July 2021
Carlo Bergonzi ‘Baron Knoop’ violin 1735 poster
This violin demonstrates all the hallmarks of Carlo Bergonzi's mature style, as well as the influences of both Antonio Stradivari and Guarneri ‘del Gesù’. Made from top-quality spruce and maple, it shows the exquisite care with which Bergonzi prepared all his finest instruments.
'Bergonzi's varnish has a deep, subdued fire which doesn’t try to emulate the visual effects obtained by his competitors' - Andrea Zanrè in the July 2021 edition of The Strad
Includes measurements, thickness and arching maps and life-size micro-CT scans.
Our posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today.
***Don't miss our NEW Folded Poster Tailored Bundle. Choose any two or more of The Strad’s folded posters and pay just £9.99 for each. Watch a video of the selection here***
June 2021
We talk to up-and-coming soloist Bomsori Kim and investigate the Knopf dynasty of bow makers. Jennifer Koh gives a Masterclass on Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir d’un lieu cher, and Carolin Widmann talks about Schubert in Sentimental Work. Plus our annual Accessories supplement, with everything you need to know on Covid-proofing your orchestra.
May 2021
April 2021
Crossover superstar David Garrett discusses his career so far, and we examine the legacy of bow maker Ludwig Bausch. Daniel Hope talks about his friendship with Alfred Schnittke in Sentimental Work, and we learn the ins and out of gut string making. Plus a Haydn Masterclass with the Chiaroscuro Quartet.
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
Cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras talks about his latest Beethoven recording and we take an in-depth look inside Stradivari’s ‘Messiah’ using CT scans. Students of the late George Neikrug reminisce about the great cello tutor, and Alban Gerhardt completes his Saint-Saëns Masterclass. Plus Rohan de Saram’s Life Lessons
December 2020
The Strad Directory 2021
Antonio Stradivari ‘Willemotte’ violin 1734
A masterpiece of Antonio Stradivari's late period, the 'Willemotte' has a muscular ruggedness and strong character: massive, with generous edges, full arching and broad f-holes. It is now the principal performing instrument of violinist Leonidas Kavakos.
'The sound of the "Willemotte" leaves one grasping for the right adjectives: complex, deep, pungent, something you almost taste as much as hear' - Sam Zygmuntowicz in the December 2020 edition of The Strad.
Poster includes measurements, thickness maps and life-size CT scans.
Our posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today.
***Don't miss our NEW Folded Poster Tailored Bundle. Choose any two or more of The Strad’s folded posters and pay just £9.99 for each. Watch a video of the selection here***
November-2020
October – 2020
The Strad Calendar 2021: Dextra Musica
Antonio Stradivari 1694 ‘Benecke’ violin
A masterpiece from Stradivari's 'Long Pattern' era, the 1694 'Benecke' remains in an almost pristine state of preservation. It was named for its owner Paul Benecke, a friend of Mendelssohn, and was greatly admired by the Hills, who called it 'probably the finest of the Long Pattern that we know of'. As well as containing full measurements, this poster includes micro-CT scans, thickness and arching maps, and all the information luthiers need to make their own copy.
'In contrast with the earlier production of Stradivari, the refined aesthetic of the ‘Benecke’... communicates a sense of fluidity and softness... which was a primary source of inspiration for other Italian makers working at the beginning of the 20th century, particularly in Milan' - Andrea Zanrè in the July 2020 edition.
Our posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today.
***Don't miss our NEW Folded Poster Tailored Bundle. Choose any two or more of The Strad’s folded posters and pay just £9.99 for each. Watch a video of the selection here***
April-2020
March-2020
February-2020
January-2020
The Strad Directory 2020
Nicolò Amati ‘Romanov’ Viola 1677 Poster
The 1677 'Romanov' was made when Nicolò Amati was 81 years old and clearly shows the hand of the master, along with that of his son, Girolamo Amati II. It has been part of the collections of the Venetian nobility and Russian imperial dynasty, and was for many years the concert instrument of Max Aronoff, violinist with the Curtis Quartet.
'This is only the third poster of a Nicolò Amati instrument in The Strad’s history – perhaps surprising given the maker’s significance to the world of violin making. Nicolò’s violins have been overshadowed by the great works of Stradivari, Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ and Guadagnini which are generally better for large concert halls: as a consequence, contemporary makers seldom choose Nicolò Amati models for their violins (unless making a Baroque instrument specifically). When it comes to violas, however, there is a different trend: when I was a judge at the 2018 Cremona Triennale it was a nice surprise for me to see how many violas were based on Amati models.
'When using a Stradivari violin pattern it’s important to respect the original design. It is not advisable to make significant changes to the proportions to a mould that is apparently perfect: you cannot mess up with a Strad model. For viola making, a Nicolò Amati model can be modified much more successfully without losing its original spirit and balance: the relationship between the f-holes and the central body, for instance, can be more easily modified when resizing the instrument. For this reason, it makes sense to publish a poster of a resized large viola; and given that digital technologies are now available to everyone, makers will be able to adjust the model according to their own needs and personal solutions.
'The good side of viola making is that there is still a great deal to be learnt in terms of sound research, and that it gives makers a chance to develop their own style while respecting the classical roots of our tradition.'
– Alberto Giordano in The Strad's December 2019 edition
Our posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today.
***Don't miss our NEW Folded Poster Tailored Bundle. Choose any two or more of The Strad’s folded posters and pay just £9.99 for each. Watch a video of the selection here***
In Focus 2
The Strad ’s second compilation of fascinating articles, written within the last 5 years, brings together fine instruments by some of the world’s greatest instrument experts. In this new anthology, every instrument has been given three pages to include more close-up photographs, archings, angles and tiny details.
The Strad Calendar 2020: The Chimei Collection
The Chimei Museum in Taiwan contains possibly the largest collection of bowed stringed instruments in the world. Instrument and bow makers from across the globe have travelled to the Museum to examine its treasures: more than 1000 violin makers are represented, along with over 300 bow makers.
NOW AVAILABLE
