Giovanni Battista Guadagnini Explained

Giovanni Battista Guadagnini
Birth Date:1711 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Bilegno in Val Tidone, Italy
Death Place:Turin, Italy
Nationality:Italian
Movement:Guadagnini school[1]
Elected:Court luthier of Duchy of Parma[2]

Giovanni Battista Guadagnini (often shortened to G. B. Guadagnini; 23 June 1711 – 18 September 1786) was an Italian luthier, regarded as one of the finest craftsmen of string instruments in history.[3] He is widely considered the third greatest maker after Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri "del Gesù". The Guadagnini family was known for their violins, guitars and mandolins.[1]

Biography

Giovanni Battista Guadagnini was born on June 23, 1711, in the hamlet of Bilegno, in what is now the Province of Piacenza in Northern Italy. Both his life and his career can be divided into four distinct periods, which correspond to the four cities in which he would live and work, Piacenza, Milan, Parma, and Turin. Almost nothing is known about his early years until he moved to the nearby city of Piacenza in 1738.[4] In 1742, his first violins start to appear. It is unclear from whom or where he learned his trade. Since he joined the woodworking guild, it is likely that he underwent an apprenticeship with a local woodworker; however, there is no evidence of any local instrument makers in Piacenza at the time.[5]

In 1749 Guadagnini moved to Milan, where he continued to make instruments. The reason for his move is unknown, but was perhaps economically motivated as Milan was a much larger city with a larger and more active music scene. During this time a few of his instruments bear labels implying a relationship to Cremona—the home of the renowned violin makers Amati, Stradivari, and Guarneri—however no evidence exists that Guadagnini ever lived in Cremona.

In 1758 Guadagnini moved again, this time to Parma. He may have been drawn to the city by the recent appointment of Carlo Ferarri, a close musician friend from his time in Piacenza, to a position with the Ducal Court.[6] During his time in Parma Guadagnini was also closely connected to the court, and in particular to the musical patronage of the Prime Minister Guillaume du Tillot. In his later years in Parma Guadagnini even received a direct salary from the court. In 1771, with the Court's financial fortunes in decline, Guadagnini asked to be allowed to leave.

He next moved to Turin. Two years later, in 1773, he began his historically important relationship with notable violin collector Count Cozio. Cozio purchased most, if not all, of Guadagnini's output during this time, and also supplied him with most of his wood and other materials. His business partnership with Cozio ended in 1777, though they continued to have dealings with each other. The Count is likely responsible for Guadagnini's marked shift to a more Stradivari-like style during this time, both by pressuring Guadagnini to more closely copy Stradivari and by providing Guadagnini with access to examples of Stradivari's work.[7]

Giovanni Battista Guadagnini passed away in Turin on September 18, 1786.

Violin maker

Guadagnini's work is divided into four distinct periods, which correspond to the four cities in which he worked over the span of his career, Piacenza, Milan, Parma, and Turin. His work in each new city changed in response to the availability of materials, the needs of the local musicians, and finally in Turin, his relationship with Count Cozio. Stylistically Guadagnini's work is generally less refined and polished than that of makers such as the Amatis or Stradivari, however with the same focus on tonal success. He is generally considered to be the last of the great historical makers, ranking just behind Stradivari and Guarneri.[8] He is also possibly the last of historical makers to have used a varnish similar to what was used by classical Cremonese makers.

His instruments have sold for over $2,000,000 at auction.[9]

Performers with Guadagnini instruments

Violinists
ViolinistDate & place of manufactureSobriquetCommentsReference
Felix Ayo1744[10]
Veriko Tchumburidze1756, Milanloaned by Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben[11] [12]
Riccardo Brengola1747, PiacenzaContessa Crespi[13]
Adolf Brodsky1751, Milanex-Brodsky[14]
Zakhar Bron1757, Milan[15]
Amaury Coeytaux1773[16]
Andrew Dawes1770, ParmaDawes, de Long Tearse[17] [18]
Richard DeakinEnglish chamber musician and soloist, currently teaching at RAM in London, was using one in 1980s and likely still is.[19]
Julia Fischer1742[20]
Carl Flesch1750sex-Henri Vieuxtemps[21]
David Garrett1772In December 2007, Garrett fell after a performance and smashed his Guadagnini, which he had purchased four years earlier for US$1 million.[22] He now uses it for mainly his outdoor crossover performances.[23]
David Greed1757Owned by the Yorkshire Guadagini 1757 Syndicate.[24]
Arthur Grumiaux1752ex-Grumiaux[25]
David Halen1753[26]
Jascha Heifetz1741, Piacenzaex-HeifetzProvenance – by Rembert Wurlitzer in 1946 and Dario D'Attili in 1991[27]
Marlene Hemmer1764[28]
Chloe Chua1753On Loan from the Rin Collection https://www.ystmusic.nus.edu.sg/our-supporters-rin-collection/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFpYDmMRilw&t=425s
Peter Herresthal1753, Milan[29]
Willy Hess1740s[30]
Joseph Joachim1767, Parmaex-Joachim[31]
Ida Kavafian1751[32]
David Kim1757On loan from The Philadelphia Orchestra[33]
Min-Jeong Koh1767[34]
Goran Končar1753, Milan[35]
Mikhail Kopelman1773[36]
Michał Kowalkowski1753Gucio
Jan Kubelik1750ex-Kubelik[37]
Pekka Kuusisto1752On loan from the Finnish Cultural Foundation[38]
Manfred Leverkus1752ex-Kneisel
Jack Liebeck1785ex-Wilhelmj[39]
Wayne Lin1779, Turin[40]
Tasmin Little1757, Milan[41]
Mauro Lopes Ferreira[42]
Haldon Martinson1750Being used in the Boston Symphony Orchestra[43]
Stefan Milenkovich1780, Turin[44]
Viktoria Mullova1750[45]
Ludwig Müller1746
Ginette NeveuPurchased early spring, 1949. Involved in an air crash later that year, in which Neveu died. Scroll later apparently appeared in Paris, having changed hands several times.[46]
David Plantier1766[47]
Simone Porter1745On loan from The Mandell Collection of Southern California[48]
William E. Pynchon1779, TurinPurchased March 26, 1957. Played in San Francisco Opera until 1998
Linda Rosenthal1772, Turin[49]
Leon Sametini1751ex-Sametini[50]
Mari Samuelsen1773, TurinOn loan from ASAF (Anders Sveeas Charitable Foundation, Oslo).[51] [52]
Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio1757[53]
Mayumi Seiler1740, Piacenza
Ittai Shapira1745, Piacenza[54]
Sini-Maaria Simonen1760On loan from the Finnish Cultural Foundation[55]
Roman Simovic1752On loan from Jonathan Moulds[56]
Yvonne Smeulers1785[57]
Lara St. John1779SalabueCalled "The Resurrection" by St. John[58]
Lyndon Johnston Taylor1777[59]
Henri Temianka1752Built based on the Petro Guarnerius model. Certificate of Joseph Vedral, violinmaker, Holland, 28 September 1929
Vanessa-Mae1761Gizmo[60]
Pablo Valetti1758[61]
Pavel Vernikov1747, Piacenzaex-Contessa Crespi, ex-BrengolaOn loan from Fondazione Pro Canale. Worth $1.5 million in 2016. Stolen in December 2016.[62]
Henri Vieuxtemps1750sex-Henri Vieuxtemps
Henryk Wieniawski1750ex-Wieniawski[63]
Bob Wills1784Described as 157 years old when bought in 1941 for $3,000, Wills later claimed in an interview that he gave it away "to a friend of mine in Tayxas" and bought another for $5,000.[64]
Eugène Ysaÿe1774ex-Eugène Ysaÿe[65]
Bomsori Kim1774, Turin
Li Chuan Yun1784On loan from the Stradivari Society[66]
Kai Gleusteen1781the tiger[67]
Audrey Wright1753ex-AlsopOn loan from the Alsop Trust. Previously played by Madeline Adkins[68] [69]
Madeline Adkins1782ex-ChardonOn loan from Gabrielle Israelievitch, previously played by Jacques Israelievitch[70]
Violists
Cellists
Groups

See also

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Violin Making in Turin, part 2: the Guadagnini family . Kass . Philip . . 19 May 2018 . registration.
  2. Web site: Giovanni Battista Guadagnini (1711–1786) . 2011 . Guadagnini.org . 23 October 2019.
  3. Book: Doring, Ernest N. . 1949 . The Guadagnini Family of Violin Makers . Chicago . Lewis & Sons. Reprint with new introduction by Stewart Pollins, Dover Books, 2012.
  4. Book: Davide Gasparotto. Anrea Zanrè . Joannes Baptista Guadagnini, fecit Parmae serviens, celsitudinis suae realis : masterpieces from the Parma 2011 Galleria nazionale exhibition . 2012 . Scrollavezza e Zanrè . 978-88-907194-0-0 . parma2011a . The role of Giovanni Battista Guadagnii in the tradition of violin making, an introduction.
  5. Book: Carlo Chiesa . Joannes Baptista Guadagnini, fecit Parmae serviens, celsitudinis suae realis : masterpieces from the Parma 2011 Galleria nazionale exhibition . 2012 . Scrollavezza e Zanrè . 978-88-907194-0-0 . parma2011b . On a String, Giovanni Battista Guadagnini’s life and whereabouts.
  6. Web site: Giovanni Battista Guadagnini . Tarisio Cozio Archive . Tarisio . 14 March 2021.
  7. Book: Philip Kass . Joannes Baptista Guadagnini, fecit Parmae serviens, celsitudinis suae realis : masterpieces from the Parma 2011 Galleria nazionale exhibition . 2012 . Scrollavezza e Zanrè . 978-88-907194-0-0 . parma2011b . The evolution of style and technique in the work of Giovanni Battista Guadagnini.
  8. Web site: Maker Profile . Tarisio Cozio Archive . 14 March 2021.
  9. Web site: Price History: Guadagnini, Giovanni Battista . Tarisio . 14 March 2021.
  10. Web site: Felix Ayo Biography . . 23 October 2019.
  11. Web site: Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben .
  12. Web site: Veriko Tchumburidze Biography . verikotchumburidze.com . 2022-07-10.
  13. Web site: Guadagnini, 1747 . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090304140600/http://www.cozio.com/Instrument.aspx?id=2796 . 2009-03-04.
  14. Web site: Guadagnini, 1751 . Cozio.com . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090304140513/http://www.cozio.com/Instrument.aspx?id=1029 . 2009-03-04.
  15. Web site: Guadagnini, 1757 . Cozio.com . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090303002307/http://www.cozio.com/Instrument.aspx?id=1997 . 2009-03-03.
  16. Web site: Biography . 2018 . . 23 October 2019.
  17. Web site: References . 2008 . Pierre Dalphin . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090303063740/http://www.dalphin-luthier.com/e/references_citations.php . 2009-03-03.
  18. Web site: Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, Parma, 1770, the 'Dawes, de Long Tearse' . 1 November 2022.
  19. Web site: Staff: Richard Deakin . Royal Academy of Music . 21 October 2019 . 27 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180327130225/https://www.ram.ac.uk/about-us/staff/richard-deakin . dead .
  20. Web site: Julia Fischer performs the same piece on two different violins . Fischer . Frank-Michael . 25 March 2013 . Violinist.com . 23 October 2019.
  21. Web site: Guadagnini, 175x . Cozio.com . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090302160226/http://www.cozio.com/Instrument.aspx?id=1015 . 2009-03-02.
  22. News: Violinist: Fall Fractures $1M Fiddle . Thomas . Wagner . 2008-02-14 . . 2008-02-15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150221051716/http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080215%2FNEWS34%2F80215023 . 21 February 2015 .
  23. Web site: David Garrett – livestream in NY, 8 June 2012 . Garrett . David . 7 April 2013 . YouTube . 24 July 2013.
  24. Web site: David Greed & Simon Lindley . 24 September 2018 . . 23 October 2019 . 23 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191023010229/https://www.leedstownhall.co.uk/whats-on/all-shows/david-greed-and-simon-lindley/4300 . dead .
  25. Web site: Guadagnini, 1752 . Cozio.com . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090304140540/http://www.cozio.com/Instrument.aspx?id=2726 . 2009-03-04.
  26. Web site: David Halen . 2006 . . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120306074815/http://www2.mercer.edu/music/davidhalen.htm . 6 March 2012.
  27. Web site: Ex-Heifetz 1741 Johannes Baptista Guadagnini Violin . Salabue Auctions . 5 February 2016 . Facebook . 23 October 2019.
  28. Web site: Marlene Hemmer . Nationaal Muziekinstrumenten Fonds . nl . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160403231549/http://www.muziekinstrumentenfonds.nl/59/huidige-nmf-musici/nmf-musici/marlene-hemmer/?id=85 . 3 April 2016.
  29. In praise of Gaudagnini . . 122 . October 2011 . 36–44 . en.
  30. Web site: Guadagnini, 174x . Cozio.com . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090303000231/http://www.cozio.com/Instrument.aspx?id=1006 . 2009-03-03.
  31. Web site: Guadagnini, 1767 . Cozio.com . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927023338/http://www.cozio.com/Instrument.aspx?id=2736 . 2007-09-27.
  32. Web site: Ida Kavafian, violin . 2008 . . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090525014312/http://www.chambermusicsociety.org/artistDetail/44/artistID%3D4 . 2009-05-25.
  33. Web site: Biography . David Kim . 23 October 2019.
  34. Web site: Cecilia String Quartet . . 23 October 2019.
  35. Web site: Concert to feature a Guadagnini violin worth a million and a half Euros . 8 October 2008 . Croatian Times . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706090820/http://croatiantimes.at/news/Panorama/2008-10-08/1415/ . 2011-07-06.
  36. Web site: Kopelman Quartet: Biography . April 2005 . Mariedi Anders Artists Management . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080907083935/http://www.andersmanagement.com/ensembles/kopelman.php . 2008-09-07.
  37. Web site: Guadagnini, 1750 . Cozio.com . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090304140525/http://www.cozio.com/Instrument.aspx?id=1736 . 2009-03-04.
  38. Web site: Pekka Kuusisto, violin . . 23 October 2019.
  39. Web site: Guadagnini, 1785 . Cozio.com . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20050902150939/http://www.cozio.com/Instrument.aspx?id=2750 . 2005-09-02.
  40. Web site: Wayne Lin . . 23 October 2019.
  41. Web site: Great Violinists at the Proms . Yangen Xu . 3 August 2006 . . 23 October 2019.
  42. Web site: Les Musiciens De L'Ensemble: Mauro Lopes Ferreira . Café Zimmermann . fr . 23 October 2019 . 23 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191023010229/https://www.cafe-zimmermann.com/presentation/musiciens . dead .
  43. Web site: Haldan Martinson . . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100312033109/http://www.bso.org/bso/mods/bios_detail.jsp?id=1700055 . 2010-03-12.
  44. Web site: Giovanni Battista Guadagnini (circa 1780), Turin . 2017 . Ingles & Hayday . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170830235653/http://ingleshayday.com/archive/instrument/239-violin-giovanni-battista-guadagnini.html . 30 August 2017.
  45. Web site: Biography . 2005 . Viktoria Mullova . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090709040726/http://www.viktoriamullova.com/biog.asp . 9 July 2009.
  46. What happened to Ginette Neveu's Stradivari? . Todes . Ariane . 8 February 2013 . The Strad . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160808040007/http://oldsite.thestrad.com/BlogArticle.asp?bID=231 . 2016-08-08.
  47. Web site: Les Musiciens De L'Ensemble: David Plantier . Café Zimmermann . fr . 23 October 2019 . 23 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191023010229/https://www.cafe-zimmermann.com/presentation/musiciens . dead .
  48. Web site: Biography . Simone Porter Violin . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20181026021137/http://www.simoneporterviolin.com/artist.php?view=bio . 26 October 2018 .
  49. Web site: About Linda Rosenthal, violinist . Linda Rosenthal . 23 October 2019.
  50. Web site: Guadagnini, 1751 . Cozio.com . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090304140534/http://www.cozio.com/Instrument.aspx?id=2409 . 2009-03-04.
  51. Web site: Mari Samuelsen: Tracklist . . 23 October 2019.
  52. Web site: Giovanni B. Guadagnini . Anders Sveaas Almennyttige Fond . no . 23 October 2019 . 23 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191023010228/https://asaf.no/instrumenter/giovanni-b-guadagnini . dead .
  53. Web site: Artistic Director . Cactus Pear Music Festival . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090723093647/http://www.cpmf.us/pages/artisticdirector.htm . 2009-07-23.
  54. Web site: Ittai Shapira . Sadler . Naomi . 28 June 2017 . Tarisio . 23 October 2019.
  55. Web site: Myönnetyt soittimet . 2006 . Suomen Kulttuurirahasto . fi . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071029200501/http://www.skr.fi/default.asp?docId=13213 . 29 October 2007.
  56. Web site: Roman Simovic . 2015 . Orchestra da Camera della Sardegna . 23 October 2019.
  57. Web site: Biography . Yvonne Smeulers . 23 October 2019 . 23 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191023010235/http://www.yvonnesmeulers.nl/language/en/bio/violinist/Biography/ . dead .
  58. Web site: Guadagnini, 1779 . Cozio.com . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090304140626/http://www.cozio.com/Instrument.aspx?id=617 . 2009-03-04.
  59. Web site: First Violins: Lyndon Johnston Taylor . . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100521234547/http://www.nzso.co.nz/about_us/meet_the_nzso/the_orchestra/strings/first_violins . 2010-05-21.
  60. Web site: Vanessa-Mae calls her Guadagnini violin "Gizmo". Why is that? . 14 September 2016 . Vanessa-Mae.net . 23 October 2019.
  61. Web site: La Direction Artistique: Pablo Valetti . Café Zimmermann . fr . 23 October 2019 . 23 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191023010229/https://www.cafe-zimmermann.com/presentation/musiciens . dead .
  62. Giovanni Battista Guadagnini violin, worth $1.5m, stolen from Geneva train . 12 December 2016 . The Strad . 23 October 2019.
  63. Web site: Guadagnini, 1750 . Cozio.com . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090304140509/http://www.cozio.com/Instrument.aspx?id=1017 . 2009-03-04.
  64. Book: Townsend, Charles R. . 1976 . San Antonio Rose: The Life and Music of Bob Wills . Urbana . . 230 . 0-252-00470-1.
  65. Web site: Guadagnini, 1754 . Cozio.com . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090319023418/http://www.cozio.com/Instrument.aspx?id=2430 . 2009-03-19.
  66. News: Young violin phenom Chuanyun Li to play at Benaroya Hall . Bargreen . Melinda . 4 April 2008 . . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140409230547/http://seattletimes.com/html/musicnightlife/2004325485_violin04.html . 2014-04-09.
  67. News: Kai Gleusteen personal page . Bargreen . Joan G. . 1 June 2008 . 22 November 2021.
  68. News: Cooper . Michael . At Baltimore Symphony, a Cello and a Violin Make More Than Music . 14 January 2024 . The New York Times . 13 February 2015.
  69. Web site: Audrey Wright, Violin . . 15 December 2023.
  70. Web site: Madeline Adkins, Concertmaster . . 14 January 2024.
  71. Web site: Giovanni Battista Guadagnini 1711–1786 . 2011 . Guadagnini.org . 23 October 2019 . 10 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210510192851/http://www.guadagnini.org/en/strumenti.php . dead .
  72. Web site: Choong-Jin Chang . 2014 . . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160308090607/http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/faculty/chang/ . 2016-03-08.
  73. Web site: Geraldine Walther . Bein & Fushi . 2012-10-16 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120709091304/http://www.beinfushi.com/cs-geraldine.php . 9 July 2012 . dmy-all.
  74. Web site: Biography. 23 October 2019. Natalie Clein. 20 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191020084705/http://www.natalieclein.com/biography.php. dead.
  75. Web site: G. B. Guadagnini . Mnatzaganian . Sarah . 2004 . Aitchison Mnatzaganian . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080602140200/http://www.aitchisoncellos.com/articleguad.htm . 2 June 2008.
  76. Web site: Biography . Maxine Neuman . 23 October 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303210330/http://www.maxineneuman.com/downloads/Biography_Maxine_Neuman_eng.pdf . 3 March 2016.
  77. Web site: Carter Brey, Principal Cello . . 23 October 2019.
  78. Web site: Our Instruments . . 2017-02-12.

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