I want to share with you a few photos of a violin I worked on recently. It is a Matthew Hardie & Son, made in Edinburgh. The date has been written over so the exact date on the label is indistinguishable but by 1824 the business was being advertised as…
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I am currently working on a research project in my spare(!) time. I’m trying to find out as much as I can about a specific violin maker who lived in Berwick upon Tweed in the 19th Century. In his day he was one of the best! I started this journey…
What colour is my sitting room carpet again? Time spent away from the bench this month has had me preparing for a tool sale that our Trustees will run for our charity www.rabtrust.org. These are all specialist tools donated to us from retired or sadly deceased makers/restorers. They and their…
When violins were first made in the early 17th century, they were simpler than they are today. They had necks nailed into place that were not designed to be removed. The nails were handmade and substantial so the neck stock had to be large to accommodate the nail. Some of…
When players visit me to have their instrument assessed there are a few areas that I pay great attention to. In fact, there is a list in my head of all the boxes I need to tick. The check list starts with ‘are any seams unglued?’ and goes all the…
With the start of 2023 quite a few players have been getting in touch with instruments that they have not shown anyone for years. This is very exciting as it allows me an opportunity to share with them the history and story of their instrument. Some players know very little…
Another Christmas is upon us and the year seems to have flown by. But before I turn to that I would like to offer my thanks to two orchestras. On Sat 26th November I visited the Kings Hall, Newcastle University to hear Nick Byrne play his beautiful cello. He played the…
With wood fires burning longer hours now as we get into the colder months and wood being chopped and stored for the winter, I wonder how many players know what their instrument is made of! Well yes, wood, wood and more wood!!! The beautiful flamed wood of the ribs, the…
A history lesson and concert rolled into one. Who knew it was going to be such an exciting evening?! Huge thanks to H. Rosi Song, who through her passion for playing cello and holding a Chair in Hispanic Studies at Durham University, is on the trail of a ‘shining light’….
‘fame’ 1. the state of being widely known or recognised ‘genius’ 1. a person with exceptional ability, esp. of a highly original kind. ‘admiration’ 1. pleasurable contemplation or surprise 2. a person or thing that is admired …….from Collins English Dictionary. Being extremely good at something and being admired for…