The Violin in America: Old World Tradition, New World Sound



From February 23, 2008 to September 7, 2008 the Museum of Making Music takes a close look at the innovation of the violin. This special exhibition explores the transplanting of European violin making traditions to American soil by 19th and 20th century immigrants and how communities in the New World added innovation to tradition to ultimately create a unique musical identity.

Violin and bow making owes its presence in America to the great waves of European immigrants who came to the New World in the 19th and 20th centuries. The new residents brought with them many talents, including a long tradition of fine woodworking and instrument making skills, musical mastery and a rich and diverse repertoire. This exhibition includes rare historic examples of the work of early American masters that directly resulted from these influences. Additionally, stories of luthiers such as John Pfaff, A.W. White, Carl Becker, Mario Frosali, George Gemunder, and Simone Fernando Sacconi illustrate the steady development of the American school from the late 1860s through World War II, and demonstrate the importance of the local violin shop and a master luthier in establishing local traditions in violin and bow making, and in fostering an appreciation of classical music and high quality instruments. Their inspirations—based on classical European models exemplified by the work of Amati, Guarneri and Stradivari—serve as a starting point to showcase the interpretation and reproduction of European traditions on American soil.

A unique aspect of the show is the inclusion of the perhaps lesser known story of innovation in violin design. The Stradivari violin, along with its Amati and Guarneri counterparts, is commonly hailed as a perfect design. These mythic masterpieces, however, have actually gone through many stages of design evolution, spurred by changing tastes in music as well as musical demands of virtuosi. Today, innovations in violin making are driven by working violinists who cope with certain imperfections in their "perfect" vintage instruments.

Cutting edge acoustic and scientific research in instrument building of the last forty years, and an open minded atmosphere created a fertile environment for experimentation with man made materials, sound qualities, and instrument proportions. As an example, "The Violin in America" features the innovative work of Carleen Hutchins whose widely recognized acoustic experiments of the 1960s not only produced instruments of fascinating nature, but also inspired a new generation of innovators. In addition, the show highlights the work of contemporary luthiers who pushed the boundaries of the classical design to expand sonic, aesthetic, and functional qualities of the violin and bow. The exhibition comprises examples of violins and bows constructed by Gregg Alf, Joseph Curtin (2005 recipient of the MacArthur "Genius" Award), Guy Rabut, Anthony Lane, Benoît Rolland, Samuel Zygmuntowicz, and others.

"The Violin in America" also spotlights the story of the electric violin. It features some of the first electric violins introduced in the 1930s by Lloyd Loar as well as the Electro String Instrument Company (now known as Rickenbacker). The exhibition reveals how these early experiments continue to resonate today in the work of leading acousticians and companies such as Jordan Electric Violins, Ned Steinberger, Mark Wood, Yamaha Corporation’s Band & Orchestral Division, and Zeta Music.

SPECIAL THANKS

The exhibition would not be possible without the generosity of our supporters, sponsors and friends across the U.S. Their time, expertise, artifact loans, and donations have helped craft this historic exhibition. Thank you.

The Amati Foundation
Connolly Music Company
Thomastik-Infeld Strings
Yamaha Corporation of America

* Kim Akers, West Inn & Suites, Carlsbad, CA
* Gregg T. Alf, Ann Arbor, MI
* Richard C. Allen, El Monte, CA
* Laurie Anderson, New York, NY
* Christine Arveil, Boston, CA
* Dr. Robert and Ruth Ann Burns, Laguna Beach, CA
* David Bromberg, David Bromberg Fine Violins, Wilmington, DE
* Jim Brown, Violin Maker, Claremont, CA
* David Burgess, Ann Arbor, MI
* Ruth Charles, Glendale, CA
* Joseph Curtin, Ann Arbor, MI
* Ken Dattmore, Yamaha, Buena Park, CA
* Connie Dugger
* Eastman Strings, Clarksburg, MD
* Roland Feller, San Francisco, CA
* Teresa and Merle Fischlowitz, San Diego, CA
* David Folland, Northfield, MN
* Christopher Germain, Philadelphia, PA
* Dianne & Robert Gravlin, Bonsall, CA
* Gold Diggers - Gifts of Loving Donors, San Diego, CA
* Joseph Grubaugh & Sigrun Seifert, Petaluma, CA
* John Hall, Rickenbacker International Co., Santa Ana, CA
* Peter Hurney, Pohaku Ukulele, Berkeley, CA
* Jay Ifshin, Jay Hyde Violins, Berkeley, CA
* Phil Janikowski, Escondido, CA
* John Jordan, Jordan Electric Violins, Concord, CA
* Philip Kass, Hovertown, PA
* Francis Kuttner, San Francisco, CA
* La Costa Dental Group, Carlsbad, CA
* Anthony Lane, Petaluma, CA
* André Larson, National Music Museum, Vermillion, SD
* Lowell Levinger a.k.a Banana, Inverness, CA
* Neil Lilien, Meisel Stringed Instruments, Springfield, NJ
* David A. Lusterman, String Letter Publishing, San Anselmo, CA
* Mark Wood Violins, Port Washington, NY
* Douglass Martin, Eliot, ME
* Joe McNalley, The Hutchins Consort, Encinitas, CA
* Beth Miller, Vista, CA
* NAMM, the International Music Products Association, Carlsbad, CA
* NAMM Resource Center, Carlsbad, CA
* Guy Rabut, New York, NY
* Douglas Raguse, Cedar, MI
* Jane Rinehart, Northfield, MN
* Michael Robinson
* Benoît Rolland, Boston, MA
* Svetlin Roussev
* Andrew Ryan, Providence, RI
* Isaac Salchow, New York, NY
* Joseph Scheer
* Jade J. Schultz, Violin Repair & Restoration, La Jolla, CA
* Dr. William Sloan, Los Angeles, CA
* Kevin Smith, The Violin Shop, San Diego, CA
* Ned Steinberger, Nobleboro, ME
* Takahashi Family Fund , San Diego, CA
* William M. Townsend, The Amati Foundation, San Francisco, CA
* Rick Turner, Rick Turner Guitar Co., Santa Cruz, CA
* Yamaha Orchestral Strings Division, Buena Park, CA
* David Russell Young, Longmont, CO
* Southern California Association of Violin Makers, La Jolla, CA
* Samuel Zygmuntowicz, New York, NY