The Strad Calendar 2024: The Fulton Collection
American collector David L. Fulton amassed one of the 20th century’s finest collections of stringed instruments. This year’s calendar pays tribute to some of these priceless treasures, including Yehudi Menuhin’s celebrated ‘Lord Wilton’ Guarneri, the Carlo Bergonzi once played by Fritz Kreisler, and four instruments by Antonio Stradivari.
The Best of Technique
G.B. Guadagnini ‘Cozio’ viola 1773 poster
This viola is one of the first to be made by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini during his ‘Turin period’, which saw the crafting of some of his finest works. His regular income from Count Cozio di Salabue gave him greater freedom to experiment, as evidenced by this small-size viola with high-set f-holes and enlarged centre bouts. With a back length of 400mm, it has wide, full arching and a brilliant yellow-orange varnish. The poster includes high-definition CT scans as well as full measurements.
'The workmanship of the viola is of great quality and care: the archings are perfectly cut and finished, the interior appears to be in an excellent state of conservation, and it bears a number of the maker's marks' - Alberto Giordano in the January 2022 issue
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*** 
Antonio Stradivari ‘Archinto’ viola 1696 poster
By popular demand, The Strad is republishing one of its most sought-after posters - the 1696 'Archinto' Stradivari viola - with brand new photography that brings out the colours and craftsmanship like never before. One of the treasures of London's Royal Academy of Music, the 'Archinto' provides a model for luthiers to admire and copy even in the 21st century.
'The 1696 Stradivari ‘Archinto’ viola is one of the most beautiful instruments in the world. It was made at a very felicitous time, just as the great master’s red varnish was reaching perfection and his designs — encapsulated in the gorgeous long pattern violins — were at their most elegant... The tone is archetypal Stradivari; clear and pure across all the strings, with a quick response and good articulation. In the hands of a great player it provides a wide range of tone colour. In contrast to the typically Brescian sound, it is more violin-like in quality and reveals a slight lack of potency in the lowest string.' - John Dilworth in the June 1996 issue
Includes measurements, thickness and arching maps.
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***
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***
Antonio Stradivari ‘Gustav Mahler’ viola 1672 poster
Currently played by Antoine Tamestit, the 'Mahler' is one of only ten surviving violas by Antonio Stradivari – and the earliest known viola he made. The instrument bears all the hallmarks of the Cremonese master, as well as some intriguing details that suggest the 28-year-old luthier was already experimenting with the form.
'The more one looks into the "Mahler", the more facets and curiosities reveal themselves. Like all great artworks it is a product of its time and circumstances, as well as a result of experiments to bring something totally new and unique into the world'
– Jonathan Marolle in the July 2019 issue
The poster includes full measurements, outlines of the back, scroll side, f-holes, and front and back archings and rib outline.
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***
Jacob Stainer tenor viola c. 1650 poster
The only remaining tenor viola made by the Tyrolean maker Jacob Stainer reveals the maker's painstaking attention to detail and offers tantalising clues about Italian influence on his style. It is in superb condition: the scroll is a replacement but the rest of the instrument – including, remarkably, the neck and fingerboard – are believed to be original. The label, which is a facsimile, states that it was made in 1650. Includes measurements.
'The viola's most striking feature is its size. The body stretches more than 18 arm-aching inches. The neck is relatively short, however. In the 18th century, many tenor violas were cut down to more manageable sizes, though a few were left large. Three of the best examples are the 1690 Antonio Stradivari 'Medici', the 1574 Andrea Amati, and this Jacob Stainer' – Darren Freeman in the March 2010 issue of The Strad
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***
G.B. Guadagnini ‘Cozio’ viola 1773 poster FOLDED VERSION
FOLDED VERSION
This viola is one of the first to be made by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini during his ‘Turin period’, which saw the crafting of some of his finest works. His regular income from Count Cozio di Salabue gave him greater freedom to experiment, as evidenced by this small-size viola with high-set f-holes and enlarged centre bouts. With a back length of 400mm, it has wide, full arching and a brilliant yellow-orange varnish. The poster includes high-definition CT scans as well as full measurements.
'The workmanship of the viola is of great quality and care: the archings are perfectly cut and finished, the interior appears to be in an excellent state of conservation, and it bears a number of the maker's marks' - Alberto Giordano in the January 2022 issue
Gibson viola, 1734
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.
Tuscan’ Medici’ Stradivari viola, 1690
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.
Maggini Contralto viola poster
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.
Basics by Simon Fischer
Basics is a collection of practice methods and exercises for violin and viola players of all standards, from concert soloists to students. Based on Simon Fischer's monthly series in The Strad, Basics makes it possible to work directly on any aspect of technique. Simon Fischer, performer and teacher, studied the violin in London with Yfrah Neaman and in New York with Dorothy DeLay.
Paperback. 231pp; illustrations.
An A-Z of Instrument Care by Jane Dorner (2nd Edition)
G.B. Guadagnini viola 1785 poster
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.
‘Conte Vitale’ Andrea Guarneri viola c.1676 poster
An important instrument from the first maker to concentrate on the smaller-pattern viola. Includes measurements.
‘Guarneri’s scrolls are always charming and totally distinctive. Careless in cutting the central eye perfectly round, he left a little tail into the first turn of the volute that is a Guarneri trademark, giving the bonus of having two different scrolls to enjoy either side of the one head. The fluting carries right round the front of the head and is very cleanly finished at the throat, ample testimony to Guarneri’s skill. What finally elevates this viola to highest rank is its almost entire coat of fine yellow varnish.’ – John Dilworth in the October 1996 issue.
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.
Brothers Amati tenor viola 1592 poster
A fine example of the rarely played tenor viola, which set the standard for all the great Cremonese makers. Includes measurements
‘Generally the workmanship, though clean and delicate, lacks something of the usual pristine quality which one would normally associate with a Brothers instrument. Fortunately true art is seldom precise and the majestic beauty of this head is not marred by any shortfall in mathematical symmetry.' – Roger Hargrave in the March 1993 issue
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.
