Scan 459
The violin: its famous makers and their imitators, 1875
14 lines. Read by computer on 1 October 2026. Printed page 307. See the scan on archive.org.
A town on its own line is one of the directory's headings. That is where the town on a maker's page comes from.
1other person in this country. He very kindly sent me the following particulars, which are interesting:
3" Brighton,
4" 2nd July, 1875.
6" My dear Sir,
7" Your letter of yesterday needs no apology, as it will afford me pleasure at any time to give you any information in my power respecting the late Signor Dragonetti, having known him well from 1796 to his death.
9" His celebrated Gaspard di Salo instrument, or Contra-Bass, was left by his will to the Fabbrici (or churchwardens), for the time being, of the church of St. Mark's, at Venice, to be played upon only on festivals and grand occasions. I was present on one of such festivals, which lasted for three days, in July, 1852. I then saw the Basso, which was played on in Orchestra No. 1, there having been two bands for which music had been composed expressly.
11" In April, 1875, being again in Venice, I enquired from the Verger of St. Mark's if Dragonetti's Violone was in the church, and I could see it. The reply was in the affirmative, but as the Fabbrici had the care of the instrument, under lock and key, it would be necessary to see them and get their consent for its production. As this would cause me some little trouble, I left Venice without carrying out my intention.
13" Dragonetti by his will left me his Amati
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.