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This stunning violin-outline instrument
is an exact copy (all apart from the scroll - the scroll on the
Maggini is not the original) of the Maggini instrument housed at
the Royal Opera House, Stockholm, Sweden. The instrument was commissioned
by a member of the opera orchestra in 1903 directly from- Alfred
Nilsson Brock (b-1876, d-1935) and is recorded in a book dedicated
to the ten or so master instruments of the Royal Opera.
The book entitled 'Kungliga Operans
Kontrabasar Och Basister' (The Swedish Royal Opera Double Basses)
was written in 2001 by Borje Ljungkvist - one of the opera orchestra
players. It was produced in a very limited number - now sadly unavailable.
On page 69 of the 2001 book it
gives the following information: "Alfred Brock - Royal violin-maker.
He opened a shop in 1900. He started out as a violin maker but became
known internationally as a lute maker. He even built a double bass
after Maggini model signed 1903 which is nowadays at the Music High
School in Stockholm."
Yes, The Universal Dictionary of
Violin & Bow Makers by William Henley (Amati Publishing 1973)
confirms that Brock was maker and repairer to the Court and adds
that he was maker and repairer to the Stockholm Conservatorium.
Brock's making is highly praised by Henley as follows: "Lutes,
viols and violins of very refined workmanship".
In February 2005 The Contrabass
Shoppe was pleased to purchase this instrument from some Hungarian
instrument traders who were trying to pass the instrument off as
a real Maggini. We were unaware of the instruments provenance as
the original label had been removed and - as we discovered later
- sadly destroyed - in the attempt to extort a figure more equivocal
to that of a real Maggini. It was by pure coincidence that the Swedish
maker and repairer - Luin Sitkey - was passing through London a
few weeks after I had purchased the instrument. I already knew that
Luin had in the past purchased instruments of Hungarian or Romanian
origin and although I had already sent the Brock to my restorer
- I mentioned to Luin that I had purchased such an instrument. To
my amazement Luin revealed that he - in fact - had owned the instrument
since 1999 and had only one month earlier traded the instrument
for a number of modern instruments from the exact same Hungarians
that I had purchased it from. Luin went on to confirm that after
the Music High School purchased the instrument in the 1980's it
fell badly into disrepair. Prior to the High School the instrument
had been in the possession of various private Swedish owners.
On first appearances the Brock
looked to be in quite reasonable shape. During closer inspection
we soon found out that the work done by these particular Hungarians
wasn't at all sympathetic. In fact both restorer Martyn Bailey and
myself nearly cried at the butchery of such a fine instrument. A
new neck had been fitted but with all the wrong measurements and
at the wrong angle and absolutely everything had been glued up badly
with some sort of modern type glue that had set like crystal glass
and which had the ability of dulling the blades of Martyn's tools
as soon as it was touched. Ouch what an absolute mess. Every thing
would have to be taken apart and be redone properly.
I'm pleased to report that although
the work did take much much longer than anticipated a full and complete
restoration has been completed. The repair invoice includes: "Remove
back, replace braces, repair centre-joint, make and graft in new
back button, replace back. Remove front, half-edge and edge as necessary,
fit new bass bar, repair cracks in front, repair cracks in ribs,
build up C-ribs and reconstruct top block. Cheek head and adapt
and refit machines. Make and fit new neck with fingerboard and graft
scroll. Clean and touch in varnish. Fit bridge, endpin and soundpost
etc.
Yes it did cost a fair bit of money.
In fact with fittings it set us back just a tad under £8500-00
GBP including Vat. This was definitely money well spent for now
this wonderful sounding, wonderful looking - unique - instrument
is back to its former glory and ready to be enjoyed, as any great
musical instrument should.
We think that you'll be most impressed.
Power and tonal qualities are really excellent. The whole instrument
vibrates well when bowed - so just imagine a quality of sound that
has the ability to make the hair on your arms tingle and stand almost
upright. That's a fabulous feeling.
For an instrument that offers such
undisputable provenance, rarity, good looks and a sound quality
to match - we think that a price tag considerably under what you'd
expect to pay for a top quality English instrument is most reasonable.
You shouldn't need any more reasons to want this instrument but
if you do just take a look at the 104.3cm string length - it's a
statistic that most players would die for.
Without doubt this is a highly
desirable instrument.
Width at the upper bout 19.75in
(50.0cm)
Width at the centre bout 13.75in (35.0cm)
Width at the lower bout 26.25in (66.6cm)
LOB 43.25in (109.8cm)
St length 41.15in (104.3cm)
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