The Luthiers of Cremona and Their Unbroken Tradition
Cremona, a small city on the Po River in Lombardy, has produced stringed instruments of unsurpassed quality since Andrea Amati established his workshop around 1550. His descendants, followed by Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu, created violins whose acoustic properties have never been equalled. Today, over one hundred and fifty luthiers work in Cremona, continuing a tradition UNESCO inscribed on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2012.
The Scuola Internazionale di Liuteria offers a five-year diploma programme attracting students from over thirty countries. The curriculum covers wood selection, plate carving, varnishing, and set-up, all taught according to methods derived from the classical Cremonese masters. Graduates enter a profession where excellence requires decades of further refinement.
Wood selection follows principles established in the sixteenth century. The top plate is carved from Alpine spruce, ideally from the Val di Fiemme forests in Trentino, where the same tree species Stradivari favoured still grows at altitudes between fifteen hundred and two thousand metres. The slow, uniform growth produces wood with tight, even grain resonating with exceptional clarity.
The back and sides are traditionally cut from Bosnian or Balkan maple, selected for its pronounced figure. Figured maple exhibits differential density across the grain that scatters sound waves, contributing to the projection and tonal complexity distinguishing great instruments from merely good ones.
Varnish remains Cremona's most contested subject. The composition of Stradivari's varnish has been debated for centuries, with analyses revealing a base of linseed oil cooked with pine resin. Modern Cremonese makers each guard their own formulations, recognising that the coating's effects are inseparable from the instrument's identity.
If considering commissioning a new instrument, visit Cremona during the Mondomusica trade fair and meet makers in their workshops. A personal relationship with your luthier ensures the instrument is built for your specific playing style and tonal preferences. Start your research at https://www.museodelviolino.org
