Books on the Violin  A - G          Books H-M                  Books N-Z             Books homepage
 

Altmann, Frank   Kurzgefaßtes Tonkünstler-Lexikon. 2 Teile in 3 Bänden. (Teil 2: Ergänzungen ab 1937),
FRANK, PAUL und WILHELM ALTMANN: Wilhemshaven, Heinrichshofens Verlag, 1974 -, 1983. 730 / 391 / 452 S. mit geringfügigen Gebrauchsspuren, guter Zustand. Der 1. Teil ist der unveränderte Nachdruck der Auflage. von 1936 Tonkünstlerlexikon 3 Bde. [komplett]. Kurzgefaßtes Tonkünstler- Lexikon fortgeführt von Burchard Bulling, Florian Noetzel, Helmut Rösner Teil 2: Ergänzungen und Erweiterungen seit 1937. Bd. 1: A-K. 15. Aufl. Wilhelmshaven 1974. XII, 394 S. 4°. OLn; Bd. 2: L-Z. dto. 1978. IV, 452 S. 4°. OLn. VG condition, with dj.
Hard to find standart work, in German,   £100 

(Amati) :  Andrea Zanrè (Ed.) The Girolamo Amati Viola - Galleria Estense 
Large format  colour ill.Sold

(Amati / Catalogue)

Ambros, August W. & Langhans, Wilhelm. Geschichte der Musik 7 Vol. (History of Music) . Leipzig: Leuckart, 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Quarter-Leather. Very Good 1880 - 1889, 2cd. Ed., 5 Vol., numerous Music examples, together with Langhans, W.: Die Geschichte der Musik des 17., 18. und 19. Jahrhunderts in chronologischem Anschlusse an die Musikgeschichte von A. W. Ambros.: 2 Vol., Leipzig, Leuckart 1884, 1887. Vol. 1 - 4, 220 x 150mm, dark red cloth boards, marbled endpapers, with small ex - libris of 'Regina Sulger Gebing', also embossed owners stamp 'Emil Sulger,!, (Vol. 1 also with small inscription,1881, on frontpaper), light shelf wear, gilt embossed & decorated leather spine with scuff marks, corners bumped with cloth cover starting to wear through, clean and crisp inside. Vol. 5, 230 x 160mm, 1889, quarter-leather, leather corners, marbled boards, gilt embossed & decorated leather spine, small dealer sticker on inner board, condition as Vol. 1 - 4. Contents: I: Die Musik des griechischen Alterthums und des Orients. 1880. II: (Die Anfänge der europäisch abendländischen Musik). 1880. III: (15. und 16. Jhdt.: Niederlande, Deutschland, England und Italien im 15. Jhdt.).1881. IV: (Italien von Palestrina bis gegen 1650). 1881. V: Auserwählte Tonwerke der berühmtesten Meister des 15. und 16. Jhdts. 1889. Herausgegeben von Otto Kade. Langhans, W: Geschichte der Musik...... 8vo, 233 x 160mm, quarter - leather, leather corners, gilt embossed & decorated laether spine, dark red cloth boards, marbled endpapers, ex libris etc. as before & condition as Vol. 1 - 4, also slight fading to top of boards, small glued tear and dirt marks to cloth on board of Vol.2. This set of 7 Vol. weighs about 6 kg! Please enquire about shipping rates.  £180

Apian-Bennewitz, Paul Otto. Die Geige - Die Grundzüge der Akustik / Die Geschichte der Bogeninstrumente und eine ausführliche, beschreibende und bildliche Darstellung der Anfertigung der Geige und verwandter Streichinstrumente aller Art nebst ihrer Bestandteile.
Voigt, Leipzig, 1920. 2.voll.neubearb. und erw.Auflage.Herausg. Otto Moeckel. 4to. hb, linen, 416 pp; 174 ill. u. 7 Tafeln.
Condition good, some light wear , bumps to edges, brownig of paper, a few light annotations, sm.owners stamp £60

Azzolina , Umberto : Liuteria italiana dell'ottocento e del novecento
Milano Ceschina, 1964.  numerous colour ill. in 105 plates and descriptive text and some instrument measurements in Italian. Hardback, quarter leather, in slipcase, large 4to.  VG  £120

Bachmann, Alberto. An Encyclopedia Of The Violin, Da Capo Press, New York, 1966.
470pp, standard reference work. Very Good condition.  £10

Baese, Geary L.: Classic Italian Violin Varnish
1985, 99pp. sold

Balfoort, Dirk. Stradivarius. London: Sidgwick and Jackson, First Edition. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Hard Cover. Very Good ca. 1950; transl. from the Dutch by W.A.G. Davidson; 60 pp; b/w ill. in text; Balfoort was Asistant Director of the Municipal Museum at The Hague; Condition: boards lighty warped, near fine otherwise.  £10

Baruzzi, Arnaldo - Hill, Desmond (transl.). La Casa Nuziale - The Home of Stradivari 1667 - 1680. London: W.E. Hill & Sons, 1962. First Edition.  Sold

Beare, Charles. Stradivari the Cremona Exhibition of 1987. London: J.& A. Beare , 1993. First (Library) Edition, HB.
As below - but not leather bound and without the slipcase. . £225

Beare, Charles. Stradivari the Cremona Exhibition of 1987. London: J.& A. Beare , 1993. First Edition De Luxe.
Full-Leather. Fine / Very Good. ISBN: 0 9519397 1 8.
with the collaboration of Bruce Carlson; this special edition limited to 300 copies; 328 + 2pp.; Folio, 320 x 250mm;
360 coloured illustrations and 63 b/w, featuring 44 instruments and 2 bows,
Leather bound, gilt embossed Stradivari insignia to front and gilt tiltes to spine; with transparent dustcover and clothbound slipcase;
Contents: Foreword by the Hon. Renzo Zaffanella, Mayor of Cremona 1980 - 1990; Foreword by Yo Yo Ma; Preface; Antonio Stradivari and his Contribution to Violin Making; Antonio Stradivari's Musical Environment, by Prof. Elena Ferrari Barassi;
The Instruments described and Illustrated: Violin ca. 1670 'Tullaye'; Viola 1672 'Mahler'; Violin 1697 'Hellier'; Harp 1681; Violins 1685 'Guyot' & 1690 'Tuscan'; Violas 1690 'Tuscan' & 'Medici'; Cello 1690 'Medici'; Violins 1691 'Hilton', 1692 'Bennett', 1693 'Harrisson'; Viola 1696 'Archinto'; Violin 1698 'Baron Knoop'; Cello 1700 'Cristiani'; Guitar 1700 'Rawlins'; Violins 1702 'Conte de Fontana', 1703 'Emiliani', 1707 'La Cathrédale', 1709 'Engleman'; Cello 1710 'Gore-Booth'; Violin 1711 'Parke'; Dancing Master's Violin 1712 'Fountaine'; Violins 1713 'Gibson', 1714 'Soil'; Cello 1714 'Batta-Piatigorsky'; Violins 1715 'Cremonese', 1715 'Titian', 1716 'Medici', 1716 'Provigny'; Pochette 1717 'Clapisson'; Violin 1719 'Zahn'; Dancing Master's Violin 1720 'Gillott'; Violins 1721 'Lady Blunt', 1724 'Sarasate'; Viola d'Amore c.1726; Violin 1727 'Reynier'; Cello c.1730 'De Munck'; Violins 1733 'Sasson', c.1734 'Habeneck',; Viola c. 1734 'Gibson'; Violins 1735 'Samazeuilh', 1736 'Muntz'; Mandoline; Two Violin Bows; Violin Case; Comparative Side Views; Appendices: Table of Measurements; Bibliography; Members of the Committees; Index; Subscribers to this Special Edition.
This deluxe edition was sold out by subscription before the book was actually published. It is probably one of the finest books ever published on any Violin Maker and the colour reproductions are outstanding.New £950

Beare, Charles: Capolavori di Antonio Stradivari - Cremona
1987, Cremona, 127pp, with numerous plates,softcover, parallel text in Italian and English  Sold

Blume, F. (Ed.)  Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart. (16 vols., inkl. 2 Ergz. Bd.)
Bärenreiter, Kassel, Unter Mitarbeit zahlreicher Musikforscher des In- und Auslandes herausgegeben von Friedrich Blume. 16 Bände (inkl. 2 Ergz. Bd.),1949/51-1979.ca. 18000 Seiten.  dunkelgrüne OHLdr mit goldgeprägten Rücken., hunderte v. schw/w Abbld. Bedeutendes Standart Werk. Schöner Zustand.
16 volumes (including the two-volume supplement), 1949/51-1979. ca. 18000 pp;  hundreds of b/w illustrations, music. articles on all aspects of music history, plus extensive bibliographies. In German.VG set - heavy.   £300

(Brescia - conference Catalogue)  Liuteria e Musica strumentale a Brescia tra Cinque e Seicento 2 Volumes RARE
A 2 Volume edition of the 1990 conference transcripts by the Fondazione Civilta Bresciana.  Published Brescia 1992, 230pp, 415pp + index. many illustrations, line drawings. Main text in Italian, Sold

(Bows and Bow Makers) see Retford, William C.: Bows and Bow Makers HB
& Sadler, Ealing Strings: Retford Centenary Exhibition

(Bows and Bow Makers) Roda, Joseph: Bows for Musical Instruments of the Violin Family, deluxe fully leather bound, slipcase 1959
Large 4to, 290 x 225mm, W. Lewis & Son, Chicago, 1959. 335 pp
47 plates (241 b/w illustrations). Gilt embossed title page and spine, full lether bound with original slipcase.
One of the most important texts on bows of the instruments of the violin family. Including the biographies of many well and famous bow makers of the French, English and German Schools detailing their work. A fine edition of this classic work.
Contents: Part I (115pp):
1. Origin and development of the bow 2. The modern type bow 3. Description of the present day bow
4. Materials used in bow making 5. Making a bow 6. Care of the bow 7. Rosin 8. How to choose a bow
Part II (220pp): Biographical list of bow makers and bow photographs, Bibliography List of subscribers New £600

(Bows and Bow Makers)  Vatelot, Etienne: Les Archets Francais 2 Vol. 1976 1.Ed.
Publisher: Sernor - M.Dufour, 1. edition 1976, 1-522 & 523-1025 pages. Sold

(Le) Canu: Les Luthiers Francais - Vol.3,  Paris 1995   Edition Caennaise; 1995; 88 pages; out of print hardback with many interesting instruments of the French School;  numerous colour photographs and information on the makers. Full list of makers see photos. VG condition, dust jacket with light marks.  Sold

(Catalogue) L'esposizione di Liuteria Antica a Cremona nel 1937
A reprint of the ultra rare and expensive catalogue on this Exhibition of early Cremonese Violin Makers.
Cremona 1987, 135, XXVII pp, softcover;
Introduzione di Gianpaolo Gregori e traduzione del testo in inglese a cura di Haddad Dawne
A monumental exhibition held on the 200th. anniversary of Stradivari's death. Numerous Italian masterpieces were assembled for this event. Introduction , summary and biographical info in English. Descriptive text on the instruments in Italian, French and German. NEW £50

Catalogue) Mostra di Antonio Stradivari. Palazzo Borromeo. Isola Bella. 1963 
Cremona 1996, 79pp.,4to, softcover,  numerous b/w illustrations and 1 large coloured fold out photo of the back view of Stradivari 1672 Viola ' Mahler'. Exhibition catalogue of an amazing exhibition of 47 classical Italian bowed stringed instruments.
Text in Italian, English, Deutsch, Francais. NEW £35

(Catalogue) Stradivari e la Liutera Cremonese dall'U.R.S.S. Cremona
Exhibition catalogue, softback, 4to, 63pp. many /w photos.
Stradivari, Guarneri, Amati, Bergonzi, Guadagnini...Rarely seen classical Italian violins, violas, celli belonging to the the Russian state collection. Many of the instruments have been used in the past by imminent Russian soloists during their careers. NEW £

Coates, Kevin: Geometry, Proportion and the Art of Lutherie
Oxford: Clarendon Press 1991, 178pp.,. sold

Confalonieri  Giulio. Storia della musica  Nuova Accademia Editrice, Milano., ca. 1963. 2 voll. in 4, pp. 746; 853. T. tl. con sovrac. Con molte ill. e tav. f.t. Accuratissima Storia della musica dall' antichità fino al nostro novecento.
2 Vol. standard book on Music history - in Italian. VG condition, in slipcase. £50

Cooper, Albert. The Cooper Collection, de luxe edition: Volume 1 & 2 of rare Violins, Violas, Celli, Bows, of Italian, French & English origin; 
Surrey: Ashford Publications, 1996 & 1998. Both Volumes have over 250 pages each, over 500  colour photographs by David Cousins.Size 210 x 300mm.
Nine aspects of each instrument and two of each bow are shown with measurements. Where relevant, details are included in the text accompanying each subject with translations into German, French, Italian and Japanese. 
Condition as NEW – might have very light scuff marks on DJ. Out of print.
Vol 1 records a unique collection of stringed instruments and bows. It contains 30 fine Italian instruments plus 40 French and English bows which are illustrated with over 250 colour photographs. Amongst others: Mantegazza, Giovanni and Paolo Grancino, Giuseppe Rocca, Alessandro Gagliano, G.B. Guadagnini, Giuseppe 'filius Andrea' Guarneri and Carlo Tononi.
Hardback. 256pp. Out of print/Sold out
Vol. 2: This handsomely produced volume records a unique collection of stringed instruments and bows. It contains 31 fine English, French and Italian instruments plus 65 English bows which are illustrated with over 350 colour photographs.
Both volumes: Nine aspects of each instrument and two of each bow are shown with measurements. Where relevant, details are included in the text accompanying each subject with translations into German, French, Italian and Japanese.
As new.

Cooper, Albert. The Cooper Collection - Volume 2, last few. contents as above. £70  more details here

Cooper, Albert: Benjamin Banks - the Salisbury Violinmaker 1727 - 1795 
Surrey: Ashford Publications, 2cd edition, 1995, 2cd edition, pp 168; A detailed survey of Banks' life, work and environment. The classic work on one of the greatest English makers of the 18th century. Based on extensive research, Cooper's book corrects earlier misconceptions about Banks's life and career and includes full illustrations and commentary on 27 instruments and bows. 'A wonderful contribution to serious violin literature.' In VG condition. £20  more details here

(Stradivari)  Dilworth, John: 3 Monographs on Antonio Stradivari:
The ''Archinto'' Cello 1689 ,  ''La Pucelle'' Violin 1709, ''Tyrrell '' Violin 1717  Cloth bound hardback, many colour photos showing full view, scroll and details of this unique early cello by the foremost Cremonese violin maker.
With an excellent descriptive text by John Dilworth, known to many as a regular contributor to the Strad magazine and well respected authority. £140

Dilworth, John: Monographs on Antonio Stradivari: The ''Archinto'' Cello 1689
Cloth bound hardback, many colour photos showing full view, scroll and details of this unique early cello by the foremost Cremonese violin maker.
With an excellent descriptive text by John Dilworth, known to many as a regular contributor to the Strad magazine and well respected authority. New £50

Dipper, Andrew & Woodrow, David : COUNT IGNAZIO ALESSANDRO COZIO DI SALABUE
Technical Studies in the Arts of Musical Instrument Making Observations on the Construction of Stringed Instruments and their Adjustment:1987, 85 pp.  sold

Doring, Ernest: The Guadagini Family of Violin Makers Chicago, Illinois: William Lewis & Son, 1949. 
Original Cloth. 328pp; many b/w photos; teg (top edge gilt), gilt titles to front and spine  A Treatise presenting conclusions concerning the origin and lives of this famous family derived from lifelong study of their works and diligent research among relevant data from early to recent times. Having as its principal subject Giovanni Battista Guadagnini renowned maker of violins with a chapter devoted to his father Laurentius and mention of descendants recorded as workers in the craft, together with illustrations of characteristic works and tabulation of examples reputedly authentic; limited to fifteen hundred copies; 328pp; many b/w photos; teg (top edge gilt), gilt titles to front and spine. condition: VG  £220

Doring, Ernest W. : Violins & Violinists collection 1938 - 1960 + newsletters.
Very Rare periodicals - magazines on the Violin, makers, players , collectorsPublisher: William Lewis & Son, Chicago, Illinois, many b/w ill.
An almost complete collection, missing only no. 4 and 7 of the first publication year 1938.In total there were 168 numbers, from 1938 to 1960, though no. 120, the December issue of 1950 was the annual no. 7 & 8 in one volume, thus making the complete run actually 'only' 167!This offer therefore consists of 165 periodicals PLUS the equally rare 6 newsletters published between 1961 - 1964 by Doring after the magazine had ceased.
Ernest Doring as well as violin dealers Lewis & Son compiled and researched much needed information about the classical violin makers, often by consulting renowned experts at the time.The spread and width of this collection is just too much to list, but it includes information and articles published later in 'off prints', these in turn are hard to find, and many of the planned offprints were never realized.Some articles i.e.: 8 part article by Max Möller on Dutch makers, articles on Gofriller, Guadaginini, 4 articles on Rugeri/Rogeri, also Bergonzi and followers, various Amatis, Guarneris, Stradivari, Vuillaume, Dutch school etc. etc.
This rare collection might be ideally placed in a specialist music library, or of course with an equally enthusiastic collector as myself.I have collected these over many years, enjoyed them, but now it's time to pass them on. Reserved

Doring, Ernest N.  The Amati Family. Chicago, Illinois: William Lewis & Son, 1959. 51pp; b/w ill. in text; Offprint from 'Violin Violinists' magazine 1942 - 1943;  In cello taped plastic wraps, some marks, few page corners lightly torn w. minor loss, pencilled underlining, slightly musty  sold

Draley, Daniel & Carlo Bonetti : A Genealogy of the Amati Family of Violin Makers 1500-1740
The Maecenas Press,1989. Library edition, 4to. cloth bound. 149pp, 29 plates.
One of the very few publications about the Amati family of Cremona violin makers. Parallel text in Italian and English.  £250

Flesch, Carl. Die Kunst Des Violinspiels 1& 2 Vol. ( The Art Of Violin Playing). Berlin & Leipzig: Ries & Erler, 1928. Folio - over 12" - 15" tall. Original Cloth. Very Good 315 x 250 mm, 2. ed, Vol. 1, 1929, 6 + 148pp., 8 plates with 35 b/w ill.; Vol. 2, 1928, 4 + 222pp; In GERMAN. Light coloured linen cloth, both Vol. with numerous music examples throughout. Minor marks on front cover, lightest wear to edges, pages browned, ep. in Vol. 2 with slight crease. Contents: Vol 1: Vorwort z. 1 & 2. Auflage; Die allgemeine Technik (5 Kapitel 76 pp.); Die angewandte Technik (5 Papitel 65 pp.) ; Sachverz; Namensverz; Verz. d. Notenbsp.; LIchtbilder; Vol. 2: Vorwort; Einleitung ( 6 Kapitel, 132 pp.); Anhang (84 pp.) with Fleschs' commentary and complete music examples: J.S.Bach: Chaconne a.d. 2. Partita d-moll; P.Nardini: Sonate di Camera 1. Satz; W.A.Mozart: Violinkonzert D-Dur KV 218 1.Satz; Viotti: Violinkonzert g-moll Nr.19 1.Solo d. 1. Satzes; Beethoven: Sonate op.96 1. Satz; Spohr: Konzert op. 47 Rezitativ; Medelssohn: Konzert op. 64 2.Satz; Vieuxtemps: Konzert Nr.4 d-moll 1.Satz; Schumann: Sonate op.121 3.Satz; Brahms: Sonate op. 78 3.Satz; Schnabel: 5 Stuecke 3.Stueck; Das Rubato in d. Ungar. Volksmusik; Sachverz.; Namensverz.; Verz. d. Notenbeispiel. These books weighs 2.4kg, please enquire about shipping rates.  £100 Rare

Fox Strangeways Ed.. MUSIC AND LETTERS 14 Vols. 1920 - 1926. London: 1920. First Edition. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Cloth. Very Good.  All volumes are bound in sky blue quarter linen with marbled paper covers, and also marbled paper to the inside cover (originally issued in soft wrapper), gold embossed titles with dates and Vol. nos. to spine. This collection comprises of the first 14 Volumes published. The contents covers all fields of musical enquiry, from earliest times to present day. Includes wide range of reviews: scholarly editions of music of the past, new music. rare.  £120

enquiries: books@nowakviolins.co.uk

Top of page                  Books H-M                  Books N-Z               Books Home  

Home