Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins

Happy Holidays to all! We look forward to seeing you on or after January 3!😊

We'll be taking a holiday break from November 23rd through 26, back on Monday the 27th. A very Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Why were the earliest cellos larger than the ones we are accustomed to today? See photos of the 1693 ”Bonnet“ Stradivari cello and learn about the evolution in cello size in this article on our website.

A Large Form Stradivari Cello: "Bonnet," 1693 - Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins | Chicago Violin Sales and Restoration Stradivari cellos pre-1701 were larger due to standards of the time. Most surviving examples have been reduced in size for today's needs.

Leandro Bisiach (1864-1945) was one of the most influential violin makers and dealers of the late 19th - early 20th centuries. Read about a most unusual Bisiach instrument on our website.

A Cello d'Amore by Leandro Bisiach, 1915 - Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins | Chicago Violin Sales and Restoration Leandro Bisiach was one of the most influential violin makers and dealers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

NASCAR Chicago 2023 will entail significant street closures in downtown Chicago 6/25-7/4/23, making Loop access and parking extremely challenging. Out of consideration for our customers, we will be closed from Monday, 6/26-Wednesday, 7/5, reopening on Thursday, July 6. Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins will be closed from Saturday, December 24 through Monday, January 2, except by appointment. Wishing all our friends and customers a wonderful holiday season!

How concerned should you be about scratches and wear in your instrument’s varnish? Find the answer on our website in this short article by Michael Darnton.

Violin Varnish Scratches and Wear - Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins | Chicago Violin Sales and Restoration Scratches or wear in string instrument varnish are usually not problematic. Learn what to do about them and when to visit a shop for repairs.

Learn about François-Nicolas Voirin (1833-1885), perhaps the most important French bow maker of the second half of the 19th century...in case you missed the article on our website!

The Bows of François-Nicolas Voirin - Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins | Chicago Violin Sales and Restoration François-Nicolas Voirin (1833-1885) was perhaps the most important French bow maker of the second half of the 19th century.

The Gagliano family plays a significant role in violin making history. But it is impossible to discuss the Gaglianos without an awareness of the role of music in 18th century Neapolitan life. An article by Julian Hersh, published on the Guarneri Hall website.

Music in Naples and the Gagliano Family of Violin Makers - Guarneri Hall The Gagliano family plays a significant role in the history of violin making, with no fewer than 12 Gagliano makers spanning 150 years.

The vast output from the Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume atelier—reportedly 4,000 instruments—is remarkable for its consistent quality. Read more about Vuillaume in an illustrated article on our website.

A J.B. Vuillaume Viola - Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins | Chicago Violin Sales and Restoration The vast output from J.B. Vuillaume's atelier is remarkable for its consistent quality, but Vuillaume violas as desirable as this are rare.

Are you a string player? Find out why you don't want to skip that annual instrument checkup! Read Michael Darnton's short article on our website.

The String Instrument Checkup - Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins | Chicago Violin Sales and Restoration Michael Darnton highly encourages players to bring their violin, viola, or cello in for an annual checkup to maintain it in good condition.

Vittorio Bellarosa (1907-1978) was the last of an unbroken Neapolitan tradition of violin making that had begun in the 17th century with Alessandro Gagliano. Read Stefan Hersh's article about Bellarosa, published on the Guarneri Hall website.

Vittorio Bellarosa, Last of the Neapolitans - Guarneri Hall Guarneri Hall’s Stefan Hersh tells the story of Vittorio Bellarosa (1907-1978), the last of a Neapolitan tradition of violin making beginning with Alessandro Gagliano (1665-1732).

The reemergence of a long-unseen Stradivari violin of the most desirable form, in superb condition, having a first-class provenance and famously splendid tone, is a rare occurrence. Read about the ex-Viextemps violin in this article from our website.

A Violin by Antonio Stradivari: ex-Vieuxtemps, 1710 - Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins | Chicago Violin Sales and Restoration The reemergence of a long unseen Stradivari violin of desirable form and in as superb condition as the Viextemps Strad is a rare occurrence.

German by birth, David Tecchler is widely regarded as the most important maker of the Roman school of instrument making. Read Julian Hersh's article about Tecchler, published on the Guarneri Hall website.

David Tecchler: German Emigre, Roman Master - Guarneri Hall Widely regarded as an important maker of the Roman school of instrument making, Tecchler emigrated to Rome at the end of the 17th century.

Read about the rise of 17th century violin maker Nicolo Amati and see photos of a particularly fine example of his work. In the weeks ahead we'll be posting links to more articles we've authored that you may have missed!

Nicolo Amati After 1640 - Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins | Chicago Violin Sales and Restoration Violin maker Nicolo Amati assumed a leadership role in the family workshop by the early 1620s, but his rise was interrupted by the plague.

We're excited to announce the launch of our redesigned website and invite you to check it out! https://darntonhersh.com/

Michael Darnton reviews a book he admires – Violin Bridges by Gerard KilBride – in this month’s issue of The Strad magazine. “Every violin shop has a drawer of bridges pulled from old violins,” writes Darnton, adding, “The best bridge drawer I know of is the virtual one living…at https://violinbridges.co.uk/, where visitors can see examples of more than a thousand bridges from shops around the world displayed in clear, oversized photos, and accompanied by measurements of their critical dimensions." And now, some of KilBride’s collection has been published in book form. Although it’s not mentioned in the review, KilBride’s book includes photos of several bridges carved by Darnton for Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins. Read review:
https://www.thestrad.com/reviews/book-review-violin-bridges/11930.article

Book review: Violin Bridges US luthier Michael Darnton reviews a collection of violin bridges from around the world

To the musicians of the world who have been impacted by COVID-19: we are here to help. Apply now for a GiveBack Grant!

GiveBack is a special benefit auction we are hosting this month, where 100% of the commissions will be given back to musicians. The commissions from this sale, which are expected to exceed $100,000, will be divided into $600 grants and awarded on a lottery basis. Musicians anywhere in the world can apply now through April 25.

The online only auction spotlights 10-20 exceptional instruments by known, treasured makers such as Fagnola, Pistucci, Capicchioni, and more. The sale goes live on our site April 15 and close on May 1. If you would like to participate, contribute, or take a virtual viewing, please contact us at [email protected].

It is our privilege to honor and support our musician colleagues, customers and friends in this time of need. Learn more about the sale and apply for a grant here: https://tarisio.com/giveback/

In view of the developing COVID-19 situation, and out of concern for the well-being of our customers and staff, Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins is closed except by appointment until further notice. We will return to regular operations as soon as public safety permits.

Please check back at https://darntonhersh.com or visit this page for any updates.

To get in touch in the meantime, please use the contact form at https://darntonhersh.com/contact/. Please stay safe and well!

One of only about 15 known cellos made by Andrea Guarneri (1626-1798), this instrument was featured in a recent “In focus” Strad magazine article by Julian Hersh, with photos by Michael Darnton. Andrea Guarneri was the patriarch of the renowned Cremonese violin making family that included his sons Pietro of Mantua and Joseph Filius Andrea, and his grandsons Pietro of Venice and Joseph Guarneri Del Gesu. Only the Amati family, with its five illustrious makers (Andrea, Hieronymus I, Antonio, Nicolo, Hieronymus II), shares such a rich lineage. The two families also shared a personal connection: As a young apprentice, Andrea Guarneri was trained in Nicolo Amati’s workshop, lived in the Amati household, and was a witness at Nicolo’s wedding. Read the full article in The Strad’s Aug 2019 issue ("In focus: a 1689 cello by Andrea Guarneri") or at https://www.thestrad.com/lutherie/in-focus-a-1626-cello-by-andrea-guarneri/9173.article (with subscription).

Julian Hersh has written a two-part article about Gioffredo Cappa - "one of the most talented of the early Piedmontese makers" - recently published on the Tarisio website (free login needed to view). Part 1 at https://tarisio.com/cozio-archive/cozio-carteggio/gioffredo-cappa-part-1/?l=yes and Part 2 at https://tarisio.com/cozio-archive/cozio-carteggio/gioffredo-cappa-part-2/

Gioffredo Cappa, the early Piedmontese violin maker - Tarisio Gioffredo Cappa was one of the most talented of the early Turinese violin makers. Julian Hersh looks at what we know about his life

Some of the NEXUS rehearsals are taking place in our salons...what a treat to hear these talented musicians, and we can't wait to hear them in concert in Guarneri Hall this week and next!

Our Darnton & Hersh friends may be interested in exciting upcoming events at Guarneri Hall, on the 3rd floor of our building!

Upcoming Events – Guarneri Hall Guarneri Hall is delighted to welcome NEXUS Chamber Music Chicago back to the Hall for its second season. With four concerts planned August 28th through September 6th, 2019, NEXUS co-artistic directors Brian Hong and Alexander Hersh have programmed a wide variety of chamber works, from standard clas...

Julian and Stefan Hersh at the 46th Annual Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, where they were interviewed for Natesviolin - Nathan Cole's live podcast during Day 3 (last Sunday) at https://www.natesviolin.com/026-live-from-the-fischoff-day-3/. The Hersh interview starts at 39:05, but it's well worth a listen to the entire podcast, and Day 1 and 2 podcasts are also at that link. See more about the talented medalists at Fischoff National Chamber Music Association.

It was such a privilege to sponsor this inspiring master class with the great cellist Lynn Harrell!

Thanks again to and Rowena Bakke James Cooper, Sihao He and excellent pianists Mizi Li and (Victor Asunción). It was a terrific class yesterday!

We are honored to partner with the Fischoff Competition to sponsor the 2019 and 2020 Senior Division Strings/Piano Finals. We are very proud to help support this prestigious chamber music competition, now in its 46th year, and look forward to hearing the exceptionally talented young musicians who come from all over the world to participate.

The Fischoff Competition is pleased to announce a new partnership with Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins
official sponsors of the 2019 and 2020 Senior Division Strings/Piano Finals.
Gold Medal winners will perform in Guarneri Hall in the heart of downtown Chicago in 2019 and 2020.
Stay tuned for more info.