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Scan 240
the history of the violin, 1864
2 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. Printed page 218. See the scan on archive.org.
1Gaspar di Salo, or Maggini. Laux Maller is mentioned by Mace as the most esteemed maker of lutes, and is supposed to have been of Venice. Mace says he has seen two of his lutes ("pittifull old, Batter'd, crack'd Things") valued at 100l. a piece. He probably, also, made violins, and other instruments of that class. At Marseilles there was Valler, 1683, and at Mantua Raceris, 1670, said to have been in partnership with one of the Gaglianos. Egidius seems to have been the best maker of the Klotz family, working in the latter part of the century, from 1675, and generally putting his own name to his instruments; he was particular in using good wood, and his instruments are well made, and have a finer and fuller tone than any other of the Tyrolese make; they have amber varnish. He was a pupil of Jacob Steiner, and imitated him. After Steiner's reason became affected, Egidius Klotz, or his sons (for this seems a little doubtful) and Techler, worked in his shop, and placed Steiner's tickets in the instruments then made. George, Sebastian, and Joseph, are named as his sons, and Joseph's instruments are considered superior to his father's. We have the following ticket of George: "Georg Klotz in Mittenwald an der Iser 1761;" also one of Joseph, but, from the date, he would seem to be more probably a grandson than a son of the original Klotz, "Joseph Klotz in Mittenwald an der Iser. An. 1774." There was also a Michael Klotz, whose ticket we have, dated 1771. Parke, in his "Musical Memoirs," says that Mr. Hay, formerly an excellent leader of the King's band, had a celebrated Klotz instrument, with a sweet and powerful tone, for which a noble lord offered him 300l. and an annuity of 100l. (the price seems incredible). Hay, having an independence, declined the offer, and on the sale of his effects after his death the instrument was sold for 40l. only.
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