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The Vivaldi Project...
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David Rattray Violin, 2001
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The Trustees have commissioned a group of instruments that will re-create an
ensemble that Vivaldi would recognise. In his time, the Serafins, the
Gofrillers, the Montagnanas were new; our copies of these instruments, made by
the leading luthiers in Europe and America, will provide players and audiences
with a sound and an experience very close to that of Venice in the early
eighteenth century.
This is a unique project, drawing together a community of luthiers from both
sides of the Atlantic, to create am exceptional group of instruments. The
project has benefited from detailed research undertaken at the Civic Museum in
Venice, studying and measuring existing instruments from Vivaldi’s time. The
existing instruments in the Collection and these new instruments will be a
valuable resource for luthiers who wish to recreate instruments of this type,
as well as for the musicians who will play them.
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Copy of a Tononi violin under construction in Jonathan Woolston's workshop.
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The Becket Collection provides performers with a vital
resource of practical scholarship. Through the experience of playing on
instruments known to composers of the baroque and classical periods, musicians
can explore contrasting sound worlds which reveal the music in a fresh light.
This is exactly the information which is vital to any responsible and informed
player.
Trevor Pinnock, conductor
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Some of the instruments will be displayed and heard at the Genius of the Violin
Festival in February 2006. The inaugural concerts will be in the autumn of
2006. Once complete, this ensemble will be available for use by individuals and
ensembles wishing to re-create the unique sound of this period for concerts and
study.
When they play as a group, the Vivaldi Project instruments will be known as The
Serafin Camerata. The Serafin Camerata will promote an ongoing annual
concert series. Membership of the Serafin Camerata will be open to students
from conservatoires around the UK, and to young professional players. The first
auditions will be held in 2006.
The luthiers working on the Becket Collection Vivaldi Project, and
original makers on which the instruments will be based:
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| Description |
Country |
Additional Details |
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| Gregg Alf |
(USA) |
after Pietro Guarnieri |
| Peter Beare |
(UK) |
after Domenico Montagnana |
| Carlo Chiesa |
(Italy) |
after Francesco Gobetti |
| Roger Hargrave |
(Germany) |
after Matteo Goffriller |
| Thomas Meuwissen |
(Belgium) |
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| David Rattray |
(UK) |
after Santo Serafin |
| Martin Sonnenberg |
(Italy) |
after Giorgio Serafin |
| Jonathan Woolston |
(UK) |
after Carlo Tononi |
| Oberlin Workshop 2005 |
(USA) |
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| Andrew Fairfax |
(UK) |
after Matteo Goffriller |
| Patrick Robin |
(France) |
after Pietro Guarnieri |
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| John Dilworth |
(UK) |
after Matteo Goffriller |
| Neil Ertz |
(UK) |
after Matteo Goffriller |
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| Kai-Thomas Roth |
(UK) |
after Domenico Montagnana |
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Bows will be made by Brian Tunnicliffe and fittings by Eric Meyer. Strings will be supplied by George Stoppani.
In addition, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, and 2 bassoons are planned to complete the
orchestra.
Vivaldi Project Patron
John Julius Norwich, the celebrated writer and lecturer on Venetian history
Project Manager
David Rattray, luthier and author, curator of the Becket Collection and
of the instrument collection at the Royal Academy of Music
Consultants include
Professor Michael Talbot
Charles Beare
Laurence Cummings
Simon Standage
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Contact us at: Becket Collection Administrator, 4 Essex Villas, London W8 7BN,
info@becketcollection.org.
The Becket Collection is an independent body, with charitable status, not
associated primarily with any one orchestra, ensemble or conservatoire. Charity
number 1072238. Trustees: N W Brown, B Peerless, D Pickard, E B Smith
(Chairman), M G Smith
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