Stradivari's birth year? 1644 or 1648? Options

[Bruce Tai (Ferbo...]

I got interested in what Count Cozio had to say about Stradivari's
materials.

Strangely, I have a hard time finding much info in English.

I read that Andrew Dipper translated a book about Count Cozio, but
I could not find it in two university library catalogs (U. Mich and
U. Cal). Can someone show me what it's title is and
where it can be found?

One book I did manage to borrow is L'Epistolario di Cozio di
Salabue, by Elia Santoro. It has the modern Italian
transcription of many of Cozio's letters.  It is pretty
unfortunate that I can't read Italian. 

Nevertheless, the book has several introductory essays in
English which contain some information new to me.



1.  It states that Stradivari's birth year is definitely 1648,
not 1644.  It says the English-speaking world is still misled
to believe the 1644 date, which he finds shocking.  

I am confused.  Are we still arguing about Stradivari's birth
year?  Or is 1648 now accepted as definitive?



2.  It says that Lorenzo Guadagnini definitely was not an
apprentice of Stradivari.  And J. B. Guadagnini is also
not Cremonese by any means.  

My question: are these now accepted facts?



3.  It mentions Henry Werro as a talented violin maker who
forged hundreds of antique Italian instruments.  It says that
his has successfully reproduced the tone of valuable antique
instruments.  

My question: is this just another conspiracy theory?  Or do
insiders know that Mr. Werro's instruments are floating around,
being passed as originals?

[ChrisBurt]

Bruce, There's a copy of Andrew Dipper's book, on the Count, in the Oberlin Conservatory Library. I believe it's part of the Goodkind Collection. I read it yesterday. As to information on Strad's birth year, more informed minds than mine have argued these details. It's interesting to see facsimiles of the Cremonese census, marriage, & death records--inconstancies abound. When I was in Cremona, I saw at least two different official Strad birthdays. Sometimes I wonder how many Strad birthdays can dance on the head of a pin. I can't say anything about 2 & 3.

Oh yeah, the book title is something like, "Count Ignazio Alessandro Cozio Di Salabue, Technical Studies in the Arts of Musical Instrument Making" It's Call number is ML755.C69 1987. It's edited by both Andrew Dipper and David Woodrow.

Good luck.

[skiingfiddler]

quote:

---

Originally posted by: Ferbose
2.  It says that Lorenzo Guadagnini definitely was not an
apprentice of Stradivari.  And J. B. Guadagnini is also
not Cremonese by any means.  

---

At the 1999 VSA convention and also in his subsequent year 2000 book, Duane Rosengard states that Lorenzo Guadagnini was not a violin maker, never mind being apprenticed to Stradivari.

I believe Rosenguard also states that J.B. made no fiddles in Cremona.

Concerning Werro, I believe he was involved in a court action about the authenticity of one supposed 18th century Italian violin. It might have been a J. B. Guadagnini. I don't believe it was hundreds of instruments, and I don't believe it was about an instrument that he made, himself.

Concerning Strad's birth year, part of the evidence for 1644 is the age Strad noted himself to be and handwrote on the labels in a few instruments in the last few years of his life. If the hand written notes in those labels are correct, then Strad was born in 1644.

[NewNewbie]

This page talks about the age issue.



"http://www.cozio.com/Luthier.aspx?id=17">http://www.cozio.com/Luthier.aspx?id=17

[Bruce Tai (Ferbo...]

Thanks for the book info.

I have requested the book through our university inter-library
loan system.

[Michael_Molnar]

Toby Faber says 1644 and explains why. Check his book.

[duane88]

Werro was involved in a case regarding a Bergonzi, at which the Hills were compelled to testify. I can't recall the outcome, though. I read about it in a Violins and Violinists mag, of which I have nearly a complete set! I'll revisit and see if I can find it.
Ditto on Rosengard's opinion. His book is well worth the price.
As for the strad birthdate question, since they only found the will within the last decade, it might just only be a matter of time and work before the birth record is found, as well.