![]() ![]() “And they have a vital interest in making sure that the wood they require for the continuation of their craft continues to be available.” “The American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers, a group in which I am a member, has a number of truly amazing bow makers,” Hough said. This wood is used in making top-quality bows but is rarely used in baroque style bows. However, there is some concern for an endangered South American rainforest hardwood Pernambuco, says Hough. “It was almost like hearing an old friend speaking with a different accent.”Īccording to Hough, the European spruce and maple wood, used to build the body and neck of these instruments, are generally easy to come by. “Since the viola is my instrument, it meant even more to hear this difference in an instrument with which I’m already so familiar,” Beebe said. Hough gave a side-by-side comparison of what a baroque and modern viola sounded like and Beebe was there to hear it. “These calipers are made in Germany and they’ll measure…thickness to a tenth of a millimeter.” “Most of these tools are European,” Hough said. ![]() Hough also uses his motorized jigsaw, gouges and chisels to cut, shave, and scrape the wood into its final form. The body of the instrument is assembled by carving and joining the top, ribs, and back of the instrument. Hough gave a simple and quick breakdown of his process. The process of building and transforming an instrument is something that takes years to master. Hough has a vivid memory of brushing on the varnish on his grandfather’s instruments and the thrill he felt when stringing it up hearing it for the first time. Even though his contribution was limited to rough work and some sanding, his enthusiasm for the experience was recognizable. One summer, he and his grandfather built one. “The amazing variety of forms, shapes, and decorations embodied in these lutes, violas da gamba, violas d’amore, and many other kinds of instruments from that period.” “A lot of that interest was visual, looking through his books,” Hough said. Hough’s interest in classical music and building period instruments primarily came from his parents and spending summers watching and helping his grandfather, who was a violin maker himself. “This was necessary to accommodate the bigger orchestras, concert halls, and audiences.” ![]() “Within the violin family, which has continued from the early 16th century to the present, subtle changes were made in the 19th century, primarily to make the sound louder,” Hough said. The introduction and evolution of the violin marked a major transformation in music, characterized by the infusion of drama, emotion, and tonality into music. This period spanned from the early 17th century to the mid-18th century. Vivaldi, alongside German composer and musician Johan Sebastian Bach, were products of the baroque era of music. Vivaldi’s 300-year-old piece, “Concerto for 2 Violins in G major,” was featured in the latest theatrical hit, “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” “Much of his music is currently heard in movie soundtracks and elsewhere.” “You may have heard of Antonio Vivaldi, an Italian priest and himself a fantastic violin virtuoso,” Hough said in an email to The Current. “During a trip to his workshop, I was so impressed with the wide variety of musical instruments he has built and repaired as well as his historical knowledge of these instruments,” Beebe said in an email to The Current.Īppreciating the art of instrument-making requires an understanding of the history surrounding it. Lisa Beebe, Cosumnes River College music professor and host of “Music: In the Studio,” previously had Hough fix one of her violas da gamba. Over time, the craft has largely been replaced by mass production in an age that often values efficiency over craftsmanship.ĭevin Hough, Davis resident and maker of handmade violins, violas, and cellos in both modern and baroque forms, gave audiences a tour of his workshop during the Cosumnes River College music event, “Music: In the Studio,” on Feb 4. These days, working as a luthier, a maker of stringed instruments, is an unusual profession. ![]()
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