Tullio Bassi (
Ravenna,
Romagna
Romagna ( rgn, Rumâgna) is an Italian historical region that approximately corresponds to the south-eastern portion of present-day Emilia-Romagna, North Italy. Traditionally, it is limited by the Apennines to the south-west, the Adriatic to t ...
, 1937) is an Italian
violin maker. He made instruments for members of a number of renowned orchestras. He studies and follows the techniques of the renowned
luthier
A luthier ( ; AmE also ) is a craftsperson who builds or repairs string instruments that have a neck and a sound box. The word "luthier" is originally French and comes from the French word for lute. The term was originally used for makers o ...
,
Antonio Stradivari.
He is a self-taught violin maker, coming from a family of
cabinet-makers, who developed a passion for classical musical instruments and experimenting in the fabrication of
string instruments
String instruments, stringed instruments, or chordophones are musical instruments that produce sound from vibrating strings when a performer plays or sounds the strings in some manner.
Musicians play some string instruments by plucking the Str ...
, progressively becoming a luthier.
Career
In the late 60's he made his first classical guitar, participating in a local contest in
Bagnacavallo where he ranked third.
In the 1970s, he began constructing violins and other instruments.
In the last five decades, he has made guitars, violins,
violas and cellos, with the methods of old
luthiers as described in ''The secrets of Stradivari''.
He maintained and followed ancient techniques, with a no-compromise approach in the respect of timing schedules for each phase of the manufacturing process and following the original execution methods. He used the same elements and materials as the ancient Italian luthiers.
His target is to preserve the integrity of the old Italian art and culture in
violin making and maintenance and share this knowledge to younger generations. A public exhibition of his instruments was held in 2012 in the main square of the city of
Ravenna by La Cassa Bank Foundation.
Legacy
His instruments are played by artists including:
*
Francesco Manara
Francesco, the Italian (and original) version of the personal name "Francis", is the most common given name among males in Italy. Notable persons with that name include:
People with the given name Francesco
* Francesco I (disambiguation), seve ...
, 1st violin of the
La Scala
La Scala (, , ; abbreviation in Italian of the official name ) is a famous opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the ' (New Royal-Ducal Theatre alla Scala). The premiere performan ...
Orchestra in Milan
*Danilo Rossi 1st viola of the La Scala Orchestra of Milan
*Stefano Pezzi, cello of the
RAI orchestra
*Claudia Zanzotto, violin
*
Paolo Chiavacci, violin
*Roberto Noferini, violin
Since 2003, with the support of the "Associazione Musicale Angelo Mariani", he organises an annual concert in a church in Piangipane, called "Omaggio a Paganini" in memory of the concert that
Niccolò Paganini held in
Romagna
Romagna ( rgn, Rumâgna) is an Italian historical region that approximately corresponds to the south-eastern portion of present-day Emilia-Romagna, North Italy. Traditionally, it is limited by the Apennines to the south-west, the Adriatic to t ...
in 1810.
In 2008 he made
Tromba marina, a triangular bowed
string instrument
String instruments, stringed instruments, or chordophones are musical instruments that produce sound from vibrating strings when a performer plays or sounds the strings in some manner.
Musicians play some string instruments by plucking the ...
used in medieval and Renaissance Europe.
He is named in ''Violin makers in Italy'', by Gualtiero Nicolini.
References
Further reading
* From Violinmaking to Music:The Life & Works of Simone Fernando Sacconi – A.C.L.A.P. Cremona
* The Secrets of Stradivari by Simone Fernando Sacconi, (Cremona: Libreria Del Convegno, 1972)
* Tecnica costruttiva degli antichi liutai italiani by Euro Peluzzi, Ed. Olschki, 1978
* Il liutaio- Origine e costruzione del violino e degli strumenti ad arco moderni by ANGELONI Domenico, Ed. Hoepli, Milano, 1923
* Note di Tecnologia Costruttiva su la chitarra by Ugo Baldini, Ed. Berben, 1957
* Una innovazione nella costruzione della chitarra by Ugo Baldini, Ed. Berben, 1957
* The Big Red Book of American Lutherie, Volume 1, Ed. Guild of American Luthiers
External links
Official websiteAssociazione Angelo Mariani
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bassi, Tullio
Italian luthiers
People from Ravenna
Living people
1937 births