Nathan Weiss

Political of the Renaissance ordered northern Italian cities in violinmaking. But bubonic plague hit Brescia a little harder as most of its luthiers perished.The distance between Brescia and Cremona...

The traditions that gave us the best violins ever made continue in this northern Italian city. This heritage is even recognized by UNESCO.It might be hard to understand the shared characteristic...

Every fine violin from the Italian luthiers has a story. But in the case of those played by Itzhak Perlman, the life stories of these instruments are bigger.It’s an understatement to say that Itzhak...

His hands may have created the most beautiful music of the 20th century. But in an instant, Heifetz risked it all to save a timeless, priceless violin.Jascha Heifetz (1901-1987), considered by many to...

The Ukranian-American virtuoso played four priceless instruments in his career. But one Strad was his favorite, and he renamed it for his wife. The virtuoso violinist Nathan Mironovich Milstein...

The prodigy Menuhin had a taste for the best violins in the world, and his virtuosity made him deserving thereof. For all he was given he also gave in kind.What is the connection between virtuoso...

The legendary violinmaker didn’t limit his enterprise, producing many other types of stringed instruments. A few survive, are playable, and are highly valued.In 2018, violin maker Gregg Alf curated a...

Synthetic bow hair is unthinkable to most violin players and makers. But given the delicacy of natural horsehair, the synthetic option has some appeal.Players of fine cellos, violas and violins...

To understand stringed instruments of the European Middle Ages, it helps to understand medieval music itself.The Medieval Era, roughly 500 CE to 1400 CE, was the time when the Church of Rome was the...

As the orchestra concertmaster is always a violinist, it seems natural that great conductors are often great violinists. Here we list some of the most notable.When a feature writer for Great British...

When crafting fine violins, as opposed to cheap, mass-produced ones, placing the neck onto the violin body is the most complex procedure, as the exact size, fit and angle will determine the symmetry...

Great violins last hundreds of years, so perhaps a ten-year wait for wood to age isn’t so bad for violinmakers. But scientists hope to speed things up.The nature of violinmaking is that the mastery...

Very few fine stringed instrument shops master so much of what musicians need to produce fine music – and what collectors need to establish value.Some people know W.E. Hill & Sons for their fine...

The differences between fine stringed instruments (and cellos and violas) and an assembly line made violin are significant. Craftsmanship matters in the end.In the simplest of terms, there are two...

Bows of violins, violas, cellos and other stringed instruments can have hair issues: The horsehair bows fray, break and need fixing. It’s the nature of organic material.Fine violin bows (as well as...