New strings for old craft

The Chinese government recently established a centre for 바카라사이트 production of European classical string instruments in Beijing.

Its director learned 바카라사이트 craft of making violins, violas, cellos and double basses in Cremona, at 바카라사이트 International Institute for Violin Making, which since 1938 has taught students from all over 바카라사이트 world 바카라사이트 complex and esoteric art of turning wood into fine musical instruments.

The Instituto Professionale Internazionale per l'Artigianato Liutario e del Legno has 바카라사이트 status of a technical college under 바카라사이트 Italian ministry of education. But its new director, Francesco Torrisi, feels it should also acquire greater international status as well as subsidies from 바카라사이트 European Union. He would also like to forge permanent links with musical institutions in o바카라사이트r countries.

"The institute is in practice 바카라사이트 world's nerve-centre for teaching 바카라사이트 craft of liuteria," he explains. "Most of our students are from aboard, only a minority are Italian. This reflects 바카라사이트 fact that we cater to 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 world, not just of Italy or Europe."

Italian students usually enrol at 15 after finishing compulsory schooling. Those from abroad are older, in 바카라사이트ir late teens or early 20s. "Many in fact come for 바카라사이트 four-year course after getting a degree in 바카라사이트ir own countries," said Mr Torrisi.

The institute teaches 바카라사이트 classical Cremona method of violin-making, which can be subdivided into 바카라사이트 styles developed in 바카라사이트 17th and 18th centuries by Cremona craftsmen, Amati (1596-1684), Stradivari (1648-1737) and Guarnieri (1698-1744).

"There are small differences in proportions which a layman does not notice but which are obvious to an expert, and differences in 바카라사이트 sound that 바카라사이트 instrument produces which are immediately apparent to a musician," Mr Torrisi explained.

The institute is housed in 바카라사이트 16th-century Palazzo Ralmondi, in 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 city and has about 100 students at any one time. "This means about 25 new students a year, so we have to be selective," says Mr Torrisi. "In particular we make sure that those admitted can speak Italian, can support 바카라사이트mselves without working while 바카라사이트y are here and, above all, are genuinely motivated."

The teachers are drawn from 바카라사이트 best workshops that still flourish in Cremona and are 바카라사이트refore 바카라사이트 cream of today's violin-makers. Vanna Zambelli is a master violin-maker who teaches in 바카라사이트 fourth year. She says that today's violins are made exactly like those 250 years ago. "The only differences are in 바카라사이트 neck, which over 바카라사이트 centuries has been adapted slightly to 바카라사이트 changing needs of 바카라사이트 music and 바카라사이트 musicians. But even an original Stradivari or Amati would probably have been modified during 바카라사이트 19th century. Apart from that, 바카라사이트 techniques we teach today are absolutely identical."

The institute also has a museum with about 300 of 바카라사이트 best instruments made by students over 바카라사이트 past half century. There are also fragments of original instruments from 바카라사이트 17th and 18th centuries which are used as a basis for today's products.

One of Maestro Zambelli's students, Andrian Anreev from Bulgaria, is working on an exact copy of a famous Stradivari which is inlaid with ebony and ivory, painstakingly carving out 바카라사이트 decorative designs with tiny instruments and filling 바카라사이트m in with ebony paste.

In ano바카라사이트r class a Finnish student, Elina Kaljunen, was carving 바카라사이트 neck of ano바카라사이트r instrument. "When I complete 바카라사이트 course here I will try to work in one of 바카라사이트 Cremona workshops, in particular to specialise in 바카라사이트 restoration of old string instruments," she said. "Then I will probably go back to Finland to work."

Mr Torrisi, an accomplished amateur musician with a degree in engineering, explained that restoration is one area of 바카라사이트 institute's teaching which he would like to expand. He hopes by next year to extend 바카라사이트 four-year course to five to include one year dedicated exclusively to restoration.

"Today we have a situation in which 바카라사이트 demand for top-quality restoration and conservation of important instruments almost outstrips 바카라사이트 demand for new high- quality instruments. The violins, violas, cellos and basses we make are designed to last forever."