MY INSTRUMENTS

An insight into my work

Voluta Montagnana 1740 eduardo frances bruno luthier

From my passion for music…

Music has been present in my life forever, and since I discovered historical performance practice, a completely new world unfolded before me. This new way of understanding music decisively influenced how I make music and, over time, unconsciously led me to what is now my livelihood for several decades. Notably, the first instrument I built was a baroque violin for my personal use.

It is not surprising, therefore, that I ended up specializing in building instruments for the performance of early music with historical criteria.

From perfection to aesthetics…

Besides the acoustics, another aspect that attracted me to these instruments is their aesthetics—the diversity of their forms, allowing the maker more freedom in approaching a project. Therefore, I seek to be fully respectful of the instruments on which I base my work, not only in terms of acoustics but also in aesthetics, with decorations and ornaments in line with the style of the period. I take utmost care in aesthetics without veering into the grotesque.

This pursuit of aesthetic perfection led me, for the creation of the heads of my viols, to collaborate with a highly skilled professional like Miguel Ángel Tapia, a master sculptor specializing in traditional Castilian imagery. Some examples of his work can be seen in the Gallery.

Varias viols eduardo frances bruno luthier

What type of instruments do I make?

To make my instruments, I use the finest materials: high-quality European wood, naturally air-dried for years, handmade fittings, natural pigments, and oil varnishes, always striving for the best results. My production includes all kinds of bowed instruments:

  • All types of viols, reproductions of instruments from the most renowned builders: Colichon, Bertrand, Meares, Rose, Jaye..
  • Bowed vihuelas, fiddles, rebecs, and other medieval instruments.
  • Violins, violas, and cellos, both in baroque and modern setup.
  • Violoncellos 'da Spalla', lyra da braccio, violas d'amore, and other less common instruments.

True art is appreciated in my workshop…

While the majority of my production consists of bowed instruments for the performance of early music, I also build instruments in a modern setup, reproducing examples from the most renowned makers (Stradivari, Guarneri, Amati, etc.).

Viola 'Mantegazza 1793'

Based on the viola built by Pietro Giovanni Mantegazza, Milan 1793, preserved in the National Music Museum, Vermillion (USA). Size: 16" (40.59 cm).

Viola 'Da Salò 1580

Based on the 'Kievman' viola made by Gasparo da Salò, Brescia, 1580. Size: 15.5" (39.5 cm.) Baroque setup, with fingerboard and tailpiece in flamed maple with pernambuco purfling.

Cello 'Montagnana 1740'

Reproduction of the cello built by Domenico Montagnana, Venice, in 1740. Body length: 75.5 cm. Baroque setup, tailpiece and fingerboard in flamed maple. Aged finish.

Piccolo Cello 'A&H Amati 1600'

Reproduction of the piccolo cello 'Amaryllis Fleming,' built by the brothers Antonio and Gerolamo Amati in 1600 in Cremona. Body length: 70.5 cm. Scale length: 64.5 cm.

Tenor Viola Da Gamba 'Rose 1598'

Reproduction of the tenor viola da gamba built by John Rose, London, 1598, preserved at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Body length: 58.4 cm. Scale length: 60 cm. An instrument with elaborate decoration, featuring intricate ornamentation in the form of filigree on the top, bottom, fingerboard, and tailpiece.

Bass Viola Da Gamba 'Colichon 1683'

Seven-string bass viola da gamba, of small size, inspired by the instrument built by Michel Colichon, Paris, 1683, preserved at the 'Cité de la Musique' in Paris. Body length: 66.8 cm. Scale length: 68.5 cm.

Bass Viola Da Gamba 'Colichon 1693'

Seven-string bass viola da gamba inspired by the viol built by Michel Colichon, Paris, 1693, preserved at the 'Musée d'art et d'histoire' in Geneva. Body length: 70.5 cm. Scale length: 69 cm.

Bass Viola Da Gamba 'Humel 1701'

Seven-string bass viola da gamba inspired by the instrument attributed to Matthias Humel, Nuremberg, 1701, preserved at the MET Museum in New York. Body length: 71.2 cm. Scale length: 69 cm.

Renaissance soprano viola da gamba.

Soprano viola da gamba, in Renaissance style. Custom model based on various preserved instruments and iconography of the time. Body length: 38 cm. Scale length: 38.5 cm.

Come see my work

VISIT GALLERY