Gustav Menzinger, master violin, Frankfurt, 1913

The mature elegance of Gustav Menzinger’s master violin #75 confidently demonstrates – not only through its visual aesthetic but through its exceptionally good sound – that it hails from a top-tier workshop which did not receive the acknowledgement it deserved. The instrument was crafted in 1913 in Frankfurt, Germany, ten years after Gustav Menzinger established his workshop in the booming western German city. As an exemplar of the urban musical culture of the period pre-WWI, this instrument features a strikingly expressive model, and its creator went to great lengths to enhance it down to the finest details. The deep tight flames of the maple used for the two-piece back and the finely-grained spruce of the top are outstanding tone woods of rare quality; it is quite clear that Menzinger selected these woods with aesthetically and musically demanding musicians in mind. The highly transparent golden-brown spirit oil varnish sets the natural beauty of the grain in its best light and flatters its delicate radiance. Multiple generations of intense playing has left distinguished traces of use on the violin, and it is astounding that this clearly well-played violin survived two world wars in a major German city in such good condition. In the course of painstakingly setting up this instrument, we found a meticulously performed repair to a joint on the back which has no musical impact whatsoever. This explains the lower price at which this violin is being sold, and we offer it as a unique opportunity within this price segment. The violin is in outstanding condition and ready to play – at the zenith of its excellent musical properties and its mature sound which has sweetness and radiance in the upper registers whilst also being beautifully balanced, carrying and warm. With its strength and its rich range of timbres, it permits nuanced professional interpretations.

 

 

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