Otello Bignami
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Otello Bignami (August 6, 1914 – December 1, 1989) was an Italian
violin maker A luthier ( ; ) is a craftsperson who builds or repairs string instruments. Etymology The word ' is originally French and comes from ''luth'', the French word for "lute". The term was originally used for makers of lutes, but it came to be u ...
from
Bologna Bologna ( , , ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. It is the List of cities in Italy, seventh most populous city in Italy, with about 400,000 inhabitants and 150 different nationalities. Its M ...
.


Life

The life of Otello Bignami closely resembles the lives of various 19th-century
violin makers A luthier ( ; ) is a craftsperson who builds or repairs string instruments. Etymology The word ' is originally French and comes from ''luth'', the French word for "lute". The term was originally used for makers of lutes, but it came to be u ...
in that he drew much vitality from the farming and craft traditions of his origins. He was a student of Gaetano Pollastri, and the possibility to be able to indicate on his instrument labels that he was a student of Pollastri contributed towards launching his career. Bignami also practiced the profession of restorer of fine artwork and fine furniture, experiences which were undoubtedly valuable in preparing and composing his
varnish Varnish is a clear Transparency (optics), transparent hard protective coating or film. It is not to be confused with wood stain. It usually has a yellowish shade due to the manufacturing process and materials used, but it may also be pigmente ...
. He was awarded prizes at the International Exhibition of Cremona (1949), the Third National Competition of Santa Cecilia Academy of Rome (first prize, 1956), and the Wieniawski Competition in
Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...
("best maker in Italy," 1957). He won first prize and Gold medal in 1967 at
Bagnacavallo Bagnacavallo () is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. The Renaissance painter Bartolomeo Ramenghi bore the nickname of his native city. Main sights *''Castellaccio'' (15th century) * Giardino dei Semplici ...
. In 1976 he was awarded a "gold violin" from the city of Bagnacavallo; subsequently he won a prize for his special dedication to teaching. In the course of over forty years of incessant activity, he built a vast number of instruments in the violin family, including several quartets. His instruments are known for their beauty and acoustic qualities. Amongst his list of illustrious clients was
David Oistrakh David Fyodorovich Oistrakh (; – 24 October 1974) was a Soviet Russian violinist, List of violists, violist, and Conducting, conductor. He was also Professor at the Moscow Conservatory, People's Artist of the USSR (1953), and Laureate of the ...
. Bignami's role as a teacher, and subsequently director, in the violin making school instituted in Bologna during the early 1980s was decisive in ensuring the continuity of the violin making tradition in this region.


Quotes

"In his rare moments dedicated to relaxation, Otello ventured into another creative art with passion and real dedication: painting. He painted landscapes, still life, and flowers with sweet and melancholic shades, usually giving them away to relations and friends. This was another vehicle for Otello's idealistic and dreamy personality which he expressed without compromise. A silent and discreet way of offering an unforgettable memory of his soul." - Liutaio in Bologna / Violinmaker in Bologna by William Bignami


List of Pupils

* Pietro Trimboli (1939-) * Curzio Rossi (1936-1977) * Paolo Ansaloni (1948-) * Franco Samoggia (1938-) * Luigi Laterrenia (1952-) * Roberto Regazzi (1956-) * Paola Malaguti (1957-2020) * Felicia Pansini (1952-) * Gianni Orsini (1938-) * Antonello Adamo (1964-1995) * Barbara Meyer (1959-) * Luca Mazzetti (1960-) * Antonello Gamberini (1961-1991) * Vincenzo Barile (1964-) * Alvise Cristinelli (1958-) * Daniele Canu (1955-) * Alessandro Urso (1963-) * Bruno Stefanini (1960-) * Raffaello Stefanini (1954-) * Sergio Gregorat (1962-) *
Giuseppe Gugole Giuseppe is the Italian form of the given name Joseph, from Latin Josephus, Iōsēphus from Ancient Greek Ἰωσήφ (Iōsḗph), from Hebrew יוסף. The feminine form of the name is Giuseppa or Giuseppina (given name), Giuseppina. People wit ...
(1954-) * Giovanna Benzi (1960-) * Federico Lippi Bruni (1957-) * Ezia di Labio (1960-) * Daniele Canu (1979-1983) * Maurizio Spignoli (1958-2007)


Instruments

In the course of over forty years of incessant activity, he built a vast number of instruments in the violin family, including several quartets (most prominent are from 1975,1976 & 1977). 1975 & 1976 were made as dedications to Gaetano Pollastri. 1977 was made as homage and dedication to Augusto Pollastri (marking the centenary celebration of Augusto's birth). Bignamis instruments are known for their beauty and acoustic qualities. O. Bignami Viola which was part of a quartet from 1976: File:Bignami_Otello_Bologna_1976_viola_1.jpg, Otello Bignami Viola top Firenze1976 File:Bignami_Otello_Bologna_1976_viola_2.jpg, Otello Bignami Viola back Firenze 1976 File:Bignami Otello Bologna 1976 viola 3.jpg, Otello Bignami Viola scroll and side Firenze1976


Living Museum

The Bolognese school that Bignami directed is now a living museum. His workshop was carefully reconstructed and is still in use."...Otello Bignami, teacher of the greatest part of the professional luthiers now living and working in Bologna; his memory is still very vivid among them who knew him. The reconstruction of his workshop shall be a true sign of love besides an important educational and historical research. Goal of this exhibition is to examine thoroughly these Masters' work in their own geographical historical and social context, showing to the townspeople a real treasure of artistic tradition."


Bibliography

*William Bignami, ''Otello Bignami Liutaio in Bologna - Violinmaker in Bologna'', *''Vita d'Autore - Note su Otello Bignami Liutaio in Bologna 1914-1989 - A Life of Artistry - Sketches of Otello Bignami violin maker in Bologna'', contributions by Roberto Verti, Adriano Cavicchi, Roberto Regazzi, Giovanna Benzi and Tito Gotti, Bologna 1991 and 1993, *''Il Suono di Bologna, Da Raffaele Fiorini ai grandi maestri del Novecento". Catalogo della Mostra nella chiesa di San Giorgio in Poggiale'', Bologna 2002, *''A Misura d'Uomo'', Venezia 1985, *''Paradigmi. Forme nell'Artigianato'', Bologna 1988 and 1989 *Daniele Benati - Pierluigi Giordani, ''Stanze bolognesi - La Collezione Lauro'', Bologna 1994 *Alessandro Bugatti - Adriano Ragazzi, ''Tecniche basate sulla conoscenza per la classificazione di oggetti complessi: un'applicazione all'analisi di violini di interesse storico'', Brescia 1998 *Eric Blot, ''Un secolo di Liuteria Italiana 1860-1960 - A century of Italian Violin Making - Emilia e Romagna I'', Cremona 1994 and 2003, , *Marlin Brinser, ''Dictionary of 20th Century Italian Violin Makers'', 1978 *The Strad, January 1984, ''Bologna - A living tradition of Violin Making'' * * *Chiara Tenan, ''Otello Bignami und die Bologneser Geigenbauschule des 20.Jahrhunderts - Diplomarbei zur Erlangung des Akademischen Grades Magistra der Künste in der Studienrichtung 'Violoncello' an der Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Mozarteum in Salzburg, Betreuer: Dietmar Machold'', Salzburg 2001 *Walter Hamma, ''Meister Italienischer Geigenbaukunst'', Wilhelmshaven 1993,


Notes


References

* http://www.florenusedizioni.com/ilsuono.htm * http://www.artigianatoartistico.it/fiera_maestriliutai.htm#obignami {{DEFAULTSORT:Bignami, Otello Italian musical instrument makers Italian luthiers Bowed string instrument makers 1914 births 1989 deaths 20th-century Italian musicians