NOVEMBER 19 2011

5TH GOLD MEDAL FOR THE CHARTON WORKSHOP

for the DOUBLE BASS built by Richard GONON

for the INTERNATIONAL LUTHERIE COMPETITION "E. VATELOT/CITY OF PARIS"

                                      The 4 instruments made for the competition, including the winning double bass

The bass was built after the "Montagnana Solo model" designed by P. CHARTON.

This bass will be exhibited at the Musée Instrumental de La Villette of Parisin january 2012 and will be played in concert by Thierry BARBE, principal bass of the'Orchestre de l'Opéra de Paris.

                                                   Richard GONON receiving the "Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris"

                                     Richard GONON and the  Montagnana Solo model winning double bass.

A Viola da Gamba "Art Nouveau" style for Régis Prudhomme

Inspirée des proportions de la viole de Colichon, cet instrument est le fruit hybride d'une pensée du XXI° siècle retournant aux sources des siècles précédents pour en prélever tous les apports servant l'expression musicale.

La créativité et la vitalité présentes dans toute la lutherie des instruments baroques autorisent cette incursion stylistique des années 1920, pas si anachronique quand on sait que le renouveau d'intérêt pour le répertoire baroque date de cette (belle) époque...

Ouïes et Filets en style coup de fouet; rosace en copie de Lalique.

Le modèle est dessiné assez large avec une voûte pleine et souple pour favoriser les fondamentales et la richesse harmonique. 

Tête : création de Jacques Grandchamps

Touche érable sculptée, ajourée et incrustée. Cordier en drappé d'érable.      

Régis Prudhomme

Marjolaine Cambon

A viola for Odile AUBOIN Principal Viola of the 'Ensemble Intercontemporain", member of the "Trio Antara"

Odile was looking for a 40 cm viola with a wide expressive and loud type of tone. I proposed her this personal model that she has adopted very quickly .

"I've had a crush on this viola, for its tone first ("it has got everything like a large one") but also for its ergonomy.

The whole playing is made easy thanks to its suppless and its size, and the sound projects incredibly well in a big hall.

What else asking for ?"

Trio Antara :

http://www.trioantara.com/alto.html

January 2011

A  HYBRID 4 AND 5 STRINGS NECK FOR  B21 ET C21 :

"To switch from 4 to 5 strings, using the same bass and the same neck", this is what Sarah Quatrehomme asked for. So I designed this hybrid neck, thin as a 4 string neck and wide as a 5. The 9 notches in the upper nut and in the bridge allow the change. No screwing or unscrewing anything : the pegboxes slide onto the neck and the string tension hold either 4 or 5 string pegbox to it.

No change of neck. The switching from 4 to 5 strings takes less than a minute.

The extra pressure due to the fifth string is resorbed as you set the tail piece in a higher notch at the anchor. The bass works equaly as a 4 or a 5 string bass since the pressure is always balanced on the arching and on the bass bar.

Once taken off, the pegbox/strings/tailpiece set is rolled together and awaits the next change.

George MRAZ
http://www.georgemraz.com/home.html