Herbert Strauss of the Macy family retailers. Where is the other Stradivarius viols and what happened to it? Will it be discovered? Will any of the others appear?

Ferdinando di Medici, first 1690 viola owner

1695 there exists a cryptic reference to a Stradivarius viola
1696 one, red-orange Stradivarius
1701 see Cozio.com
1707 two violas for Charles III of Spain, none survive
1734 viola with slab back, see Cozio.com

Cosmo di Medici, father of Ferdinando

Below are photos of the Violins of Plymouth reproduction of the 1690 viola!  Some show a G. da Salo viola reproduction. The length is 42.5 cm with a 20.0 cm upper bout, 13.3 cm mid bout, and a 24.8 cm lower bout.

In conclusion, Stradivarius violas are quite rare and the historical provenance records are interrupted and incomplete. These undoubtedly were fine instruments and well worth building as accurate replicas! The reconstruction by Violins of Plymouth has now been completed and "acoustic testing" has begun to fine tune this historic platform. Testing software is, of course, J. S. Bach's Prelude for Solo Cello, arranged for viola. This instrument may have met the approval of Ferdinando di Medici and one hopes he would not have lost it!

Violin Strings- What you need to know!

Stringed instruments need strings which can be bowed or plucked to yield great music. These strings as well as these instruments are highly evolved over the last 500 years.  These incremental improvements have enabled the exquisite performances you hear today!

 String fabrication is an old technology! Herron-Allen tells us of sixteenth century makers following guidelines from Pythagoras! Musical preferences are also a consideration. Herron-Allen tells us that some players prefer a set of full diameter strings while some favor a set of thin diameter strings. He says nineteenth century players owned and used their own string-gauge. Strings must be "true". The diameter of each string must be uniform to achieve what twenty first  century users call "harmonicity". Perfect "fifths" must be produced With our musical practice, we "learn" technique based upon string diameter and sound. We, likewise,  benefit from  ongoing manufacturing improvements! .

These web sites give a history of strings.
http://www.damianstrings.com/sh-faq.shtml
http://www.nrinstruments.demon.co.uk/hstvnst.html

Currently, strings are manufactured both  in the USA and Europe with new entries from China. String making at the Dadarrio facility in Westchester county, NY, is covered by this video..

http://www.violinist.com/blog/laurie/20118/12542/

For most of us, the synthetic core vs steel core issue is a primary one. Individuals will favor synthetic (perlon) or steel core. The following video will help illuminate this issue. If you play two instruments, one might need perlon and another a steel core!

http://www.ehow.com/video_12225013_synthethic-vs-steel-core-violin-strings.html

Gut strings dominated the first 400 years of string manufacture and continue in use today! Rome was the center of this skill with fruitful efforts from Naples, Padua, and Saxony.. "Catgut" was the material of choice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catgut

You might consider the making of gut strings yourself!  Details from old sources (Herron-Allen", are rendered  faithfully present dayYouTube videos. Gut string making videos include

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1aYaHEl9Rg&feature=related

How can you best outfit your instrument? Replace your strings as recommended. Listen to your strings. Ask knowledgeable players to listen. Ask for their string selection advise. Viola, cello, and bass users will give different responses; learn from these also. Carefully read the web site information for several violin string vendors. Look for specific sound effects and imperfections you might have noted in your violin. Search for and implement string selection changes. Keep a log of your work. Compare perlon (synthetic) to steel core. Your violin and your musical needs will prefer one over the other!

Finally measure your string clearance. At the fingerboard end, the E clearance is 3.0 mm and the G is 5.5 mm. At the nut, both are 0.3 mm. A higher setting might affect sensitive fingers and artist  proficiency. (A USA dime is 1 mm, a penny 1.4 mm, and a nickel is 1.8 mm.) Combine this attention to an optimization of sound post position. Monitor the post location. Seek repair if it moves. (Winter to summer and vice versa climate swings might affect this position.)

Enjoy your playing and enjoy the benefits of your improved string knowledge and sophistication.

Secrets of Violin Making - Lesson 4 Fungi..

"Secrets off Violin Making" should/could include the modification of tonewood properties. One such modification might be "selective lignification" of spruce.   Francis Schwartz of the Swiss Federal Labs has postulated that one or more species of fungus might improve the tonewood properties!

He has postulated that "Physisporinus Vitreus" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physisporinus  and "Xylaria" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylaria are good candidates for such a process.

See  wikipedia.org/wiki/Physisporinus

See wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylaria_longpipes

He describes a selective lignification and a preferential degradation of bordered pit membranes both achievable without significant loss of wood strength!

We have all observed the rapid deteriorization of wood structures in harsh climates.

Usual fungal attack typically appears to be non uniform, attacking weak areas of exposed wood. For a tonewood modification process to be good, the treatment must be uniform. Uniform means uniform over an area of 18" by 10" for violins up to an area of 30" by 14" for cello construction.

For a productive process development effort:

1. The tonewood surface preparation must be characterized
2. An appropriate pre-treatment might be introduced to enhance uniformity
3. An optimum fungal agent (s) must be determined.
4. Treatment conditions must be optimized
5.  A uniformity measurement must be identified
6. A post-treatment must be effective in stopping the modification when complete

These activities are in progress at several locations. Instruments will be constructed and "blind" acoustical comparisons will be done. Stay tuned here for interesting outcomes!

Is there a future for these two together ......

See also  mussbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/2010/02/19/fungi_a_new_revolution_in_violin_making/

Secrets of Violin Making-Lesson 3 Varnishing the 1690 Stradivarius viola

Summer in Plymouth, Massachusetts...

Summer on the South Shore of Massachusetts Bay is a slower time. It is a time for beaches, light houses, sailing ships, and violin varnishing!

Jump!

No hurry!

Seals (and friends) this year!

Plymouth beach at dusk

Chatham light.....

Cedar point light...

Preparations for the 400th anniversary...

HMS Bounty visit..

Violin varnish and varnishes for wood surfaces are a very old technology.The varnish I use is linseed oil based, thinned with turpentine. It is applied outside; it drys slowly. I do summer things as it drys!

Flax is cultivated both for its fibers which can be woven into  linen and oil  which is called linseed oil. Fibers of linen have been dated to 30,000 BCE and, thus, represent the oldest domesticated plant material. see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flax  Flax seed oil has a long history as a varnish for wood surfaces. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linseed_oil   Turpentine is a common and effective solvent for the thinning of linseed oil. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turpentine

A sable brush is ideal!

Application may take only 30 minutes but drying over two weeks! (each coat...)

The plan is to play this viola in November!