English master violin, Eric Voigt, Manchester

The sonorous voice of this approximately 50-year-old master violin meets the highest musical standards. This modern English master violin has a warm and sweet sound which is defined by the rich resonance in its upper registers. In the 1960s, its creator, the German-British master Eric Voigt, was considered one of the “most famous unknowns” in the northern English music world. His delicate restorations and excellent new instruments (such his Eric Voigt 1963 viola) enjoyed an excellent reputation, although amazingly his repute never extended to wider circles. Eric Voigt’s highly interesting pieces combine the virtues of all of the important European violin making traditions. Eric Voigt himself placed great emphasis on the classic Italian tradition, which was definitive in terms of the standards it set for him as a craftsmanship-oriented master honouring a sense of heritage. His appreciation of history is evident in this violin, a well thought-out and independent model, albeit one which is unmistakably patterned after Guarneri del Gesù. At the same time, we also can regard Eric Voigt as a representative of the Saxonian violin making tradition, since he hailed from a large family of Markneukirchen violin makers whose roots can be traced back to the 17th century. Eric’s father, Paul Arno Voigt, moved to England around 1900, and there he worked under Thomas Earle Hesketh; since Hesketh had studied under the renowned Georges Adolphus Chanot, Paul Arno Voigt inherited the influences of not only British violin making, but the French style as well. It is this very multifaceted genealogy of artisanry had left its aesthetic mark on the violin we present here, which features a carefully crafted scroll in the English style and blackened edges which are a French touch. At the same time, the extremely well-crafted table and delicate purfling reflect the work of a perfectly trained and experienced hand. Extensive antiquing on the top gives this violin an unmistakable character; the instrument came to us without any cracks and in top condition. After having been thoroughly set up at our specialist atelier, this high-quality toned violin is ready to play, and we recommend it as a precise and melodious instrument crafted by a master who still has yet to receive the proper recognition he deserves.

The "Violins" section features our attractive selection of other violins and master violins with audio sound samples.

 

 

Order a certificate of appraisal with this violin, the certificate option is available in the shopping cart.