Panormo School Basses..

[Ken Smith]

I have been reading thru my various collection of books and they all say the same more or less about Panormo. Some more and some less.

On one website they show the bass as made by 'Vincenzo Trusiano Panormo'. I thought at first that was just some fancy way or making it look better on line until I read more about him. One of the best descriptions I found on Panormo is in one of my oldest books which is by George Hart, the son of John Thomas H. whom I have a bass of his here as well.

Here are some basics on Panormo. His name is NOT Panormo! The family name is actually Trusiano!! He came reportedly from Monreale near Palermo, Sicely but even that is unconfirmed in the records of Baptisims. Some books has his city misspelled as Montreale (with T added in error) which is near central Italy (actually spelled Montereale), not Sicely. The name Panormo as I have read in 'Javolec' is Italian for the Latin name Panormus, the name given to the whole region before the Punic wars (2nd century or so). At the time of the Hart book, they had not yet learned of his true family name or made mention of it in the text. Later I assume it was discovered that the name Panormo was some version the region he was from and had adopted as his name. Clever if you ask me. About him he does write this;

"Vincenzo Panormo was the slave of many, manufacturing Double Basses and other instruments from the material selected and purchased by his temporary employer, ofttimes compelled to carry out some crotchet of the patron much against his own wishes. The wood thus forced upon him was often the worst description; and, in addition, he was frequently obliged to complete his work within a given time. Instruments manufactured under such conditions can scarcely, it may be supposed, add to the makers reputation. We cannot but regret that he should have been obliged to waste himself on such poor materials. Fortunately, however, in some cases he found time to exercise his skilful powers to their full extent, and has thus bequeathed to us some of the finest specimens of the copyist's art." George Hart, London 1884.

Coming from Dublin via Paris, Panormo arrived at his final destination in London around 1791 where he found employment in the shop of John Betts. It may be in a shop like this that the reference above is made from. I have seen a few basses attributed to the Betts shop and one of them is 4/4 bass and is authentic and labeled. That bass may be slightly before Panormos arrival in London...

[Anselm Hauke]

http://www.thomasmartin.co.uk/joseph...ouble_bass.asp

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Anselm Hauke

http://www.thomasmartin.co.uk/joseph...ouble_bass.asp

Thank's but that's not a Vincenzo. Actually, I don't know if that Bass is labeled or branded or just attributed. J.Panormo working for Dodd? That's news to me since it's noted that he and his Father worked for Bett's at the start but after a few years Joseph opened up his own shop while the father known as 'old' Panormo (Vincenzo) stayed in the Betts shop.

A lot of who worked for who is speculative to a degree because many of them worked in a shop for another and then either had their own shop or worked from home doing double duty. Also, some of the makers noted as 'workers' were actually never employed directly by or in the shop of but rather contracted to supply instruments as a subcontractor or 'out worker' as they also called it. Sometimes fully completed, sometimes 'in the white' and sometimes without the Scroll, just a carcass. I have seen one S.A.Forster Bass where the bass is 100% John Lott but not the Scroll or the Varnish. I read by the author that there were 5 of these made and from a living source that they are all the same model and make thus showing Lott was his bass carcass supplier.

As claimed by T.Martin in the link above that this Dodd bass was made by Joseph is news to me as only Fendt and Lott Snr's. are recorded as having made their basses. Fendt though up until the time he left the shop to work for Betts.. maybe? maybe not.

There is really no way to know 100% who made what for whom without having been there watching them work. It is only guess work putting the pieces together. Some puzzles more complete than other.

For the record, I am mainly interested in finding pictures of Vincenzo's basses regardless of where they were made. I have heard of at least one made in Italy but do not recall seeing it. I have not heard of any made in Paris where he also worked and lived for a time or Dublin where he was briefly for about a year possible associated with Thomas Perry.

[Joel Larsson]

I won't exactly add any important information here, but as I've mentioned before, my old teacher has been over to Martin's place and tried the various basses. What was then attributed to Maggini is now attributed to da Salo, but the one he fancies is the Joseph Panormo. Apparently, both are extraordinary instruments, but the Panormo was just a bit more accessible. He'll go back and make up his mind in the end of this month, I believe. But now, there's also a Hieronymous Amati thrown into the picture... the plot thickens.

Point being, that a good Panormo is most likely as good as it gets.

[Ken Smith]

Last night we had our season opening concert and one of the players in the section asked if he could try the Panormo out in concert. He came over to the shop late afternoon and picked it up. In the section of 4 basses was a 35-40 year old large Pollmann made to look like a Panormo or D'salo but had a roundback and was labeled Fendt model. The other bass was a large 7/8 or 4/4 model Shen Rogeri or Panormo model. I was playing the Hart. Size wise, the Hart was actually the smallest bass there. By size, not sound!

I was on the 1st stand with the Hart and the Panormo was on the 4th. The two poor guys in the middle were overpowered. I mentioned before hand for them to play out a little more unless the conductor tones us down.

We (the section) 'were noticed' by the comments I heard from some of the players afterwords. Only 4 basses but two powerful classics and two fairly loud and powerful modern instruments. It made me play harder in some sections, that's for sure. On stage, the Panormo (school of) bass looks fantastic, size and color alike.

[Ken Smith]

Ok, the Panormo School Bass is now up on the Website. Not the best pictures but it's the best we can do at the moment.

[Anselm Hauke]

wow, congrats, beautiful bass!
i want one too