Links

We are pleased to offer the following links to other organizations, string suppliers, luthiers, bow makers, music publishers, etc. who have a strong viola d'amore product or association. If you want your business listed here, please contact the webmaster for such consideration. The listing is at the sole discretion of Viola d'amore Society of America.

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Viola d'amore Strings

Information on available strings for Viola d'Amore is scant. The table provides some of the available strings that have been found thus far. The individual preferences and the interplay between strings, instrument, bow and pieces played are manyfold. A few notes stem from particular experiences of individuals. Each player is encouraged to experiment with various string types and brands. The following sites have some data on Viola d'amore strings in general, and gut strings in particular:

Dimitry Badiarov's site
Damian Dlugolecki's site
Aquilacorde

Playing Strings		Price US$
Thomastik-Infeld Dominant	These are fairly widely used strings. They have a synthetic perlon core and are wound with silver. These strings can be obtained from major vendors such as www.juststrings.com. Some have had some issues with a' and f# ripping out at the ball almost immediately after putting them on. Additionally the A string unravelled near the peg a couple of times. Thomastik generously replaced those strings. On some instruments the sound is quite viola like, a bit piercing-sharp particularly on the upper three strings. On others they produce a very pleasing tone.	Set 95 8-18 each
Thomastik-Infeld Superflexible	Also fairly widely available strings with a rope core (steel core? contradictory information on box and on website). They are supposed to be a bit more durable, but also have a higher tension at the same pitch, hence will produce more strain on the instrument. Some tried those as an alternative to the Dominant a' and f'# that ripped at the ball (see above). The problem is that the strings of the same pitch are of very different thickness, hence, can not be mixed and matched, because clearance for the bow is reduced to zero. The sound is also more piercing.	Set 80 8-15 each
Pirastro Gut Strings	A through a: silver wound with loop; f# through d": unvarnished gut without knot. Usually sold as sets not as individual strings. Available at southweststrings.com and 123music.com. The upper gut strings start to fray after 2-3 hours of playing, which seems rather quick. Tension is very unequal between upper and lower strings and ff-playing on the lower strings may cause them to touch one another. Gauges are interchangeable with Dominant.	Set 80
Damian Dlugolecki Gut Strings Oregon, USA	Available directly from Damian Dlugolecki. Viola d'Amore strings are available and listed on the web-site. Various constructions and gauges are available: (un)varnished gut, roped gut, demi filee, silver wound gut, copper core silver plated gut. He has excellent information on gut strings on his web-site, responds quickly to e-mail, and is most helpful on the phone.	Set ~ 200 5-65 each.
Bernd Kürschner Gut strings, Germany	Bernd Kürschner makes a wide variety of gut strings in five different twist strengths and silver-plated copper as well as fine silver strings. Also offers a string calculator for non-standard applications as an "accessory" (approx. $18).	Set 120-150 7-32 each
Northern Renaissance Instruments (NRI) gut strings UK.	Directly available from NRI as gut, roped gut, open wound and close-wound with silver-plated copper. Two qualities.	Set 180-240 12-46 each
Aquila Corde, Italy, gut strings	Directly available from http://aquilacorde.com/catalogo14.htm. Gut, gut wound with silver-plated copper or silver. Has good background information in string making, history, use of gut strings.	13-43 each
Aquila USA, Oregon	Directly available from http://www.aquilausa.com. Various (un)varnished gut strings, silver wound gut strings, to be ordered by gauge. Check Aquila Corde Italy site for appropriate gauges.	13-43 each
La Bella, New York	Directly available at http://www.labella.com. Strings available in gut, varnished gut, silver-plated copper wound gut, and various wound metal strings. You will need to know what gauge you need for each application.	variable.
Dogal Strings Venice, Italy	Viola d'amore strings are listed on their website, but without any details.
Sympathetic strings
Thomastik-Infeld Superflexible	These are fairly widely used strings and can be obtained from major vendors such as www.juststrings.com or Damian Dlugolecki. Lower strings are copper wound, upper strings are steel.	Set 30 - 55 3-5 each
Bernd Kürschner Gut strings, Germany	Available directly from Bernd Kürschner.	3-5 each
Northern Renaissance Instruments (NRI), UK.	Directly available from NRI as iron, brass or steel strings. Either individually or as 5 m coils.	Sets 24-40 coil sets 14-47 4-13 each 7-13 each coil

Sheet music for Viola d'amore

Related Historical and Practical Sites

The Hidden World of the Viola d'amore:    

www.violadamore.com

Violinist/ viola d'amore player Thomas Georgi's web site with much practical and valuable information about the viola d'amore and related things.

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Luthiers Who Make Violas d'amore:

Paul Hart in Mt. Pleasant, Utah.   Hart has made some fine violas d'amore and continues to create beautiful instruments. Paul gave a lecture on viola d'amore construction at the 12th International Viola d'amore Congress at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah and also exhibited six violas d'amore that he had just finished.

E Mail: plhart@cut.net

Telephone: (435) 462-0301

 www.utahheritage.com/stories/paul_hart.htm

Devin Hough, Davis, California, is a maker of bowed stringed instruments specializing in instruments of the Baroque, Renaissance and Medieval periods: violin family, violas da gamba, violas d'amore and other period instruments. His instruments are made after historical models or to custom specifications. He is currently working on a new instrument based on one by Benedict Wagner shown here. Contact him at dhviolin@den.org or (530) 750-1132. The viola d'amore below is a recent one by Mr. Hough.

Alma Jay Young, Orem, Utah has made many excellent violas d'amore that are used by several viola d'amore players today. Go to  "Viola d'amore for Sale" and "Baroque Instruments"  on Jay Young's web site.  Jay gave a talk on the violas d'amore he has built and exhibited some of them at the 12th International Viola d'amore Congress at Snow College, Ephraim, Utah.

www.hardingfele.com

Andreas Jacobi is a Geigenbaumeister in Geisenheim, Germany.  He has just finished a fine viola d'amore which is a copy of a Johannes U. Eberle, 1756.  His instruments show careful workmanship and he will make violas d'amore to order. 

http://www.rmgb.de/jacobi/pctshow/index.html

Olivier Calmeille is a luthier in Montpellier, France. His websites shows various views of two violas d'amore he completed one with a woman's head, the second with that of an orchid flower. He is in the process of building two additional instruments. He also offers to make baroque-style bows. His website is currently only in French, though an English version is in preparation.

http://www.atelier-souslecorce.fr

Ekkard Seidl is a master luthier in Thuringia, Germany, who is building violas d'amore. For further information, visit his website [German only]: www.seidlgeigen.com

Daniel Ross in Kerburg, France, makes a model after a Storioni of 1786. It is a simple model with an attractive price: www.atelierdelutherie.info

Walter Mahr is a master luthier in Bubenreuth, Germany, who is building violas d'amore. For further information, visit his website: www.mahr-geigenbau.de

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Makers of Baroque Bows for Viola d'amore:

Pieter Affourtit:  Pieter Affourtit is a Dutch bow maker who comes from an extensive background as a professional violinist and baroque violinist and as a bow maker.  He has performed viola d'amore as well in early music groups.

www.affourtit-bowmaker.com

H.F. Grabenstein: Mr. Granbenstein studied bow making with William Salchow and now lives and works in Williston, Vermont. He has made many historical bows for the viol and violin families and can make bows suitable for viola d'amore.  His bows are used in many early music groups, such as Fretwork, The King's Noyse, the Van Swieten Quartet, the Baltimore Consort, Chatham Baroque, The Orchestra of the 18th Century, The Boston Symphony and The Cleveland Orchestra.

www.hfgbowmaker.com

Stephen Marvin: Canadian Stephen Marvin  has been studying and making historical bows for over twenty years and makes bows for all stringed instruments including viol and viola d'amore.  He makes baroque bows, classical bows, and modern bows. Mr. Marvin has made a serious study of early bows. His bows for viola d'amore are made from the finest materials and based on the most accurate historical evidence available.  These bows are intended for the most discerning players.

www.historicalbows.com

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Luthiers, Restorers and Dealers of Violas d'amore

William Monical : Based in New York City, William Monical is one of the most respected and highly esteemed repairers and dealers of old instruments, particularly flat-backed instruments. Many members of the Viola d'amore Society of America have used instruments by him and currently own violas d'amore that have been restored by him and/or purchased from him. Mr. Monical does not have a web site but can be reached at the following: Address: 288 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, New York 10301.  Telephone: (718) 816-7878 or (800) 816-4424. FAX: (718) 816-7711.  EMail address: wmonical105@earthlink.net

Also, see something about him on www.afvbm.com/monical.htm

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Cases for Violas d'amore

Kingham: The UK-based company makes custom cases for any instrument, including violas d'amore. Each case is individually produced for a specific instrument. Canvas covers in various design options can also be obtained from them. Website.

Carlton: The canadian company lists custom cases on their website.

Mufasia: The italian company specializes in high-end stringed instruments cases, and can provide custom cases for violas d'amore. Website.

Bergner case. Image show with kind permission Bergner.

Oliver Bergner from Erlbach/Vogtland, Germany, produces a range of custom cases, inlcusive of the viola d'amore. Visit his website [German and English] www.etuibau-bergner.de