At the beginning of November we put on an exhibition dedicated to the life and work of Ian Ross, a brilliant violin maker who was based in Pitlochry. Thank you very much to everyone who came to the exhibition, concert, or session: it was such a pleasure to meet so many people and to share Ian's brilliant work with fans old and new!
Having recovered from the excitement of that weekend, we wanted to use the blog to focus a little on Ian's violas: the sheer diversity of his making is perhaps most evident with these three very different instruments.
We currently have three violas by Ian ready for sale: one large, one small and one with five strings!
Gaspar model
This viola was made in Pitlochry in 2015 and is modelled after the instruments of the early Bresican maker Gasparo Bertolotti 'da Salò'.
How does it sound?
For a smaller viola, this one packs quite the punch! It has a very pure, singing tone and projects well. The viola is quick to respond and has a lovely clarity of sound.
Dimensions and details
The viola has a one piece back of stunning Blairgowrie sycamore. The ribs and scroll are of quarter-sawn maple and the front is two pieces of characterful spruce. The varnish is golden-brown in colour and the back has inlaid decoration in the manner of the original. The viola has a length of back of 15 and 5/8ths.
Five string viola
This viola was made in Pitlochry in 2015. It is modelled after the great early Brescian maker Gasparo Bertolotti da Salò. We have seen a great many Brescian instruments made by Ian, all of which are brilliantly observed and really capture the bold, experimental character of the school.
How does it sound?
The viola has a rich, fruity C string and mellow inner strings. The E string projects well and has a degree of violin-like shimmer to the sound. A fascinating and relatively unique instrument, this will be the perfect partner for a player looking to explore the creative potential of this sound world.
Dimensions and details
The viola has a one piece back of poplar, grown in nearby Blairgowrie. The ribs and scroll are of similar wood and the back bears the inlaid design found on many of the early Brescian instruments. The front is two pieces of straight-grained spruce. Though unantiqued and unshaded, the dappled nature of the varnish gives a beautiful appearance of age. The viola has a length of back of 15 and a quarter inches, or 388 mm.
Andrea Guarneri model
This viola is modelled after the instruments of Andrea Guarneri, a student of Nicola Amati and the founder of the great Guarneri dynasty. At first it seemed as though the viola was a copy of the famous ‘Conte Vitale’ of 1676, however on closer inspection it is clear that the viola borrows features from several other of the extant Andrea Guarneri violas.
How does it sound?
This viola is large in size and has a sound to match! The tone is full and warm whilst also projecting right across its range. The A string is perhaps our favourite, as it retains the roundness of tone found on the other strings, allowing the sound to bloom without ever becoming strained.
Dimensions and details
The viola has a two piece back of book-matched, quarter sawn maple. The ribs are of similar wood and the scroll is more plain. The front is two pieces of book-matched spruce, widening towards the flanks. The varnish is golden-amber in colour. Its length of back is 419mm. The upper bouts: 200mm, the middle bouts: 142mm and the lower bouts: 245mm. Lastly, its string length is 377mm.