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Scan 58
A dictionary of violin makers
42 lines. Read by computer on 27 September 2026. Printed page 48. See the scan on archive.org.
1full of the most interesting facts and reminiscences, while at the same time a kindly, straightforward, and unassuming manner, peculiarly his own, made him the object of general regard and respect. His death removed one who was a prominent and characteristic link between modern times and a bygone type of personality. His four eldest sons became members of the firm: William Henry, b. June 3, 1857, followed the musical profession for some years, before joining his brothers in the business; Arthur Frederick, b. Jan. 25, 1860; Alfred Ebsworth, b. Feb. 1862, who worked for some time at Mirecourt (Vosges) and was the first Englishman to go there to study; and Walter Edgar, b. Nov. 4, 1871, d. 1905, who also worked at Mirecourt. They employ a large staff of assistants in their workshops at Hanwell.
3Hiltz, Paul. A maker of viols in Nuremberg, 1656. In the collection of musical instruments there is a viola da gamba dated 1656.
5Hircutt. A maker working in London about 1600.
7Hochbrücker. A maker in Donauworth, Bavaria, about 1699. Later he worked at Augsburg. He made some fairly good violins, but is chiefly known as the inventor of pedals for the harp, about 1720.
9Höhne. Worked both in Dresden and Weimar, in the 19th century.
11Hörlein, Carl Adam, b. 1829 at Winkelhof, near Würzburg. Pupil of Joseph Vauchel; later he worked for three years in Vienna, chiefly under Anton Hoffmann, but also under Gabriel Lemböck. In 1853 he settled in Kitzingen, Bavaria; but in 1866 moved to Würzburg, where he remained. Both as a maker of new instruments and as a repairer of old ones he had a great reputation. In 1875, under Professor Hermann Ritter's direction, he made a "viola alta" exactly on the principles laid down in the little book called "Die Geschichte der Viola Alta" (Leipzig, 1877); it had a full, sonorous tone. He died 1902.
13Hoffmann, Anton. Court maker in Vienna about 1850.
15Hoffmann, Johann Christian, son of Martin Hoffmann. A maker of lutes and viols in Leipzig about 1720. He was an excellent workman. His younger brother, who also worked in Leipzig about the same time, made good violins and bass-viols.
17Hoffmann, Martin, d. in Leipzig, 1725. A maker of good lutes and viols, who worked in Leipzig from about 1685. He also made violins and violoncellos of good tone, although the inelegant pattern (the cut of the sound-holes, the sharp corners and weak edges) has caused them to be neglected. In 1720 he began to make the "Viola pomposa," a small violoncello with five strings tuned C, G, D, A, E, the invention of which is ascribed to J. S. Bach. It was never much used and seems to have been merely the reproduction of an obsolete form of violoncello. A specimen was exhibited in Paris, 1878; it was on a good model, very much arched, the head ending in a scroll, and the sound-holes well cut.
19Hofmans, Matthias. A maker in Antwerp 1680-1740. He made beautiful instruments on the pattern of Amati and Guarneri del Jesù, he used a warm dark red varnish, similar to that of Italian instruments of the same period. In a little pocket violin was the label: "Matthys Hofmans tot Antwerpen, 1740."
21Holloway, John. A maker in London at 31, [address hidden], Soho, in 1794.
23Homolka, F. A maker in Kuttenberg, Bohemia, about 1850. He exhibited two violins in Munich, 1854, of beautiful workmanship; the wood was rather thick, which perhaps rendered the tone a little harsh, but otherwise excellent.
25Hopkins. A maker in Worcester, who exhibited a double-bass in London in 1862.
27Horil, Giacomo. A maker in Rome about 1720-50.
29Horlein. See "Hörlein."
31Hornsteiner. See "Neuner."
33Hornsteiner (Hornstainer), Joseph. A maker in Mittenwald about 1730. He made some good double-basses.
35Hornsteiner (Hornstainer), Mathias. A maker in Mittenwald about 1770-1800. His instruments were better made than those of Joseph Hornsteiner. Label: "Mathias Hornsteiner der Geigenmacher in Mittenwald, 1770."
37Hosborn, Thomas Alfred. A maker in London in 1629. A bass viol of this date was exhibited in Paris, 1878.
39Huel, d. in 1845. A maker in Rennes. Pupil of Lacôte. He made some fairly good guitars.
41Huet, Henri. A maker in Paris about 1775-90; lived first at rue Saint-Martin (1778), then rue du Grand-Hurleur in 1783. This latter date was in an alto
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