This fine old instrument was made in the Mittenwald region of Germany in the mid-late 1700s, and is pleasingly well-preserved for its age. A lovely elegant cello, it has a sweet and refined sound, with a tone that is both warm and clear. It is made to a slightly smaller model, and has a string length of 655mm which makes it comfortable for a player with smaller hands.  Currently fitted with Larsen strings and an ebony tailpiece.     

For more information and photos, please refer to our website:
https://www.grantviolins.com.au/index.php/cellos/fine-cellos/287-kloz-school-cello-mittenwald-1770.html      

This 15.5" viola was made in about 1720, and is a rare example of the early London school, of which John Barrett was a significant figure. It was cut down down from a larger size, giving it distinctive shape and archings; this practice of resizing a viola seems to benefit the tone of an instrument, and luthiers are currently discussing why cut-down instruments often sound so good! This instrument has a fantastic tone, rich and warm while being clear and powerful; and it is beautifully resonant, even in the lower register, to a surprising degree for smaller size viola. Currently with a modern set up, this viola nevertheless belongs in the baroque era and could easily be restrung for early music performance. It is fitted with Evah Pirazzi strings, and beautiful rosewood tailpiece, chinrest and pegs.                                                               

For more information and photos, please refer to our website:
https://www.grantviolins.com.au/index.php/violas/fine-violas/134-john-barrett-viola-london-1719.html

Sanguine Estate Music Festival, Heathcote

Over the weekend of Friday 27 to Sunday 29 April Alex and Marina once again took the opportunity to take a break and head off to Heathcote to enjoy a weekend of fabulous music, wonderful food, wine, convivial company and beautiful weather hosted by the Hunter family of Sanguine Estate and catered for by Monsieur Pierre.

The festival directors, Howard Penny and Chris Howlett, arranged a vibrant line up of performers – violinists Andrew Haveron and Sophie Rowell, violists Tobias Breider and Stefanie Farrands, with pianists Yu Kosuge and Ian Munro and Stephen Stirling on horn to treat everyone to a wonderful weekend of music.