World-Class Luthier Zooms with Orchestra

In a recent virtual gathering with conductor, teacher and professional musician Betty Lewis, Upper School orchestra students had the opportunity to meet with world-class violin maker—also called a luthier—Antoine Nedelec.
 
The executive director of the Chicago School of Violin Making, Nedelec is also a peer and friend of Lewis, who works at the school as a violin and viola instructor—and has been fortunate to be among the first musicians to play one of Nedelec’s completed pieces!
 
In a Zoom-based gathering, Nedelec provided a historical overview of the often-disputed people and geography associated with the first violins. While Nedelec gave credit to Andrea Amati and the town of Cremona, Italy in the mid-1500s for being the first real maker, he acknowledged there were similar, much cruder looking three-stringed instruments emerging from Brescia around this same time. To confound things further, religious edicts in the 16th century banning the creation of violins and ordering the destruction of existing pieces also make the historical record very difficult to know with 100% certainty. Fortunately, as most of Amati made most of his pieces for nobility, many were not destroyed, and 20 of his violins still exist today!
 
The class’s virtual visitor then showed students how Amati’s family lineage of luthiers connected directly to the training of well-known maker Antonio Stradivari through Amati’s son, Nicolo. More than 600 of Stradivari’s pieces exist, the most expensive selling for $16 million.
 
For the remainder of their time together, Nedelec spoke to the students about the work involved in making a violin in his workshop. Beginning with a plank of maple hardwood, Nedelec demonstrated how it was split down the middle, then worked meticulously by hand to make the violin back, scroll and neck pieces. He spoke about the importance of using spruce, a soft tonewood, for the top of a piece due to its high stiffness-to-weight ratio, which produces superior acoustics. He showed wood planks split into thin strips and heat-shaped around a form to make the side “ribs” of the familiar violin shape.
 
Students peppered the visiting artist with questions following his remarks. Nedelec showed the detailed wood inlay on tops and backs. He shared that, in balancing his other responsibilities, it takes him about three months to finish a violin from start to solo performance. Nedelec noted that making a cello takes about three times the work and materials of making a violin, but only raises about twice the money when sold.
 
All in attendance left the experience with a greater appreciation for the instruments that many of them play each and every day. Thanks much to Betty Lewis for helping to connect the experience of the world with the classroom despite social distance!

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Francis W. Parker School educates students to think and act with empathy, courage and clarity as responsible citizens and leaders in a diverse democratic society and global community.