Violins and Violin Makers Part 3

DUIFFOPRUGCAR, GASPARD, born in the Tyrol, established in Bologna in 1510, and went to Paris at the invitation of Francis 1st. He afterwards removed to Lyons. This appears to be the first maker of the genuine Violin we have on record, and some instruments still exist to attest the excellence to which he had reached. M. Vuillaume, possesses a Ba.s.s Viol, and other Parisian Collectors possess instruments by this ancient artiste.

E.

EBERLE, JEAN ULRIC, Prague, 1749. Otto says this is one of the most celebrated German Makers and his instruments have been frequently taken by experienced connoisseurs for Italian; the difference being that they "have a sharper or rather not so round and full a tone." Connoisseurs could not be very experienced at that time, if they could mistake for Cremonese, instruments possessing this characteristic, which is exactly what distinguishes the inferior instruments from the genuine.

EBERTI, TOMMASO, about 1730.

EDLINGER, THOMAS, Prague 1715.

EDLINGER, JOSEPH JOACHIM, Prague, son of Thomas. Visited Italy, and afterwards built some excellent instruments; died in 1748.

ERNST, FRANCOIS ANTOINE, born in Bohemia in 1745. This artiste made some excellent instruments which are said almost to reach the Cremonas in tone. He was also the Author of a Treatise on Instruments. The celebrated Violinist Spohr, author of "the Violin School," is said to have at one time used one of this maker's instruments.

EVANS, RICHARD London, 1742.

F.

FARINATO, PAUL, Venezia, about 1700.

FENDT, or FINTH, Paris, 1763-80. Made good instruments after the Stradiuarius model, some of which followed his style so carefully as to have been taken for those of that master.

FENDT, BERNHARD, born 1775, died 1825. Nephew of the above. He worked first for Dodd and afterwards for old John Betts. He was a capital workman and made many fine imitations of the Cremonese instruments.

FENDT, BERNARD SIMON, Son of the above, born 1800, died 1852, became partner with Purdy in the well known firm of Purdy and Fendt.

FENDT, MARTIN, brother of the above, born 1812, died 1845.

FENDT, JACOB, born 1815, died 1849.

FENDT, FRANCIS.

FENDT, WILLIAM, Son of Bernard Simon, born 1833, died 1852.

All the Fendts have the reputation of being excellent workmen.

FICHTOLD, HANS, 1612, is said to have made good instruments.

FICKER, JOHANN CHRISTIAN, Cremona 1722.

FICKER, JOHANN GOTLIEB, Cremona 1788.

FLEURY, BENOIST, Paris, about 1720.

FLORENTUS, FLORINUS, Bologna, 1690. Followed the Amati patterns, and has a good reputation in that style.

FORSTER, WILLIAM. The first Violin maker of this now celebrated name, born 1713, died 1801.

FORSTER, WILLIAM, born 1739, died 1808. This maker was very celebrated for his Violas and Violoncellos. He appears to have followed the Steiner pattern in 1762, and the Amati pattern in 1772. His common instruments were not purfled, second cla.s.s purfled but still much inferior to the third cla.s.s, "in which," says an authority, "everything was embodied to conduce to excellence and beautiful appearance and to the finest tone;" and again, "his instruments are second to none in merit and the best Europe has ever known, especially his amber coloured Violoncellos, which are renowned for mellowness, volume, and power of tone, equalled by few, surpa.s.sed by none." We need scarcely say that this opinion is rather strongly expressed, and may be considered partial. Without at all detracting from the real excellence of Wm.

Forster's instruments, which is very great, we may confidently a.s.sert that the great Cremona Makers have had no rivals. Whether in power, purity, and sweetness of tone--or beauty of wood and workmans.h.i.+p--the best instruments of Nicholas Amati, Antonius Stradiuarius, and Joseph Guarnerius have never yet been equalled. Wm. Forster's Violoncellos have, however, (in England at any rate,) been held in high esteem both by players and amateurs, and have realised good prices.

FORSTER, WILLIAM, the third of the name born 1764, died 1824, known as young Forster. His instruments are not so good as those of his father, but still excellent productions.

FORSTER, WILLIAM, the fourth of the name, born 1788, died 1824. A good workman, but not equal to the second William Forster.

FORSTER, SIMON ANDREW, son of the above, born 1801, author, in conjunction with William Sandys, F.S.A., of a most elaborate and excellent work from which these particulars are taken, ent.i.tled "History of the Violin and other Instruments played on with the Bow, from the remotest times to the present." He is also like the rest of the family, a maker and bears a good reputation.

FORSTER.--Of this noted family Dubourg in his amusing and interesting book, "The Violin," speaks in complimentary terms. He says, "The Forsters, old and young, grandfather and grandson, have, in their department of art, a name that lives."

FOURRIER, NICHOLAS, born at Mirecourt. Settled in Paris, died 1816; good maker, after the Cremona school.

FRITZCHE, SAMUEL, Leipsic, 1787, pupil of Hunger, and made similar instruments. They are of the Italian model and have amber varnish.

FRITZ, BERTHOLD, Leipsic, 1757.

FRANKLAND, ---- London, 1785.

FREY, HANS, Nuremberg, lute maker, 15th Century.

FURBER, DAVID, about 1700.

FURBER, MATTHEW, son of David, 1740.

FURBER, JOHN, grandson of David, 1759.

FURBER, MATTHEW, son of the above, died 1840.

FURBER, JOHN, son of Matthew, 1840.

G.

GABRIELLE, GIOVANNI, BAPTISTA, Florence, 18th Century, considered to be a good Maker.

GAGLIANO, or GALIANO, ALESSANDRO, Naples, about 1710, is generally reckoned as one of the pupils of Stradiuarius, but was more probably only one of his imitators. He made some good instruments of the Stradiuarius model, which possess a bright and sparkling tone; they are, however, generally characterised by less power of tone, Stradiuarius having in this particular the advantage over nearly all his imitators, some of his personal pupils being perhaps the only exceptions.

NOTE.--M. Fetis commences the line of the Gaglianos with Nicolo, 1700, ten years earlier than Alessandro, whom he also calls Gennaro, and ranks him as a maker formed under one of the immediate pupils of Stradiuarius.

GAGLIANO, JANUARIUS, Naples, 1740. Son of Alessandro.

GAGLIANO, NICHOLAUS, Naples. Another son of Alessandro.

GAGLIANO, FERDINANDO, Naples, made to 1790.

GAGLIANO, GUISEPPE, Naples, 1790.

GAGLIANO, GIOVANNI, Naples.