The Royal Academy of Music in Marylebone, London, is home to a team of talented luthiers who are responsible for maintaining and restoring a collection of musical instruments. These instruments are not just for display; they are available for students and musicians to use in performances.
One of the instruments that still sees regular use is the baroque-era viola d’amore, which has seven playable strings and seven sympathetic strings. This unique instrument is essential for pieces like Bach’s St John Passion. Luthiers like Sarah Beaton carefully inspect and repair these instruments, ensuring they are in top condition for musicians to use.
Judith Moser, another luthier at the Royal Academy of Music, works on restoring a 120-year-old Giulio Degani cello. She painstakingly glues together cracks and adds small sections of wood to patch up the damage. Moser’s work requires both skill and precision to ensure the instrument is restored to its former glory.
The luthiers at the Royal Academy of Music also work on maintaining bows, with some experienced bow restorers rehairing four to six bows in a single day. It takes an average of two hours to restore a single bow, with more complex restorations taking days to complete. The bows, often made with Mongolian or Siberian horsehair, are essential for musicians to produce the desired sound from their instruments.
Students like Hadewych van Gent rely on the expertise of the luthiers to keep their instruments in top condition. Van Gent, who plays a French cello modeled after a Stradivari, notes the importance of regular maintenance for older instruments. The weather can impact the sound and feel of the instrument, so having skilled luthiers on hand is crucial for ensuring the instrument performs at its best.
Barbara Meyer, the curator of instruments at the Royal Academy of Music, works closely with students like van Gent to address any issues with their instruments. Meyer’s knowledge and expertise help students understand the unique characteristics of their instruments and how to properly care for them.
Overall, the luthiers at the Royal Academy of Music play a vital role in preserving and maintaining a collection of valuable and historic musical instruments. Their dedication to their craft ensures that students and musicians have access to instruments that are not only beautiful but also capable of producing incredible music.
