The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-02-03
FATHER OF THE VIOLIN
Gaspar da Saio, Who Fach;oned
the First instrument.
THE PRIZE OLE BULL DREW.
How q Gaspar da Salo Masterpiece
Was Secured by Vienna Collector
and How 1t Passed Into the Hands
Of tho Gifted Man From Norway.

In the year Of our Lord 1924 in the
little Lombard town of SalO. Oh the pic
turesque LagO di Garda, WIS born the
man who fashioned the first violin.
His real name was Garpar Bertolotti,
but he was and is commonly known as
Gaspar da SalO, after his native city.
which caused a marble bust Of this
most distinguished Of its sons to be
executed by the Italian sculptor Ia
neIli and placed in the stairway Of its
city hall.
OF his youth and apprenticeship we
know nothing. No doubt he learned
the art Of viol and lutte making at
Brescia, where he came in touch with
master lutiers like Zanetto. Virchi and
MOntichiari
At all events, We first hear of him as
established at Brescia as viOl and VIC
lin maker. Time has smOOthed away
all knowledge Of the real man, wheth-
er he was Industrious or idle, generous
or ungenerous. happy or unhappy. wise
made viols, tenors, BASES and viOlins
we know. That his violins are the first
authentic specimens of the violin max
er's art in existence or of which there
is authentic record Is also certain. SO
his title tO(the distinction Of being the
first violin maker can hardly be cues
toned.
However, about the year 1872
claim was put forward that a certain
Gaspar Duiffpruggcar was the inventor
of the violin. The story ran that this
Gaspar Duiffpruggcar was born in the
Tyrol in 1869, that he established him.
self at Lutier, In Bologna famous for
its sauSages), that in 1915 he was sum-
moned to Paris by Francis l. and ap-
pointed royal instrument maker and
that he was the friend and intimate of
Leonardo da Vinci, who painted the
backs of some Of his vioIins.
Soon after this account of Duiffprugg
car and his viOlins was published
three violins which were alleged to be
the genuine work of Duiffpruggcar
made their appearance. with labels
dated 1910 to 1913.
1t Is now settled that these violins
were fraudulent, made by some skill
full French lutier, possibly Vuillaume.
Moreover, it is now known that Duff
pruggcar was German, born in Ba-
varia in 1914, and that his real name
| was Tie1enbrucker. He was never In
Italy, and the story Of his relations
| with Francis I. and Leonardo da Vinci
| Is q fabrication. 1t is now established
| that he settled in Lyons. France. about
1850 and died there about 1870 or 1911.
| The only evidence which In any wise
| supports or gives color to the claim
that Duirpruggcar ever made a violin
IL a picture by Pierre Worliri0t, dated
1862, now in the National library at
Paris. This picture Is portrait Of
Duinpruggcar at the age Of forty-eight.
in which he is represented with long.
flowing beard standing behind a pile
| of stringed instruments. among which
appear two rude viOlins. Gaspar da
Sal0 was making violins at Brescia at
this time, 1862, 30 the picture falls far
short Of proving that the Italian Gas
par was anticipated by the man from
Bavaria.
But what weighs almost conclusively
against Duiffpruggcar's claim is the
fact that the art Of violin making In
France does not claim him as its an
cestor. for the first French violin max.
ers Of whom we have authentic record
and Of whose work we possess genu.
Inc specimens learned their art In Italy
and copied from Brescian and Cremo-
nese models.
On the other hand, from the seed
planted by Gaspar da Salo a great tree
has grown, and to him the world OF
| music owes an incalculable debt OF
gratitude.
Gaspar da Salo died at Brescia April
II. 1909. and was buried In the old
church Of San Giuseppe.
Unfortunately Da Salo's violins have
become exceedingly rare. Perhaps not
! more than a dozen are in existence
The general characteristics Of his In
struments are large pattern. large (
holes, protruding corners and a dark
brown varnish. The tone is full and
even. Among them perhaps the finest
and at any rate the best known, is the
one known as the treasury VIOLIN" the
head Of which was sculptured by Ben
venuto Cellini The last owner Of this
violin was the celebrated Norwegian
violinist, Ole Bull. How 1t came into
his possession may best be told In biz