The Violin and Old Violin Makers

A clear, compact guide for anyone drawn to the violin, this work blends a lively survey of the instrument’s origins with practical insight for players and collectors alike. Beginning with the earliest bowed strings—from mythic Ceylonese creations to the medieval viols that paved the way—it sketches the tangled theories that have long surrounded the violin’s ancestry, offering enough detail to satisfy scholars while remaining approachable for newcomers.

The second part turns to the craftsmen who shaped the violin’s golden age, presenting concise biographies of the most celebrated makers and reproducing their original labels for close study. Drawing on years of hands‑on examination of authentic instruments and the latest scholarship, the author supplies the kind of nuanced information that helps musicians understand the character of historic bows and bodies, making the book a valuable companion for both serious study and everyday enjoyment.