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Violin and Viola Books

Rolin Music offers a wide variety of books pertaining to the world of music and musical instruments. There are a range of instructional and reference books for stringed instruments including the books on violin making, viola, cello, bass and guitar. Included are workshop guides for constructing instruments and beautiful books about makers including photos and dimensions on their instruments and the history of the violin. There are also basic patterns for building particular styles of musical instruments, some with reproductions of models once manufactured.

Item #075
Geigenbau Und Klangfrage
by Konrad Leonhardt Violin making as it is taught in Mittenwald, Germany. Scaled diagrams in cm and mm. Electronic measures of tension. This hard bound book is highly technical in German text only. Price: $95.00

Item #095
A Luthier's Scrapbook
by H. S. Wake A 112 page soft bound collection of short "how to do it" articles and bits of information pertaining to the making and restoration of instruments of the violin family. Second edition with drawings by the author. Price: $34.50

Item #139
The Technique Of Violin Making
by H. S. Wake Over one hundred 8" X 11" profusely illustrated pages, plus six pages 10" X 16" full scale working drawings describing the making of a violin from start to finish. Price: $30.00

Item #149
The Violin Maker's Guide
by H. E. Brown Diagrams, photos, step-by-step instructions plus two full sized pattern drawings. The last page gives dimensions of a Strad model violin. Price: $13.95

Item #176
Violin Bow Rehair And Repair
by H. S. Wake This book describes how to rehair and repair bows in language that all can understand. There are 93 pages of illustrations, drawings and photos. Price: $30.00

Item #177
The Retford Centenary Exhibition Published by Ealing Strings in memory of William Charles Retford, who served with the firm of Hill for sixty-four years as a Bow Maker & Restorer. The book is in two sections; the first is comprised of personal impressions of Mr. Retford by well known personages, exchanges of letters and anecdotes - giving one an insight into the famous maker's character and motivation. The second part; black and white plates of bows, mainly Hill bows dating from pre-Retford times to 1960. Price: $120.00

Item #189
Viola Making Plans
by H. S. Wake There are 20 full scale drawings with detailed methods to build a viola of any size. Drawings for a "Tertis" model including the mold. Also a set of plans for a large viola (16 3/4" Guardagnini). Price: $ 40.00

Item #206
Alte Meistergeigen - Vol. V/VI
(Master Stringed Instrument Makers of the Schools of
Naples, Rome, Livourne, Ferrara and Mantua.) Introductions are in German, French, and English. The portrayals and opinions are generally in German. Price: $225.00

Item #251
Amateur Fiddle Makers - Q And A
by H. S. Wake Questions and the best answers to frequently asked questions by those learning the art of making stringed instruments of the violin family. Price: $22.00

Item #262
Building A Treble Viola Da Gamba
by W. Bottenberg A detailed step-by-step guide for the construction of a Viola Da Gamba, specifically aimed at the person who is a novice instrument builder. Price: $19.95

Item #282
The Strad Facsimile - An Illustrated Guide To Violin Making
by E. J. Ward
Insights and experiences of a meticulous craftsman as well as handsomely illustrated work that makes it more than another "How To" manual. This soft cover book is written for the novice builder who is not interested in shortcuts.
Price: $40.00

Item #297
Practical Violin Making
by E. Frazer
This booklet contains 23 pages with dozens of drawings of violin parts, tools, etc... Included are two sheets of full sized templates of the 1920 Strad model. Ideal for the beginner.
Price: $12.50

Item #376

Rules For The Construction of Violins, Violas, Cellos and Double Basses
presented by R. Padova Academy of Science, Literature and the Arts

In this memoir the method for constructing violins, violas cellos and double basses has been described in view of succeeding to obtain a human voice, i.e., for soloist music, and a silvery voice, i.e., for orchestral music. Two illustrated tables show all of the dimensions and proportions used. Written in English, French and Italian.

Price: $40.95

Item #377-1993
Illustrated Yearbook of String Instruments 1993
by Claudio Amighetti
All information contained in this book derives officially from the auction houses by means of the catalogues and result sheets which they publish. To complete the information, the body length is included as well as the estimated price, a brief description and photographs of some instruments. For the year 1993, seven auction houses have been taken into consideration, operating in four countries, giving a total of twenty-one actual sales. On the whole 517 instruments and 357 bows have been catalogued.
Price: $70.00

Item #377-1994
Illustrated Yearbook of String Instruments 1994
by Claudio Amighetti
All information contained in this book derives officially from the auction houses by means of the catalogs and result sheets which they publish. To complete the information, the body length is included as well as the estimated price, a brief description and photographs of some instruments. For the year 1994, seven auction houses have been taken into consideration, operating in four countries, giving a total of twenty-six actual sales. On the whole 614 instruments and 446 bows have been catalogued.
Price: $75.00

Item #409
The Health Of The Violin And The Viola And Cello
by Lucien Greilsamer

Translated from the original French by Henry Strobel. Advice on the acquisition, maintenance, adjustment and conservation of bowed instruments. First American Edition.

Price: $12.50

Item #423
Art And Method Of The Violin Maker
by Henry A. Strobel

This is the fourth in Strobel's series of books for Violin makers. It is not a manual for making a violin, but rather "continuing education" for the working violin maker.

Price: $24.95

Item #430
The Violin
by Yehudi Menuhin

Writing in an accessible, highly personal style, Yehudi Menuhin weaves a history of violin and violin people with his own memories of composers such as Stravinski, Bartok, Elgar and Sibelius, and of fellow performers such as Fritz Kreisler, Bruno Walter, Stephanie Grappelli and Ravi Shankar. Lavishly illustrated with images of the violin in fine art and documentary photography, the book also includes many portraits of the author, and of other composers and performers.

Price: $60.00

Item #431
Viola Making Step By Step
by Henry Strobel

The author has written this book to use in conjunction with Violin Making Step By Step. In this book he presents only material that is different from the violin, or special to the viola. Included in this book is a table of viola measurements and detailed viola drawings.

Price: $30.95

Item #434
How Many Strads?
by Ernest Doring

Originally published more than fifty years ago, How Many Strads? remains an invaluable reference on Stradivari and his instruments with detailed information and photographs. Previously only available at rare book prices. The complete original text is reproduced in an easier-to-view, larger size with enhanced photographs.

Price: $200.00

Item #437
The History of Parisian Violin Making Vol. 2
by Sylvette Milliot

This second volume about the Parisian school in the 18th century, presents a far larger study of the matter. It contains a vast amount of new, previously unknown, documents provided from the French National Archives and numerous illustrations and paintings of that period. The history of 25 makers includes Bertrand, Renaudin and Salomon Pierray.

Price: $250.00

Item #440-3
A Century of Violin Making Volume 3- Liguria
by Eric Blot

Continuing an acclaimed series this hardback volume of 213 pages looks at the violin makers of Liguria, the region around Genoa, including Antonio Gibertini, Giuseppe Rocca and Cesare Candi. Each of the 36 instruments featured is well photographed and accompanied by measurements and historical information on the maker. All are placed in the economic and cultural climate of the city and region. Italian and English text. Limited edition 1000 copies.

Price: $375.00

Item #447
The Stradivari Legacy
by Carlo Chiesa & Duane Rosengard

The Stradivari Legacy contains the text (both in the original Italian and an English translation) of all four versions of Stradivari's last will and testament, as well as extended commentary and background information about the Stradivari family. One copy is in the autograph hand of Stradivari himself and the other three copies were revision versions dictated to his notaries. This 148 page publication also includes full color photographs of six Stradivari instruments and a forward by Charles Beare. Price: $190.00

Item #449-1

The Cooper Collection Volume 1- Standard Edition
by Albert W. Cooper

This is the first of three limited edition volumes (800 copies) recording Cooper's unique collection of stringed instruments and bows. This book is a source of enduring pleasure for the connoisseur and an indispensable reference for the expert. This volume contains 30 fine Italian instruments and 45 French bows. It features makers such as; Montegazza, Giovanni and Paolo Grancino, Giuseppe Rocca, Alesandro Gagliano, G.B. Guadagnini, Guarneri 'filius Andrea' and Carlo Tononi. The text is in English, French, German, Italian and Japanese with 350 color illustrations.

Price: $250.00

Item #450
The Amadeus Book of the Violin
by Walter Kolneder

Available for the first time in English, this book has been considered the best single encyclopedia of the violin for 20 years. All aspects of the violin are covered; construction, history and literature; violin playing and teaching; and violin virtuosos through the ages.

Price: $60.00

Item #452
J. B. Vuillaume Photo Collection
by Stefan Peter Greiner and Jost Thone

This photo collection in large format (255 x 385 mm) is dedicated to Vuillaume's 200th anniversary. There are 24 superior instruments including Stradivari, Guarneri, Amati, Maggini and St. Cecile models with scannographs and radiographs. Text is German, English and French. Price: $350.00

Item #462
Antonio Stradivari, Reports & Documents
by Carol Bonetti, Agostino Calvalcabo and Ugo Gualazzini This soft cover book in English with 104 pages describes important research and studies tied to the violin making tradition. It is an indispensable starting point for someone who wants to get to know and put into focus the figure of Antonio Stradivari. Price: $45.00

Item #473
Violin Making, A Guide For the Amateur
by Bruce Ossman The step-by-step process of building a violin, using common tools and simplified procedures. This soft cover 67 page, beginner's book features hand drawn illustrations, full size patterns for making clamping forms, and templates for shaping 4/4 violin parts. Price: $18.95

Item #474
Pajeot - Bowmakers of the 18th & 19th Centuries

This hard cover book is the definitive monograph on a family whose work is among the most sought after in the world today. It is richly illustrated with contemporary documents and fine photographs of bows. The text is in English, French and German with 263 pages.

Price: $239.95

Item #496
The Sound of Bologna
Exhibition Catalog December 2002
Bolognese Violin Making between the 1800s and 1900s. Events dedicated to Raffaele Fiorini and the Violin Making Tradition of the City - Bologna, December 7-22 2002. The great masters of the 20th century: Giuseppe Fiorini, Augusto Pollastri, Gaetano Pollastri, Armando Monterumici, Cesare Candi, Oreste Candi, Otello Bignami, Ansaldo Poggi, Paolo Morara, Carlo Carletti, Natale Carletti. Soft bound in a slipcase, 132 pages in Italian and English. Including a 2 page folder with a 'Panorama of Modern Bolognese Violin Making: Influences and Relationships.
Price: $110.00

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