The original “Brookings” Amati in the collection of the Library of Congress.
In 2022, I was asked to convert the Library of Congress’ 1654 “Brookings” Nicolo Amati violin from its modern setup to a configuration as it might have been when it was made nearly 400 years ago.
This involved redoing an earlier ‘modern’ neck graft to give it the shape that would have been characteristic in the 17 th C. The instrument also needed a new fingerboard and tail piece, the geometric design for which was copied from Nicolo’s father’s 1613 violino piccolo, housed in the National Music Museum in Vermillion, SD. We added a new period bridge and sound post, pegs, end button, and gut strings. It was a successful restoration, the kind that instrument makers feel extremely fortunate to have been able to work on.
Early in 2024, I decided to build a copy of the brookings. I had wood that that I’d been saving for a special project and this seemed to be the right time. I had purchased it from a previous maker’s stock and guessed by its color and feel that it might be over 100 years old. No telling for sure. The wood did carve differently, I feel, due to its age. I finished the instrument just prior to the 2024 meeting of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers, in Denver. This biannual meeting is a members only professional gathering, but its Players Meet Makers event is an opportunity for musicians to visit and try out members’ new instruments. It was a perfect opportunity to display it.
The question often comes up with old instruments; do they sound better because the wood has aged? In this case, I have to believe that the seasoned wood contributed to my instrument’s rich sound. It was the first time I have used this model so a future test will be to make another similar violin but with younger wood. Stay tuned!
