New website

December 6th, 2012 -- Our website has just been published! Our blogger account was merged with the new website, which means from now on new blog posts shall appear only within the new website. Sneak peek preview:

Do not hesitate to join our FaceBook page too. FB is still a good option for micro-blogging and frequent status updates. Just click "Like" and choose the option "Get notifications" from the drop-down menu.

Violoncello da Spalla, History, Theory, Reality (violin-maker Dmitry Badiarov lecture at Utrecht Conservatoire

Utrecht Conservatoire  08.10.2012; 10:15 - 12:15 (hand-out; PDF available from the secretary)

Small sized bass instruments exist at least since the mid 16th century. 

Bas de violon of Jambe de Fer, 1556. It was played suspended on a strap. In iconography archaic (14-15cc pre-consort type) instruments prevail.

Early small or large bass instrument names were

An interesting violoncello da spalla at Mondomusica Cremona.

J.G.Walther, J.S.Bach's friend, wrote in 1708 that violoncello was an Italian instrument. It was born in Italy in the 2nd half of the 17th century and it was conceived as a virtuoso bass instrument which could rival the violin. It was made in a variety of sizes and played by anyone who loved its deep sound: gambists, violonists, violinists, violists. Naturally, the latter would hold it across the chest, like the big tenor violas, rather than da gamba which requires a completely different playing technique.

L.Mozart in 1756 wrote, "nowadays violoncello is also played between the legs". Gradually the large cello played da gamba prevailed and its smaller counterpart played mostly by violinists, like J.S.Bach, A.Caldara, G.M.Bononcini disappeared until 2004 when I was lucky to have been summoned to re-construct what the Italians in the 17th century conceived. A few remarkable soloists made the discovery known.

With several world-premiere CDs recorded on this instrument, including the award winning recordings of the Six Suites for Violoncello solo and Cantatas with violoncello obbligato by J.S.Bach, this instrument has played its role in the cello history being its turning point. It will soon be the ex-Badiarov.

It will be exhibited at Mondomusica, Cremona, on the 28-30 September 2012. Exhibition booth no. 144, Badiarov Violins.

More info on this event at:
1. Mondomusica website.
2. An FB event. Feel free to join, and do not forget to request free invitations if you happen to visit Mondomusica this year.
3. The most recent recital on a similar instrument from my studio, by Sergey Malov.

PRESS-RELEASE: Badiarov Violins exhibits at Mondomusica, Cremona

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Dmitry Badiarov,

Doornstraat 154, 2584AN The Hague, 

The Netherlands.

Tel +31 6 1125 7695 

dmitrybadiarov__AT__gmail.com    

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Badiarov Violins exhibits at Mondomusica, Cremona

September 8, 2012, The Hague -- The Hague based violin-making studio Badiarov Violins will participate at Mondomusica, world’s finest exhibition for concert quality violins in Cremona. Exhibition will start on September 28, and last till September 30. 

Badiarov Violins will present two modern violins and what still is at large a novelty: a viola da spalla or shoulder-held cello also known as violoncello da spalla. It has been re-constructed by Dmitry Badiarov, the founder of Badiarov Violins, in 2004 and brought back to the concert stage by european and international soloists such as Sigiswald Kuijken and Ryo Terakado. Since 2011 it has also been played by Sergey Malov, a musician combining in his repertoire baroque, classical, romantic and contemporary music as well as jazz, and who is an equally prolific soloist on several instruments - baroque and modern violins, viola and the violoncello da spalla.

Dmitry Badiarov’s specialized violin-making studio produced over eighty instruments. Inspired by the classical examples of the finest violin-making, by other arts and music Dmitry Badiarov puts an accent on uniqueness and spontaneous creativity. All of his instruments are “designer’s” instruments. They are designed by Dmitry Badiarov following, or breaking esthetic rules developed in the 17th-18th century.  

Dmitry Badiarov started violin making at the age of 11 and debuted as a professional violin-maker in St.Petersburg in 1992. Currently he lives in The Netherlands dedicating all his time to making high-end concert quality violins - both modern and baroque. More on his website badiarovviolins.com 

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For further information and eventual graphics contact Badiarov Violins: Phone +31 6 1125 7695, Email dmitrybadiarov_AT_gmail.com or FaceBook: http://facebook.com/dmitry.badiarov/ 

April violins

April 14th, 2012 -- finished the varnish on the white violin as well as yet another instrument. Played-in the baroque violin on this picture.

Stradivari varnish - at last, discovered once and for ever

When seemingly adult people seriously talk about Stradivari varnish and its secret ingredients which,

The February 2012 modern violin

Inspired by the beauty of music and by the nature of wood, 

I just tried to interfere as little as I possibly could.