Stradivarius " Paganini Quartet " 1727 violin (1st violin), 1680 violin (2nd violin), 1731 viola, 1736 cello This internationally renowned quartet is one of Stradivarifs six sets of quartet known to exist today. It was once owned and played by the Italian virtuoso violinist and composer, Niccolo Paganini (1782-1840), hence the name "Paganini Quartet". It is a known fact that Paganini was especially impressed with the sound quality of the viola that he commissioned a French composer Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) to write a piece for viola and orchestra. As a result, the symphony Harold in Italy was composed for this viola. Nippon Music Foundation acquired this set of quartet from the Corcoran Gallery of Arts in Washington D.C. in 1994. The Foundation only loans these four instruments as a set of quartet and they are currently on loan to the Tokyo String Quartet. Stradivarius 1700 violin " Dragonetti " This violin is one of the very few instruments which still retain its original neck. Its name is taken from the owner, Domenico Dragonetti (1763-1846), who was an Italian virtuoso double bass player. Dragonetti formed a large collection of double basses, violins, cellos, harps and guitars. Just prior to the Foundation's acquisition, this violin was played by the renowned violinist, Frank Peter Zimmerman (1965- ) throughout the world. Stradivarius 1702 violin " Lord Newlands " This violin was named after the owner, Lord Newlands (1890-1929), who treasured it throughout his life. While this violin was in the care of W.E.Hill & Sons of London between 1964 and 1982, it was exhibited at the CINOA Exhibit of Bath in 1973 as the most outstanding violin in the Hill Collection. According to the world virtuoso violinist Isaac Stern (1920-2001) who once played this violin, "Lord Newlands" has the same power as his "del Gesu" violins. Stradivarius 1708 violin " Huggins " The name of this violin is taken from the ownership by William Huggins(1824-1910), a well-known English astronomer in the 1880s. Since 1997, this violin has been slated to the first-prize winner of The Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition in Belgium for four years until the next competition takes place. The winners of the previous Competitions are Nikolaj Znaider of Denmark (1997) and Baiba Skride of Latvia (2001). The violin is now in the hands of Sergey Khachatryan of Armenia, the winner of the 2005 Competition. Stradivarius 1709 violin " Engleman " This violin was once owned by the family of a naval officer Commander Young until his death in the World War II. The Young family had retained possession of the violin for almost 150 years, which is reflected in its superior condition. Nippon Music Foundation acquired this violin from an American amateur violinist and collector Ephraim Engleman, hence the name "Engleman". Stradivarius 1710 violin " Camposelice " The name of this violin is derived from an owner in France in the 1880s by the name of Duke of Camposelice, who was a well-known Stradivarius collector. In 1894, the violin was sold to Mrs. Jack Gardner, who founded the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Mrs. Gardner presented the violin to Martin Loeffler, composer and violinist, who played and kept it from 1894 to 1928. In 1937, this violin was exhibited at the prestigious Cremona Exhibition by Dr. Kuhne who owned a collection of instruments. It was in the hands of a Belgian amateur player who kept it for over thirty years and it is from his heir that the Foundation acquired this instrument. Stradivarius 1714 violin " Dolphin " This violin is perhaps one of the most famous violins known today. It is recognized as one of the top three violins made by Stradivari along with 1715 "Alard" and 1716 "Messiah". This instrument was once owned and played by the world famous virtuoso Jascha Heifetz (1900-1987). The owner in the late 1800s, George Hart, who was an instrument dealer in London, named the violin "Dolphin" as its striking appearance and colour of its back reminded him of a dolphin. Stradivarius 1715 violin " Joachim " This is one of the five 1715 violins once owned by the famed Hungarian violinist, Joseph Joachim (1831-1907). This violin was later bequeathed to Joachim's great-niece Adela d'Aranyi, who was a violinist and a pupil of Joachim. Therefore, the violin is also known as "Joachim-Aranyi". This violin had since remained in the same family until Nippon Music Foundation acquired the instrument. Stradivarius 1716 violin " Booth " In 1855, this violin was owned by Madame Booth, an English lady who acquired this violin for her son, Otto Booth. In 1931, the violin passed into the hands of Mischa Mischakoff (1896-1981), a celebrated American violinist. In 1961, this violin became a part of the Hottinger Collection in New York. Stradivarius 1717 violin " Sasserno " The name of this violin is taken from a French owner in 1845, Comte de Sasserno. In 1894, it was acquired by a violinist Otto Peiniger, who in turn sold it to Pickering Phipps, owner of a well-known brewery in England.In 1906, this violin was passed into the hands of an English industrialist John Summers and was well-preserved in his family for 93 years. Stradivarius 1721 violin " Lady Blunt " Once owned by Lady Anne Blunt, the daughter of the Earl of Lovelace and granddaughter of the famous poet Byron, the instrument bears the name. The freshness of preservation is outstanding, deserving to rank with 1716 "Le Messiah" at the Ashmolean Museum, and 1690 "Tuscan". The original beck and bass bar are preserved. The initials P.S. in the pegbox were inscribed by Paolo, Antonio Stradivari's son. Stradivarius 1722 violin " Jupiter " This violin has been in caring hands who appreciated its quality, and therefore it is a well-preserved example of Stradivaris work. It is believed that a great English collector James Goding named the violin "Jupiter" in the early 1800s. For a period of time, this instrument was performed by the world acclaimed Japanese violinist Midori Goto (1971- ). Stradivarius 1725 violin " Wilhelmj " The name of this violin is derived from a German violinist August Wilhelmj(1845-1908), who came to possess this instrument in 1866. This violin was Wilhelmjfs favorite among many precious violins he owned. After 30 years of playing this instrument, Wilhelmj sold this violin to his pupil in America as he made the decision to "quit when at my best". Stradivarius 1736 violin " Muntz " The label attached to this instrument bears an inscription, "92 years old", handwritten by Stradivari himself. It has a first class reputation for its excellent condition and tonal quality. This violin takes its name from a famous collector and amateur violinist, H.M.Muntz of Birmingham, England, who owned this violin in the late 1800s. This is one of the last instruments made by Stradivari, who passed away in 1737. Stradivarius 1696 cello "Lord Aylesford" This cello was once owned by an amateur player, Lord Aylesford of England, who acquired it in early 1780s from the famous Italian violinist Felice de Giardini (1716-1796). It was retained in the Aylesford family for almost 100 years since then, hence named gLord Aylesfordh. Later, this cello went into the hands of the renowned cellist Gregor Piatigorsky (1903-1976) in Philadelphia. During the years between 1950 and 1965, an internationally acclaimed cellist, Janos Starker (1924- ), played this cello in numerous concerts and made 35 recordings. Professor Starker is one of the members of Nippon Music Foundationfs Instrument Loan Committee. Stradivarius 1730 cello " Feuermann " This cello is known for its relatively long and narrow shape of body. From 1934, it was owned by an Austrian cellist, Emmanuel Feuermann (1902-1942), who was acclaimed as one of the greatest cellists in the world. Feuermann performed throughout the world and recorded with this cello, hence the name "Feuermann". In 1956, it passed into the hands of a distinguished cellist in Brazil, Aldo Parisot. Guarneri del Gesu 1736 violin " Muntz " This violin is also known as "Muntz" from its ownership by the same Muntz family as the 1736 Stradivarius violin. Since Nippon Music Foundation owns two "Muntz" violins both made in 1736, the Foundation held a duo recital in July 2000 to compare the sound of the two instruments. Guarneri del Gesu "Muntz" was performed by Pavel Berman of Russia, while Stradivarius "Muntz" was performed by Tomoko Kato of Japan. Guarneri del Gesu 1740 violin "Ysaye" This violin bears the name "Ysaye" from the Belgian violinist Eugene Ysaye (1858-1931), who inspired Queen Elisabeth of Belgium to establish The Queen Elisabeth Competition (originally called Eugene Ysaye International Competition) in 1937. Inside the violin is an inscription written in French with red ink, "This Del Gesu was the faithful companion of my career. Ysaye 1928". The violin took part in the procession of Ysaye's State funeral being carried on a pillow in front of the virtuoso's coffin. From 1965, the violin was owned by the world virtuoso violinist Isaac Stern (1920-2001), from whom the Foundation acquired in 1998. At present, this violin is on loan to Pinchas Zukerman (1948- ), one of the foremost violinist of the 20th-21th century. Photo by S. Yokoyama Copyright 2010 by Nippon Music Foundation. All rights reserved.