News of Note INSIDE: ■ How to Buy a Bow ■ Sales Manager’s Notes Take Issue with Bows ■ Featured Instruments House of Note News of Note | Volume One, Number 1 March 2005 House of Note Featured Bow Violin Bow: EUGENE SARTORY A PARIS 61.2 grams This bow is in excellent condition. It has an octagonal stick of red brown pernambuco and a silver mounted ebony frog. The Sartory stamp is very clear and legible. The bow adheres to the strings and draws a firm and even tone. The bow is very agile in fast passages. Eugene Nicolas Sartory is one of the most celebrated bow makers from the 19th Century school of French bow makers. He first worked for Charles Peccatte and later with Lamy before working on his own starting in 1893. This bow is perfect for the collector or professional player. $15,000.00

Rare and Exceptional Bows Available Many people are not aware Pierre Guillaume, Bruxelles of our extensive selection P. Harizanov, Bulgaria Eugene Sartory (with a new frog K. Hasegawa, Japan by Roger Zabinski) 61.2g $15,000 of bows featuring the Cuniot Hausset, Japan Marcel Fetique 60.6g 7,000 best of the contemporary Michael Jamonneau, France Louis Morizot (stamped L. Mougenot) makers and many fine old 59.6g 5,000 makers. Here is a partial S. Kuhnla, Germany Roger Francois Lotte 61.0g 5,000 list of the fine makers we F. LeClair, France Francois Lotte 58.8g 5,000 are pleased to offer. Christian Ledzinski, France Francois Lotte 60.2g 4,200 Stephane Muller, France F.C. Neuveville, Switzerland Charles Nicolas Bazin 59.9g 4,000 Catherine Baroin, France Roderich Paesold, Germany Husson Mariet 63.8g 4,000 Frederic Becker, France M. Pereira, Brazil P. Serdet a Paris 59.5g 3,700 J.P. Bernard, Bruxelles Jacques Poullot, France M.O. Beilke 62.3g 3,500 P. Camurat, France Monique Poullot, France J.T.L. (stamped Sarasate Virtuose) A. Carlesso, Brazil 60.2g 3,500 Roy Quade, Canada Hubert Chanon, France Baarsen 60.8g 3,500 Doug Raguse, Illinois H. Cirilo, Brazil Cuniot Hury 59.9g 3,000 Peter Riedl, Germany Franck Daguin, France Hornsteiner 60.6g 2,800 C. Santos, Brazil Gustave Debard, Germany Albert Nurnberger 62.2g 2,500 Agnes Saumagne, France R. Dotschkail, Germany Albert Nurnberger 60.2g 2,500 Jean-Frederic Schmitt, France Gilles Duhaut, France A. Nurnberger 58.3g 2,000 Lother Seifert, Germany S. Finkel, Switzerland Unstamped (probably German) Matt Wehling, Minnesota Conrad Gotz, Germany 59.5g 2,000 Garner Wilson, England Richard Grunke, Germany Unstamped (older German) Roger Zabinski, Minnesota 59.5g 1,500 Lee Guthrie, Wisconsin Nurnberger Shop 61.8g 1,000 Richard Grunke, Germany Featured Violins, If you are interested Violin: Violin: ERNST HEINRICH ROTH MIKAEL SANDOR KARPATY in auditioning any MARKNEUKIRCHEN 1928 2004 of our instruments This violin is built on a This violin has a two- or bows please 1670 Nicola pat- piece back of European phone toll free tern. It has a one-piece maple. The top is of fine back of slab cut maple. grained spruce. The var- nish is yellow/brown with (877) 503-2181 or The top is narrow and heavy antiquing. The pat- even grained spruce. tern of this violin is based (952) 929-0026 The varnish is amber/ on a Giovanni Pressenda brown with mild shading. for an appointment of 1842. The tone is pow- The violin is in excellent erful and rich with strong condition. The violin has and one of our overtones. a full and even tone with talented sales staff good projection and is will be happy to perfect for the advancing student. assist you. $7,500.00 $10,000.00

Viola : 16" Sales Manager’s Notes: CHRISTOPHER WHITE BOSTON As we are celebrating our 46th Anniversary at House of 2003 Note I look back on my twenty-two years in the violin business. The student level instruments have certainly Christopher White has changed over the years. I often think how great it would been making instru- ments for the past 15 have been if I could have started on the caliber of instru- years. He is a graduate of ments that we are carrying today. I often hear many the North Bennet Street teachers say the same thing. We are fortunate to be in the School in Boston. He has business at such an exciting time. There are so many great studied making with Raymond Melanson and instruments coming out of China, Bulgaria, the Czech Arthur Toman. This viola Republic, Hungary, Romania, , France, the U.S.A. and boasts a one-piece back of course Germany. of slab cut maple with an ebony crown on the back button. The one- I have just returned from a trip to the Violin Society of piece top is of medium- America Convention in Portland, Oregon. This year was grained spruce. The var- nish is red/brown with a competition year, drawing instrument and bow makers tasteful antiquing. The from all over the world. I had the opportunity to see so viola is inspired by the many outstanding examples of contemporary instru- great Brescian maker Gaspar DaSalo. The vel- ments. The violin and bow making craft is truly reaching vety tone is big and a new renaissance. dark. An outstanding — Sheila Graves, Sales Manager viola for its price. $12,000.00

Page 2 House of Note News of Note Volume One, Number 1 March 2005 Violas and

Violin: Violin: Viola: 16 1⁄2" RAYMOND JOSEPH MELANSON ELISA SCROLLAVEZZA WARA STRINGS ROCHESTER (MA) PARMA BUDAPEST 2004 2004 2004

We are pleased to offer Elisa Scrollavezza is a young talent- This viola is another fine example another instrument from the ed violin maker. Her violin is built of the instruments coming from award-winning violin maker on a traditional Stradivari pattern the Wara Strings workshop in Raymond Melanson. Ray with an exemplary Italian varnish. Budapest, Hungary. This hearty Melanson has won 12 medals The violin has a very clean look and viola is built on a Stradivari pat- in previous Violin Society of crisp clear sound. tern, has great depth and really America Competitions. The rings. violin has a two-piece back of $8,500.00 $3,500.00 highly flamed maple from the Adirondack Mountains and an Italian spruce top with fine grain. The antiqued varnish is amber/ brown over a golden base. The violin is built on a combination of a Storioni and a 1742 How to Buy a Bow del Gesu pattern. This violin has a rich dark full sound If you are a student, discuss with your teacher what level of bow is and is very even across all appropriate for you, then call ahead to make an appointment to try bows. four strings. This would make an excellent instrument for ܨ To test a bow, start by playing long slow sustained strokes. You can use an advanced student or a professional. An outstanding open strings or play a slow scale or melody. Listen carefully to each investment at $12,500.00. bow and select the sound that you like best. ܩ Next play fast; that way you can hear how the bow sounds when you are using very little hair and you can feel how the bow responds in : your hand. AMEDEE DIEUDONNE ܪ Finally try some difficult bow strokes – depending on your level, keep- MIRECOURT ing in mind that clarity of sound is extremely important. 1939 ܫ Once you have narrowed down your favorites take them out on trial for a week to make sure that you are happy with your decision. This Dieudonne has exquisite wood and is classically French. This There are several types of bows: cello has not been played in many years Fiberglass bows are good for beginners, they are strong and don't warp. and has been recently Brazilwood bows are good entry level wood bows. They typically are bal- restored in our shop by anced more toward the tip and help a beginning player get a big full rich Ute Zahn. It is a fine sound. example from this prominent maker. It Pernambuco is the wood that the finest bows are made of. Pernambuco has a sweet warm bows generally have better response than brazilwood bows. There is a very singing sound. wide price range in pernambuco bows. The nickel mounted bows are good for the advancing student, and silver mounted bows are appropriate for advanced to professional level players.

Carbon Fiber bows are an excellent alternative to wood bows. They are strong and don’t warp. They come in a variety of price ranges and levels and are suitable for beginners to professional players. $20,000.00

Page 3 House of Note News of Note Volume One, Number 1 March 2005 Welcome to the House of Note! We are a full-service violin shop serving the string community since 1959. News Whether you’re a beginner, professional or reacquainting yourself with the joys of Note of playing, House of Note brings you the House of Note very best instruments, accessories, and 7210 Minnetonka Boulevard St. Louis Park, MN 55426 personal service. Toll-Free: (877) 503-2181 Local: (952) 929-0026 If you’d prefer to receive this newsletter Fax: (952) 929-6778 [email protected] via email, just drop us a note at Copyright © 2004 House of Note [email protected].

Hours: We are open: Monday – Wednesday Friday 9:30 – 5:30 p.m. Thursday 9:30 – 8:00 p.m. Saturday 9:30 – 12:00 noon (summer) Saturday 9:30 – 3:00 p.m. (winter)

For your convenience, New evening hours on Thursday until 8:00 p.m.

Just a few of the many services we New Strings from at House of Note have to offer: THOMASTIK-INFELD INSTRUMENT AND BOW REPAIR INSTRUMENT & BOW RESTORATION APPRAISALS TONAL ADJUSTMENTS VISION STRINGS by INSTRUMENT TRADE-INS THOMASTIK

THE FINEST RENTAL INSTRUMENTS The VISION strings have a short break-in time. The ball ends are made VISION TITANIUM STRINGS by THOMASTIK Advantages to Purchasing from of Titanal and Titanate. VIENNESE MELANGE House of Note: These materials are spe- The VISION TITANIUM STRINGS by THOMASTIK cial alloys that have a strings have a pure All instruments, regardless of price, are pro- very low density and a focused tone, and are The VIENNESE low damping factor, MELANGE string set is a fessionally reconditioned and set up with the the choice of soloists. which are properties The ball ends are made customized blend of same care. We maintain a large selection in all that promote exception- of Titanal. The string Dominant and Infeld price ranges under $15,000. Home trials are ally strong coupling surface is highly pol- strings plus a new E between string and tail- string which delivers an available, allowing the player and teacher ished. VISION TITANI- piece. This allows the UM violin strings are exceptionally balanced time to assess an instrument or bow. Written bridge to resonate more available in two ver- tone. The whole set sta- appraisals are included with all fine instru- freely and will, there- sions: Soloist and bilizes very quickly and fore, bring out the natu- their fast response is ment purchases. Repairs of previously owned Orchestral/Chamber ral brilliance of your musician. These strings particularly beneficial in instruments are guaranteed for one year. instrument. The sound can reduce some wolf string crossings, har- of Vision strings is tones. Available in monics and pianissimo focused, clear, open and 4/4 size. passages. Available in brilliant. Available in 4/4 size. 4/4, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, and Page 4 House of Note News of Note 1/8 size. Volume One, Number 1 March 2005