Video interview with Takumi Takakura and Toshihiko Amano
Troubles and joys of meeting a Violoncello da Spalla!
In this interview, Japanese maker Takumi Takakura answers the question: is Violoncello da Spalla a baroque instrument?
Tokyo-based baroque violinist and teacher Toshihiko Amano speaks about his first encounter with Violoncello da Spalla and how it took a few more life steps to become part of his playing and teaching life.
Stay tuned, as in part 2 he will demonstrate some basic techniques to get started.
Updates from our workshop
Well, the second part of August was not a recharging holiday at all, and it feels like it was months long. My father illness got worse, and he passed away. He was still so present mentally and spiritually that we thought it would not happen yet. But it did. So I am now feeling numb, and in the next two weeks we will stay a bit with my mother and try to get a very few days of rest and change of scenery before the winter routine starts again. My new violoncello da spalla will have to wait a bit more.
Between those sad and messy days, we met a whole load of amazing musicians interested in da spalla playing. We had some great feedback: there’s interest in the Wagner model, the only five strings cello in the world with an original neck (short neck!). The playability and voice of our personal model (we have one made by Alessandro that we keep for us and for trying) were appreciated, reliable and responsive both with modern strings as well as with the big guty single wound basses by Eliakim Boussoir. Together with the bows by Antonino Airenti, that were designed “around” our instruments, and the newest light case recently designed by A-case for Sergey Malov, we are now able to offer a high-quality product in every and each single detail. No more compromising! Isn’t this exciting news?