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CITES registration of pernambuco
The following paragraphs originate from Adrian Thrift, from the Wildlife Licensing and Registration Service, Bristol, and clarify the current position with reference to the use of pernambuco by bow makers in the UK.
At the last Conference of the Parties it was decided to add Caesalpinia echinata (pernambuco) to Appendix II. I am unaware of any general requirement to register stocks of timber. Please note that the listing only applies to logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, including unfinished wood articles used for the fabrication of bows for stringed musical instruments.
The species listing comes into effect on 13 September and permits will be needed to move this timber from those countries which have implemented legislation. It is unlikely that the European Commission will have legislation in place at that time so importers/exporters should be very careful to ensure that they have adhered to the law and, if in doubt, they would be well advised to contact us. Only movements into and out of the Community will require CITES permits and only if they conform to the types above.
As this is now a CITES species it may well be that re-exporters of the types above, from the UK, might be asked to provide a stock level or proof of legal importation. Also, holders of this timber could be required to show that it was legally acquired so keeping records of which timber came from where, when it arrived (including any associated permit numbers) and who it was passed on to would be a sensible precaution. Forms and further information can be found on our web site. if anyone has a specific question, please ring Maria Fabiani on 0117 372 8436.
Violin Making Organisations
Musical Instrument Makers Forum
A discussion site for instrument makers of all kinds to share ideas.
This is the American equivalent of the BVMA, which produces a newsletter and holds a number of events including annual workshops and meetings.
Violin Making Colleges
Anniesland College, Glasgow runs two-year courses in instrument making.
Chapel Violins School of Violin Making
Chapel Violins, Nottinghamshire runs 6 month intensive courses in Violin Making and in Advanced Restoration Techniques.
Lists violin making schools across Europe and North America.
London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University runs three-year courses in instrument and bow making.
Merton College, London runs courses of up to three years’ duration in instrument making & repair and bow repair.
Newark School of Violin Making
Newark School of Violin Making (part of Newark and Sherwood College), Nottinghamshire, runs three-year courses in instrument making and repair.
West Dean College, Sussex runs three year specialist courses in early instrument making.
Violin Making Courses for Amateurs
Hillingdon Adult Education (use search for “violin making”)
Run evening classes in London for 30 weeks a year in instrument making.
Tutor: Jean-Pierre Dondelinger
Please contact administrator direct if weblink unavailable:
Jean Marc Teychenne
Tel: 01895 464079
Email: jteychenne@hillingdongrid.org
Short courses in France for violin and bow making.
Short courses in Cambridge for violin and bow making.
Violin Making Courses with Derek Roberts
Short daytime courses in Warwickshire, UK
Violin making weekends at Halsway Manor.
Violin making weekends which take place twice a year. Halsway is a Grade 2* listed building and is a wonderful example of a Somerset manor house. There are two tutors, one of whom is Neville Gardner who can be contacted at Neville@njgardner.demon.co.uk.
2010 weekends will be on 19th -22nd March 2010 (3 days) and 5th- 8th November 2010.
Charities and Trusts
Benslow Instrument Loan Scheme
The scheme manages a collection of over 500 instruments, which it either owns or administers on behalf of the owners, and lends out to young players who would not otherwise have access to a quality instrument. The scheme has purchased a number of contemporary instruments to add to its collection.
International Pernambuco Preservation Initiative (IPCI )
This organisation is devoted to the preservation and conservation of supplies of pernambuco wood for bow making.
Luthiers sans Frontieres (Violin makers without borders)
LSF is a charity which sends violin and bow repairers on short trips to countries where these services hardly exist. Places already visited included Cuba, Congo, Bolivia, Palestine & Algeria.
The Rowan Armour-Brown Memorial Trust Fund supports student violin makers by giving financial awards, tools and materials and help with arranging workshop placements. The trust was set up in 1999 in memory of the British violin maker, Rowan Armour Brown, who died in 1996.
Dietrich Kessler was an outstanding violin and viol maker and restorer. During the course of his long working life he collected a number of exceptional viols. Four were made by English makers: John Rose c.1595, Henry Jaye 1619, Richard Meares c.1660 and Barak Norman 1693. Two of the remaining viols were made in Paris, one by Michel Collichon 1691 and the other by Claude Pierray 1709. The final viol is a Pardessus that Dietrich made himself and is a fine example of his style and craftsmanship.
The Kessler Collection trust has been set up to preserve this unique collection as single entity. The Trust will raise funds to buy the instruments from the estate and house them in a controlled environment within an appropriate institution. The intention is to make the collection available for the general public to admire as well as making it accessible under suitable condition to makers and musicians alike for both historical and performance-based research.
The Trust was set up in 1995 by Tom's widow, Michelle Jenkins, in memory of her violinist husband, and was funded through the sale of his 1667 Stradivarius. She was particularly anxious to create an award that "bridged the gap between the old masters and the modern workshop".
Yfrah Neaman and Terry Pamplin were instrumental in getting the trust off the ground and were part of the advisory board in the early stages.
Initially set up as an annual award for a student at the London Metropolitan University, the first award was made in 1996 and continued for six years until 2002 when it was decided to expand the nature of the award. In 2003 and 2004, the Trust sponsored the BVMA's International Violin and Bow Making Competition. It was instrumental in developing a student section of the competition and in making awards in the student section. An award for the violin which received the public vote, the innovative "People's Prize", was also funded through the Trust.
Since then the Tom Jenkins Trust has sponsored the BVMA's Violin and Bow Restoration and Bow Making Course (for professional makers) on each occasion that it has been held, in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011.
The most recent student award was made to Angus Dracup, for a violin, in 2010.
Publications
US-based monthly magazine for players and makers of violin family instruments
A monthly magazine for all stringed instrument enthusiasts, including violin, viola and cello players and makers.
Organisations
National Music Museum, University of South Dakota
Heavily illustrated checklists of bowed stringed instruments, with further links to a large online library of images.
Web Design
11OutOf10 Web Design - Your Vision on the Web
Web site design and hosting with a professional touch. 11OutOf10.com are proven IT professionals offering reliable, robust and fully functional web sites and web based business systems.
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Terms of Use
The British Violin Making Association (BVMA) has no control over the content or security of any of the sites referred to by the above links and we are therefore unable to guarantee the accuracy or security of the information they contain. Whilst we have found from our own usage that the sites represent a valuable resource for persons interested in violin making, we cannot accept liability for any loss or damage that might arise from your use of these sites.
