Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-10-02

q certificate of his own handwriting
with the date 1886, when he was ~
years old. lie was pupil Of Nicho-
las Anlati, a member Of Il family that
for nearly two hundred years has
been distinguished for skill iii the
manufacture Of violins, and had
made the name Crcmona synony-
nous with the highest excellence in
their profession.
Several il strumcnts made by An
drcas .\riati, the first maker Of the
name, for Charles IN. of France,
were long kept in the Chapel Royal
a. Versailles, but they disappeared
during the stormy days Of the great
Revolution, and only two of them
were ever recovered. One of these,
a violincello with tone of extraodi-
nary power and richness, was sold ut
auction in Londe II, in May, 1927. 1t
bore the makers name and residence
III Latin, and the catalogue said that
the proprietor received document
when he purchased it, stating that it
was presented to Charles lX. by
Pope Plus V.
Skill in the manufacture of violins
was hereditary in the Amatis, for the
talent of Andrews, which was shared
by his brother Nicholas, was possess
cd also by his sons Antonius and
Hicronymus, who made some famous
ones for Henry w., of France. But
the most celebrated maker of the
family was Nicholas Amati, the son
of Hieronymus, who, by following
the models of his ancestors, produc-
ed bcttcr-proportioned and more fin
ished instruments. Those of the
large or grand pattern are equal in
lower and sweetness of tone to most
of the violins of Stradivarius. The
genius Of the Amatis declined with
Nj holas, for his son, who is consid-
GRO l the last OF the family, was inte-
rior to his predecessors, and made
but few instruments. AS late rs
1886, however, Il descendant Of the
celebrated makers worked in an es-
Enlistment at Orleans, where his
violins were much admired. His
varnish of rich golden amber, SO
characteristic of the Amatis, attract
cd great attention, but he refused to
disclose its nature, saying it was Il
family secret, and left Orleans rather
than divulge it.
Contemporary with And"eas, the
eldest Amati, was Casper di Salo, a
still more noted maker, who worked
ut BrcScia from about 1850 to 1910,
or little later. His productions,
though not highly finished, are re-
markable for their clear and vigor
Gus tone. Dargonetti, the cclcbrat-
ed doublc-bass player, used one of
his instruments, and among the VIC
Inns of the great makers owned by
Ole Bull, his favoritc is by this mas
! ter
Stradivarius was the worthy pupil
of the greatest OF the Amatis, and
his old Cremonas have brought the
most extr.vigart prices. There is,
however, considerable difference i'll
their quality, the best having been
made between 1900 and 1925, his
hand retaining its cunning till past
tourscorc. After that time his in
struments were less perfect, and 1t is
probable that his two sons, who
were among his assistants, did more
of the work than formerly, though
still under his directions. AT his
death he left several unfinished III
strumcnts, which were completed by
his sons, who placed his ticket on
them, so that some doubt exists as to
the entire authenticity Of those made
during his closing years. There are
undoubtedly numerous counterfeits
bearing his name, for although be
/ m.de l good many instruments dur
ing his long life, genuine ones are
scarce. The taste and skill display
ed in his model have never been
surpassed. The wood united beauty
with great capability for conducting
sound; the tone Of the strings was
Of remarkable excellence, and the
varnish was of u beautiful warm rcd
dish vellowish color, the secret of
winch Is lost.
The increase in the value OF instru-
ments made by Stradivarius since his
death is very remarkable. His usual
price for n violin was about so
francs. a similar instrument to-day
would bring from $500 to $4,000,
according to its state of preservation,
while his violonccllos command a
much larger sum. The highest price
ever paid for violin, according to
Sandy's and Forster's work OH the
subject, was given for one made by
Stradivarius, which was sold in 1855,
for more that its weight in god.
O!.e of his finest instruments which
derived its additional value from it's
having belonged to the celebrated
violinist Viotti, was sold at auction
in Paris in 1924 for $500 francs.
These prices furnish striking COM
mentary on the experience of the ell
der Ccrvcsto, who, before he became
| ID HlusiSIsIiS3 W dS 1C'tlItIl
and had dealt with Stradivarius him
self in musical instruments. Some
of the productions Of the master he
carried to England, but being unable
to obtain as much as five pounds for
a violonceilo, the disappointed deal
er sent then back as bad spccula-
ton. A century passed away, and
at an auction in London in 1927, of
the musical instruments Of Sir Will
liam Curtis, the well-known connois-
sour, a violoncello of Stradivarius'
was put up at 200 guineas, and
bought in for 235. 1t bore the date
1854, and was said to have been
made fora Corfotc nobleman, who
placed it in chest of cotton, where
it remained for more than century.
-1terander Young ia Lippin-
COTS Magazine for September