Beares Publishing

Happy Friday!​​​​​​​​​

Smuggled out of Italy, prized by aristocrats, and crossing oceans—this Stradivarius has seen it all! Centuries of history, war, and glory echo through its strings. Ready to uncover its wild ride through time? 🎶 Head to our magazine for the full story! 👀✨​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

🔍 *Looking for Frieda*—a mystery woven through time. In our search to uncover the origins of the 1673 Harrell, du Pré Stradivari cello, we followed a trail of historical clues that led us from a refugee’s note to the enigmatic Frieda von Hofmannsthal. Her story, marked by war, survival, and loss, left us with more questions than answers. Who was Frieda, and how did this rare cello come into her possession? This is just one of the untold stories from my 9 years of research into Stradivari's masterpieces. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Read the full story on our website: www.bearespublishing.com/blog

Stay tuned as we unravel more! 🎻

Beares Publishing has released “Antonio Stradivari: The Complete Works,” marking the Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari’s 380th birthday anniversary | The most comprehensive collection ever published, the six-volume series details all of the instruments Stradivari ever made

Read more at https://theviolinchannel.com/beares-publishing-releases-antonio-stradivari-the-complete-works/

It’s October, and London is buzzing with art, from gallery shows to blockbuster fairs like Frieze. Over at Beares Publishing, our editor Mark Gunn decided to get in on the action—unsurprisingly sticking to his 9-year obsession: Stradivari and his legendary instruments. But this time, he's expressing his "arty" side with a twist! Stay tuned as we share some of his Stradivari-inspired comic strips for you to enjoy and unwind.​​​​​​​​​

In February 2015, Simon Morris of London’s J&A Beare estimated that compiling and publishing "Antonio Stradivari: The Complete Works" would take three to five years. His business partner, Steven Smith, predicted ten years but crossed his fingers, secretly hoping to be proven wrong. ​​​​​​​​​The project took us nine years to complete.! ​​​​​​​​​
✨ Elevate your appreciation for the world's most renowned violinmaker, Antonio Stradivari! ✨

Order your copy today and immerse yourself in the rich history and masterful craftsmanship of Stradivari's legendary instruments. Across six beautifully curated volumes, explore the detailed provenances and beautiful illustrations of the masterpieces crafted in the Stradivari Workshop.

🎻 Don't miss the chance to own this definitive collection!

🌟 What an unforgettable weekend at Cremona Musica 2024! The city buzzed with the passion, craftsmanship, and expertise of luthiers, musicians, and enthusiasts from around the globe.

🎻 The Triennale was a true highlight, showcasing the finest contemporary stringed instruments—a stunning testament to both innovation and tradition in lutherie.

📚 Workshops at the newly inaugurated Casa Stradivari injected fresh energy into Cremona, thanks to the ever-passionate . His dedication to preserving Stradivari’s legacy is nothing short of inspiring!

🎶 A visit to added another layer of excellence to the weekend. Alongside a captivating exhibition of fine Italian violins, we were treated to insightful lectures on acoustics by and an exceptional hands-on varnish workshop led by the brilliant .

🎉 The weekend wouldn’t have been complete without a series of lively parties! The most unforgettable moments included the violinmakers’ gathering at Piazza Lodi, which culminated in an impromptu trumpet solo at 3 a.m. And, of course, the elegant soirée hosted by Eric Blot—a Cremona tradition—added a touch of sophistication to the festivities. It was the perfect finale to a weekend brimming with music, connections, and celebration.

Thank you, Cremona! See you next year!

"How many tools does it take to carve a perfect scroll?" asked violin maker , suggesting that the old masters probably didn't rely on a plethora of tools.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​' response was very interesting. After enumerating a modest set, he remarked, "if I had an additional three... it would be better and faster."

For those of us who aren’t violinmakers, the concept of "tools" may not feature prominently in our daily thoughts. Yet, could it not be beneficial to begin each day by asking ourselves:

1. What tools do I use daily to achieve my goals?
2. Is there a tool that, if at my disposal, would make reaching those goals easier and faster?
3. Should I actively pursue acquiring the missing tool, or should I find contentment in what my current tools allow me to achieve?

Because, honestly, how many times have we settled for “good enough” just to avoid the pain of getting familiar with a new tool?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below 👇

xx

Anna

Picture by

"Never underestimate what you can achieve in a lifetime" is Antonio Stradivari's sage advice. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​He devoted himself tirelessly to perfecting his craft until his 93rd birthday, endlessly refining the shape and sound of his violins in pursuit of perfection. Not only did he attain legendary status during his lifetime but also became a symbol of excellence far beyond the field of violin making.

It took us 10 years to gather his body of work and meticulously trace the origins of his instruments. Although the sheer quantity—six volumes, totalling 2000 pages—is impressive, it's the exceptional quality of his craftsmanship and his entrepreneurial spirit that makes him an ideal role model for contemporary entrepreneurs.

These six volumes ought to sit on the desk of any individual aspiring to leave a lasting legacy—a tangible testament to what can be accomplished within a single lifetime.

Whether named after legendary figures like Paganini, renowned socialites such as Juliette Récamier, or bearing imaginative titles destined to stir the reader's imagination like Michelangelo, da Vinci, or Titian, nearly all Stradivari instruments have been bestowed with monikers over the centuries to aid in their identification. Among this vibrant array of distinguished names, it's striking to encounter a handful of unnamed instruments—they sit there, bare, akin to orphaned creations.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​While I disagree with fabricated attributions that sow confusion regarding past ownership, I'm a strong believed in the power of naming things.

Do you think instruments should just bear the names of their owners past and present, or are imaginary names an equally good option? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Antonio Stradivari: The Complete Works... the 6-volume 2000-page-long publication is coming soon. Stay tuned.

Violinist Janine Jansen in ‘Falling for Stradivari’ documentary The violinist pairs twelve Stradivari violins with repertoire for a special recording steeped in history

A very merry Christmas to those who are celebrating 🎄🎄🎄🌟💫🌟💫

Every start of the school year is full of excitement. With new friends and countless parties, the exam season looks so far away... and yet. Give yourself a headstart by improving your left-hand facility with Prof. Rodney Friend's acclaimed technique of playing the violin in 5ths. Order the practice book now and give yourself better chances to succeed. ​​​​​​​​​.​​​​​​​​​.

In Cremona, the world’s capital of violinmaking, La Casa Stradivari is reopening its doors at the initiative of violinist Fabrizio von Arx and Fondazions Casa Stradivari. Having once harbored Antonio Stradivari and his young family, the walls of Corso Garibaldi 57 will once again welcome musicians and violinmakers for new creative dialogues.

I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of House Museums and the underlying belief that places hold the energy of their dwellers, rubbing off some of their magic onto present visitors. To me these places are like secular cathedrals where enthusiastic ‘believers’ flock to commune with their cultural idols, to seek advice in silent dialogues and, if lucky, get an answer to some unasked question.

I’m curious and eager to see what magic our contemporary violinmakers and musicians will make happen in this historic place.

Xx
Anna

"When I look at the music room, I feel the inner music. I feel that absences are presences. I feel that silence is sound. These three instruments, the piano, the cello and the violin, almost stand in as ghosts of their players. And the way that they talk to each other, the cello leaning against the piano and the bow caressing the strings of the violin. It makes me feel they are playing music." Claude Piening of Sotheby's .

Discover Vilhelm Hammershøi’s the wonderful painting “Interior. The Music Room" in the link below:

https://www.sothebys.com/en/videos/expert-voices-vilhelm-hammersh%C3%B8i-interior-the-music-room-strandgade-30?cmp=email_sothebys_selects_15-Apr-23_The_Quotidian_Poetry_of_Hammersh%C3%B8i%E2%80%99s_%E2%80%9CMusic_Room%E2%80%9D&locale=en&utm_campaign=Sothebys_Selects_LIVE_New&utm_content=email_message_b&utm_medium=email&utm_source=zaius

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a good picture is priceless. And when we saw how beautifully the first two volumes of our Antonio Stradivari: The Complete Works turned out, we couldn’t resist bringing in a photographer who could capture the books’ colours and textures in all their glory. Under Joanna Yee’s extraordinary artistic eye, everything from still lifes to recipes to breathtaking cityscapes glows in a special signature sparkle evoking 1930s-style glamour. We began the shoot experimenting with a variety of feels until to our surprise, we realised it would be a remarkably different style that would let the books shine. Instead of the warm glow, the blue/grey cloth and fine leather covers stand out with a cool, unaffected and almost Nordic simplicity. We absolutely love the results, especially the hints at the inside pages - because after all, they are the heart of our project, representing the culmination of our eight-year-long research exploring Stradivari's legacy and documenting as many instruments as possible. Thank you ! It was a pleasure working with you and looking forward to volumes 3 and 4.
Preorder your copy of your full set by following the link in our bio.