Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin Sheridan
I don't know how many times I've read over the years that the attributions in Elgar's books on the double bass are not accurate. Has anyone compiled a corrected attribution list? It's another indication that we badly need the definitive book on Italian basses. And more authoritative books on all the schools.
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It's not just the Italian Basses that are incorrectly named, the Hawkes he says is French with the 'F' in the Back looks 100% German. Did the French just turn German to please the English for that model? The real French Hawkes Basses look 100% French and nothing like a Panormo at all.
I spoke to one person in the 'field' who shall remain nameless. He mentioned that he made some corrections in his personal book. He also mentioned that some of the pictures were mixed up and a few errors were the fault of the publisher.
Elgar or not, I know of one Italian Bass that was a Landolfi in the '60s from one source, a Testore in the 70s by another and now that it's for sale it's a Ruggeri or Rogeri, one of them.
I heard from more than one source that when Elgar was writing the book, people by invitation would send him pictures and say, "here's my Amati", "here's my d'Salo", "here's my Testore".. and so on. Names were thrown around freely back then. Still today, it's about the same unless you need 3-4 Bass dealers to agree. That is unlikely in most cases I would venture to say.
Martin, a book on Italian Basses would be more attributions than confirmations. The period and province at best would be approximate in most cases but not all. A few might be accurate by jury and a few might be totally wrong. Actual names and dates for an entire book of Basses would more than likely be a book of fiction, based on a wishful true story.
Now, a book on English Bass might be easier to do. First off, most of them are from either London or the north near Manchester with a small percentage spread out around the British Isles. Most of them would date from 1775-1875. Now that's something that looks possible to me.
Also in this supposed English Bass book, it would be interesting to list all of them that have been Italian Basses until recently. That to me is something worth writing about. Here's my Testore made in Scotland almost a century after Testore died.. lol.. More truth in that then one can imagine.
How many Maggini's have we seen claimed that were more than likely either something else or British, mainly British. How many Amati's are claimed when most dealers doubt that any of the Amati family made a single bass combined! And the d'Salo, the greatest of them all along with Maggini where any old looking early Italian bass can be attributed to him for lack of a better name.
Oreste Martini is recorded as making 45 Double Basses in his time of which I have to date the earliest I have seen and have seen one of the latest recently as well. Martini probably made more Basses than Maggini, d'Salo and any of the Amati's combined. Throw in Montagnana while you are at it.
The Brescian Fair in 2007 had a few of Maggini and at least one, Dragoinetti's d'Salo. Also, I believe 2 other d'Salos were sold last year. I would bet that between the fair and the sales, they include the majority of the Double Basses ever made or converted in-to by these two makers. Yet, it seems that so many great players have a famous Bass by one of these or even Amati.
Funny thing,. I spoke to a southern gentleman selling a Violin on-line and we spoke on the phone after I emailed him with my doubts. It got friendly and he looked over my Basses on my website. According to him, this is what he thinks I have;
1)Gilkes=Strad
2)Storioni=Guarnieri del Gesu
3)Mystery English=G.B.? Gagliano (younger brother of Allesandro)
4)19th century Neapolitan=a later Gagliano as well (forger which but at least that Bass is close).
When he said I have the only Strad Bass which is the Gilkes made on the Strad pattern a century later, I offered him a deal to sell my Bass as a Strad. He said it was priceless so no figure was discussed.
I admit this guy was not dealing with a 'full deck' in my mind but the world is big and anyone can call a bass any name they like.
Ok, I have to get back to work now. I am loosing a ton of money selling my Strad as a Gilkes. At least I have another job to go to.. lol