A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Cremona

by Paul David

CREMONA, a considerable town in Lombardy, on the river Po, was for the space of two centuries, from about 1550 to 1750, the seat of the famous Cremona school of violin-makers. The shape and construction of the violin, and the other instruments belonging to the tribe, having been finally settled by the great makers of Brescia, Caspar de Salo and Paolo Maggini (see those names), It was at Cremona that the last step in the art of violin-making was made, which led to that point of perfection from which no further progress has yet been possible or perhaps desirable. The numerous makers of the Amati family (see that name) chronologically head the list of the masters of Cremona: Antonio Stradivari and Josef Guarnerius (see those names) are the greatest of all, and their instruments have never been rivalled. The names of Andreas, Petrus, and Josef Guarnerius (brother of Andreas), Carlo Bergonzi, Guadagnini, Montagnana, Ruggieri, Storione, and Testore (see all these names) make up the list of the masters of this school, whose violins are still highly valued.

The term 'a Cremona,' or 'a Cremonese violin' is often incorrectly used for an old Italian instrument of any make.

'Cremona,' as applied to an organ stop, is a mere ignorant corruption of 'Krumhorn.'

[ P. D. ]