HOW DOES IT WORK?

1

The luthiers and bow-makers who join the project keep the instruments in their ateliers, in the countries where they work.

2

Each instrument is delivered personally by the luthier to the musician who requests to have it on loan for use.

3

The loan for use, regulated by contracts stipulated directly between the luthier and the individual musicians, has a maximum duration of 1 year, renewable, with mandatory checks every 6 months at the luthier’s.

4

In case of excessive distance or other serious impediment, the control can be carried out at another luthier’s of the network, upon authorization of the luthier.

5

In case the instrument needs maintenance, it will have to be brought back to the luthier.

6

The contract must foresee the possibility of redeeming the instrument at the end of the loan, with favourable economic conditions to be communicated before the start of the loan. 

In order to further support the collaboration, it is also proposed to schedule a biennial meeting of musicians and luthiers in Cremona for one or two days. On this occasion, several activities take place: meetings, workshops regarding the choice, care and maintenance of instruments, workshops on acoustics – with the valuable expertise of the Laboratory of Acoustic Physics of Musical Instruments of the Politecnico di Milano, located inside the Violin Museum.

JOIN THE NETWORK

To become part of The String Circle, it is necessary to provide at least one instrument (violin, viola, cello, bow) on loan for use and any service provided through special agreements for musicians of Le Dimore del Quartetto’s network.

Contact us at info@thestringcircle.eu and send your biography, some photos of your atelier and all the information about the services and the instrument you want to provide (photos and technical information). We will be happy to evaluate your application!

FAQ

The String Circle intends to directly involve an insurance company in order to identify a policy that can cover possible risks of damage and theft in a uniform way for all loans. During the application phase, luthiers specify whether their instruments are already insured; once this information has been received, we will agree whether to proceed with the current insurance or to join the insurance policy reserved for the project.

The diffused Network of Master Violinmakers was born with multiple aims 

  • creation of a platform that connects the high quality national and international lutherie with the most promising young string chamber music ensembles from different countries, encouraging the development of a network of professional and personal relationships of trust between the two categories; 
  • giving international visibility to contemporary lutherie inspired by the classical Cremonese school;
  • integrated communication among the partners of the widespread Network of Master Luthiers, with the creation of an interactive map that locates the selected ateliers and enhances their work through social network strategies and specialized and non-specialized press; 
  • creation of a reference network for string instruments restoration, maintenance and replacements in different European locations. The network will be shared with the ensembles of Le Dimore del Quartetto and with all the musicians and musical partners that revolve around it.

The young musicians’ search for high quality instruments and bows is inevitable at the beginning of their career. Those who choose to embark on a musical career find themselves in the need for an instrument and a bow that will allow and support their artistic activity with maximum results.
The craftsmanship and care that luthiers dedicate to their profession need a visibility that allows them to reach a specific audience: musicians looking for high quality instruments and services, able to recognize and understand the unique and original value of the art of lutherie.
Unlike antique instruments, modern handcrafted instruments – which are not mass-produced – can be subjected to tailor-made modifications and adjustments based on the needs of the individual musician.

Le Dimore del Quartetto is a creative enterprise that enhances chamber music and the European cultural heritage, in a circular economy.

Born in 2015 out of the idea of Francesca Moncada, Le Dimore del Quartetto has started based on a simple exchange: on the occasion of an artistic commitment, musicians are hosted for maximum one week in a historic house and, during the days of residency, the ensemble offers a concert to the house owners. This creates a circular economy in which the houses become a precious resource for the ensembles, and vice versa: it gives life to new occasions of encounter in unusual locations and decentralized territories; it brings back to life places that are not fully used; it brings a new audience closer to chamber music.

Today, Le Dimore del Quartetto, with a consolidated network of houses, ensembles and partners in the fields of music and of cultural heritage, is specialized in planning and managing diverse projects, such as 

  • festivals and travel itineraries 
  • masterclasses and training programs for musicians
  • educational projects for  schools and universities
  • team-building activities for companies
  • residencies and concerts in historic houses and other places of cultural interest

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The Museo del Violino “Antonio Stradivari” (MdV) is a private foundation which started its activity in 2013, as a continuation and development of the activities previously carried out by the “A. Stradivari” Foundation (formerly Ente Triennale).
Among the many activities, highly relevant is the International Triennial Lutherie Competition whose first edition dates back to 1976, certainly the most prestigious competition at international level.
The purpose of MdV is to disseminate and promote the great tradition of classical lutherie in Cremona, recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This purpose is pursued primarily through the preservation of stringed instruments made by the great masters of the past, such as Amati, Stradivari and Guarneri – just to name the most famous – and also to enhance the production of the present day with the collection of contemporary violinmaking made up of instruments that won Gold Medals at the Triennial Competition.

Through a captivating and interactive itinerary, the Museum tells the history of lutherie, the birth of the violin and the central role of Cremona, it explains how the violin and the instruments of its family are made, how they have evolved over time following the development of music and much more.
An almost unique feature among music museums is that almost all of the instruments in MdV can be played and are regularly used in short concerts offered to visitors.

The museum complex includes:

  • The “G. Arvedi” auditorium, a true gem of architectural design (winner of the “Compasso d’Oro” award) and acoustics (designed by the famous acoustics engineer Yashuisa Toyota)
  • The “Amati” Pavilion, area for temporary exhibitions and other non-museum activities
  • The Laboratory of Non-Invasive Diagnostic Investigations of Pavia University for stringed instruments
  • The Acoustic Lab of the Politecnico di Milano for acoustic physics of musical instruments

In addition to its museum activities, MdV organizes, also in collaboration with other city institutions, numerous activities, including

  • Lutherie exhibitions, also linked to musical itineraries, both in its own premises and in Italy and abroad.
  • Promotion of its activity with concerts with historical instruments
  • Cycles of chamber music concerts such as the Stradivarifestival or Concerts in the Auditorium
  • Auditions with historical instruments offered to visitors
  • Specialized courses and seminars for luthiers
  • Teaching activities mainly addressed to students
  • Research activities in the field of violin making

In just a few years, MdV, thanks to its uniqueness and dynamism, has earned a prominent place in the international panorama of music museums and musical institutions in general. It hosts a constantly growing public, having exceeded 100,000 visitors per year before the pandemic, with an international component of over 30%.

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