Photo credit: Daniel Lane
Saturday 4 May
Lutherie 2024
Newark Town Hall, Market Place
Newark-on-Trent NG24 1DU
This year’s conference is a must for violin makers, focusing on varnish topics, edgework and strings. Full details and booking information are below.
Friday 3 May
Lutherie student forum
The student forum, open to students and recent graduates, focusses on wood. The afternoon session is a chance to get feedback on your work from a panel of professional makers and restorers. Full details below.
RAB Trust tool sale
The RAB tool sale will be open to the public from 15.00 to 16.00.
Friday night social
Join us on the evening of Friday 3rd May for an evening of music and chat upstairs at the Flying Circus pub, 53 Castlegate NG24 1BE. The party celebrates 25 years of Lutherie conferences, from 19.00 until about 22.00. There will be a well stocked bar, and we will be providing our own music, so if you want to join in remember to bring your instruments! To book, go to Eventbrite
Tickets for Lutherie 2024 are £57, for recent graduates (since 2022) £20,
free for students. To book, go to Eventbrite
the ticket price includes a buffet lunch catered by Gannets as well as tea and coffee through the day
For updates and booking reminders, please join our mailing list.
Our booklet detailing the history of Newark School of Violinmaking is still available. Scroll down for details or click here.
The photographs from the Newark 50th anniversary reunion at Lutherie 2023 are still available on Daniel Lane’s website.
Lutherie Day Saturday 4 May 2024: Programme
09.30 - 10.30: Registration, tea/coffee, traders
10.30 Speaker 1
Pierre Flavetta: The ground enigma: Illuminating the art and mystery of violin ground preparation
Sponsored by W E Hill and Sons Lutherie products
We will explore the traditional wood treatment techniques employed by Renaissance luthiers in crafting violins. The discussion will not only delve into historical methods but also touch upon modern wood treatment approaches, providing attendees with a comparative overview. I'll share insights into detection methods used for ancient instruments and showcase visual aids, including wood samples, to enhance understanding.
Pierre Flavetta is a violin maker and restorer based in Cremona actively conducting research on historic varnish making techniques. He has given presentations on historic varnish methods at international conferences. This has allowed him to introduce a fresh perspective on forgotten techniques.
https://www.flavettaliuteria.com
Download the presentation here
11.30 - 12.15: Tea/coffee, traders
12.15: Speaker 2
Keith Edwards: Making madder lakes
Download Keith’s madder recipe and notes
An outline of the history of madder lake and different procedures for making it in the violin maker’s workshop.
Based in Nottingham, Keith Edwards has had a long and distinguished career making pigments, specialising in those which are no longer commercially available. He has made pigments of Cornelissen and Son and for a number of conservation projects.
13.15 - 14.45 Lunch is included in your booking, catered by Gannets; traders
14.45: Speaker 3
Andrea Frandsen: A step-by-step description of an effective method for fluting and edgework
Edgework often tends to be neglected, as if it's not worth wasting time on, compared to f-holes, purfling, etc. And yet the relationship between fluting and edges plays an important aesthetic role.
Along with the outline itself, it helps define the visual expression and the overall impression. Sometimes it's just a lack of method that holds us back.
Born in Denmark, Andrea studied violin making at NSVM, followed by a period in northern Germany. After establishing in France 1988, she specialised in new making, mainly of violins and violas. In addition to the great pleasure and honour of having her instruments in the hands of excellent musicians, she had the privilege of receiving two gold medals for violin and viola in Oakland, CA, 1995, and in Paris, 1991. During the last decade, Andrea has been invited as a jury member in major international violinmaking competitions in Europe and U.S.A. This is a great opportunity on each occasion to follow the development of violin making and also to meet luthiers from all over the world.
15.45 - 16.30 Tea/coffee, traders
16.30 Speaker 4
Markus Lawrenson: Strings 101: The Science, History, and Care of Strings
D’Addario has created a presentation that demystifies the strings on our instruments. By detailing the history and anatomy of strings, we hope that everyone will gain more understanding of what best suits their instrument, playing style, and playing level. We’ll discuss everything that goes into making and playing on a string, including materials, maintenance, longevity, rosin, and everything in between.
Markus Lawrenson is Global Artist & Market Development Manager for D’Addario Orchestral. His background is as a professional violinist. A graduate of the Royal College of Music, Markus has a wide range of playing experience. A member of the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra, China for nearly 7 years, Markus toured China and Asia extensively. Prior to this he freelanced throughout the UK performing in various ensembles and orchestras.
17.30 Close
Tickets for Lutherie 2024 are £57, for recent graduates (since 2022) £20,
free for students. To book, go to Eventbrite
Venue: Newark Town Hall, Market Place, Newark-on-Trent NG24 1DU
Student/recent graduate forum
Lutherie is keen to support violin making students, and those new to the industry. Our Student Forum will take place at Newark Town Hall on Friday 3 May 2024.
• Tool sale by the RAB Trust www.rabtrust.org, where students can buy donated tools, books and materials at well below market price
• All about wood presented by Andreas Pahler and Andreas Hudelmayer
• Speed Rating: constructive comments and feedback on your work from experienced makers/restorers
Venue: Newark Town Hall, Market Place, Newark-on-Trent NG24 1DU
Traders
An important fixture of Lutherie from its inception.
2024 traders include:
Alexander Accessories
Amati.com
Andreas Pahler Tonholz
BVMA
British Violin Making Association
D’Addario Strings
Luminis violin varnish
Katherine Eleanor workshop aprons
Luminis violin varnish
RAB Trust
The Sound Post Ltd
Wallace Seymour pigments and varnishes
W. E. Hill & Sons Lutherie Products
For full details of traders, click here
If you would like to book a trader’s table, please contact us: admin@lutherieuk.org
