Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume

Jean Baptiste Vuillaume (October 7 1798 – March 19 1875) was an illustrious French violin maker. He made over 3,000 instruments and was also a fine businessman and an inventor.

[Le Violon, des hommes, des œuvres, Emmanuel Jaeger, Frédéric Laurent et Jean-Michel Molkhou (CD-Rom), éditions Montparnasse / Accord Parfait, 1997]

Biography

Early life

Born to a Mirecourt family since both his grandfather and his father were engaged in the same trade, Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume arrived in Paris in 1818 to work for François Chanot.In 1821, he joined the workshop of Simon Lété, François-Louis Pique's son-in-law, Rue Pavée St. Sauveur. He became his partner and in 1825 settled in the Rue Croix des Petits-Champs under the name of "Lété et Vuillaume". His first labels are dated 1823.

First period

Beginning in 1827, at the height of the Neo-Gothic period when many artists were drawing their inspiration from 15th and 16th century cathedrals and monuments, and in order to satisfy the demand of virtuosi and amateurs for great 18th century Italian violin makers, he started to imitate old instruments. Some copies were so perfect that, at that time, it was difficult even for a discerning eye to tell the difference.

In 1827, he won a silver medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition. The following year, in 1828, he set his own business at 46 Rue des Petits-Champs and began creating his own models.

Second period

His workshop then became the most important in the capital. Within barely twenty years, it became the leading workshop in Europe. A major factor in his success was doubtless his purchase of 144 instruments made by the most celebrated Italian masters, including 24 Stradivari and the famous "Messiah Stradivarius" presently kept at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford University, from the heirs of an Italian tradesman named Luigi Tarisio, for 80,000 francs in 1855.

Third period

In 1858, in order to avoid paying the capital's custom-duties on his wood imports, he settled Rue Pierre Demours, near the Ternes, which were at that time outside Paris.

He was then at the height of his reputation, having won various gold medals in the Competitions of the popular Paris Universal Exhibitions in 1839, 1844 and 1855, the Council Medal in London in 1851 and, in that same year, the Legion of Honour. His third period, the Golden Period, continued until his death.

Instruments

A maker of more than 3,000 instruments - almost all of which are numbered - and a fine tradesman, Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume was also a gifted inventor as is demonstrated by his research in collaboration with the acoustics expert Savart. As an innovator, he developed many new instruments and mechanisms, most notably a large viola which he called a [http://mediatheque.cite-musique.fr/mediacomposite/cmde/CMDE000001300/images/Contralto_Vuillaume_face_pt.jpg"contralto"] , and the three-string Octobass (1849–51), [ [http://mediatheque.cite-musique.fr/masc/?INSTANCE=CITEMUSIQUE&URL=/mediacomposite/cmde/CMDE000001300/02.htm Octobasse & Contralto @ Cité de la musique] ] a huge double bass standing 3·65 metres high.

He also created the hollow steel bow [ [http://www.renard-music.com/selectficheinstrument.php3?1000263 A hollow steel bow by Jean-Baptiste VUILLAUME, c. 1834] ] (particularly appreciated by Charles de Bériot, among others), and the ‘self-rehairing’ bow. For the latter, the hair purchased in prepared hanks, could be inserted by the player in the time it takes to change a string, and was tightened or loosened by a simple mechanism inside the frog. The frog itself was fixed to the stick, and the balance of the bow thus remained constant when the hair stretched with use.

He also designed a round-edged frog mounted to the butt by means of a recessed track, which he encouraged his bowmakers to use; other details of craft, however, make it possible to identify the actual maker of many Vuillaume bows. The bows are stamped, often rather faintly, either vuillaume à paris or j.b. vuillaume.

Other innovations include the insertion of microfilms in the eye of the frogs of his bows, a kind of mute (the "pédale sourdine") and several machines, including one for manufacturing gut strings of perfectly equal thickness.

Most Great Bow Makers of the 19th century collaborated with his workshop including Jean Pierre Marie Persois, Dominique Peccatte, Nicolas Remy Maire, François Peccatte, Nicolas Maline, Pierre Simon, François Nicolas Voirin, Charles Peccatte, Joseph Fonclause and Jean Joseph Martin are among the most celebrated.

Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume was an innovative violin maker and restorer, and a tradesman who traveled all of Europe in search of instruments. Due to this fact, most instruments by the great Italian violin makers passed through his workshop. Vuillaume then made accurate measurements of their dimensions and made copies of them.

He drew his inspiration from two violin makers: Antonio Stradivari, his favorite violin being the "Le Messie" (Messiah), and Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù and the "Cannone" which belonged to Niccolò Paganini; others such as Maggini, Da Salò and Nicolò Amati were also imitated, but to a lesser extent.

quotation|Jean Baptiste Vuillaume á Paris
rue Croix des Petits Champs

quotation|Jean Baptiste Vuillaume á Paris
3 rue Demours-Ternes

Awards and medals

*In 1827, Silver medal at the National Paris exhibition of the Industrial work.
*In 1834, Silver medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition.
*In 1844 and 1849, Gold medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition.
*In 1851, Council medal at the International London Exhibition.
*In 1855, Gold medal at the Paris International Exhibition.

The Vuillaume family

*Sébastian Vuillaume Nephew of Jean-Baptiste, worked with his uncle during the golden period.
*Claude Vuillaume – The oldest family member, a lute maker
*Charles François Vuillaume (1755-1779 - particularly known for his workmanship and the mellow and responsive tone of his instruments
*Claude François Vuillaume I (born 1730)
*Jean Vuillaume – Grandfather of Jean Baptiste. Apprenticed to Antonio Stradivari. His historicity is disputed as a fabrication of Jean Baptiste who may have been trying to create a mythology of family descendants going far back to Italy.
*Claude François Vuillaume II (1772-1834) - Father of the Jean Baptiste.
*Nicolas Vuillaume (1800-1871) – Second son of Claude François Vuillaume II. Made instruments of ‘trade’ quality.
*Nicolas François Vuillaume (died 1876) – The third son of Claude François Vuillaume II. The most important luthier of the Vuillaume family next only to his brother Jean Baptist.
*Joseph François Vuillaume (1804-1856) – Worked in Mirecourt, then Paris, and finally Lyon.

Violinists who have played Vuillaume instruments

*Charles Auguste de Bériot (1802-1870)
*Camillo Sivori (1815-1894), played on a Vuillaume copy of Paganini's " Il Cannone" (which Paganini gave to him).
*Ole Bull (1810-1880)
* Ferdinand David (1810-1873)
*Jean-Delphin Alard (1815 - 1888)
*Henri Vieuxtemps (1820-1881) c.1874 (now known as ex-Vieuxtemps)
*Jules Garcin (1830-1896) copy of "Le Messie" (Messiah) Stradivari 1868 without number.
*Joseph Joachim (1831-1907)
* [http://www.cozio.com/Owner.aspx?id=6029 Sophie Humler] (1842- ?) ex- Sophie Humler copy of Stradivari 1863
*Eugène Ysaÿe (1858-1931)
* Josef Suk (1874–1935)
*Jacques Thibaud (1880-1953)
*Jack Benny (1894-1974) now known as the ex - Jack Benny 1845
*Nina Dolce (Georgina Springer) (1897-d.?) ex- Hamma 1828
*Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962)
*Efrem Zimbalist (1889 - 1985)
*Naoum Blinder (1889 - 1965) ex-Blinder 1845-50
*Toscha Seidel (1899-1962) copy of the Alard Strad 1860 (now known as ex-Seidel)
*Louis Kaufman (1905-1994) copy of "La Pucelle" Stradivari #1489 c.1839
*Nathan Posner (collector Beverly Hills, California) ex-Chimay viola 1865 and ex-Sophie Humler 1863
*Pierre Fournier (1906-1986) ex- 'Count Doria' cello 1863
*Ruggiero Ricci (1918)
* [http://www.cozio.com/Owner.aspx?id=6032 Adolph F. Schrader] (Chicago), American, Violinist played on the ex- Garcin 1868 also another Strad copy of 1860 #2390
*Henryk Szeryng (1918-1988) Messiah Strad copy which he gave to Prince Sovereign Rainier III of Monaco
*Isaac Stern (1920-2001) A copy of the "Stern, ex Panette" Guarneri del Gesu of 1737 (circa 1850) also ex-Nicolas I of 1840
*Arthur Grumiaux (1921-1986) 1866 (now known as ex-Grumiaux )
* [http://www.myspace.com/josefhassid Josef Hassid] (1926-1950) ex-Kreisler (used by Josef Hassid)
*Charlie Haden (1937, Jazz Bassist)
*Patrice Fontanarosa (1942)
*Jean Etienne Drouet (1942-1990) ex- Drouet 1827 No.73" and labelled "Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis Faciebat Anno 1706"
*Pinchas Zukerman (1948) [http://www.cozio.com/Instrument.aspx?id=9148 Vuillaume Guarneri copy]
*Young-Uck Kim ex-Paganini ; ex Kreisler 1860
*André Rieu (1949)
*Oliver Jaques (Zurich) ex-Nicolas I:ex-Isaac Stern 1840
*John Patitucci (1959, Jazz Bassist)
* Stewart Eaton ( English, Violist) 'Count Doria' viola 1848
* [http://www.marquisviolins.com Barry Hou] ex- [http://www.marquisviolins.com/instrument-violin-vuillaume.zuck.htm Zukerman]
*Ingolf Turban (1964)
*Gennady Filimonov (196?) plays on the ex- Garcin [http://www.cozio.com/Instrument.aspx?id=10865 Vuillaume]
*Cihat Aşkın (1968)
*Michael Jelden (1971)
*Tiffany Wu (1978)
*Hilary Hahn (1979) plays on the ex- Lande of 1864 [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whr25kooJqg Hilary Hahn plays her Vuillaume on Danish TV]
*Catherine Manoukian (1981), plays on the ex-Ysaÿe Vuillaume
*Myvanwy Ella Penny (1984)
* [http://www.nemanja-radulovic.com Nemanja Radulovic] (1985) plays a J.B. Vuillaume violin from 1843.
*Pierre Fouchenneret (1985)

See also

*Luthiers
*List of violinists
*Karl Rudolf König

References

*The Hill Collection of Musical Instruments, David D. Boyden, Oxford University Press, London, 1969
*
*Les Edition Montparnasse

*Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, un luthier français, Evelyne Bonetat et Edith Orlando, Amis du vieux Mirecourt-Regain, Mirecourt, 1998.

*Jean Baptiste Vuillaume:His Life and Work - David Sackson VSA Vol V No 4

*"Jean Baptiste Vuillaume and his Master Workmen, Part IV", Harvey S. Whistler, Violins & Violinists Magazine, January, 1948.

*Les violons de maître Vuillaume, Frédéric Laurent, 1998.

*Le quatuor Stradivarius Nicolo Paganini Claude Lebet, Les Amis de la Musique, Spa, 1994.

*Colloque historique, 1ère rencontre de Mirecourt des 9 et 10 mai 1998, Edith Orlando, Amis du musée de la Lutherie et de l'Archèterie française, Mirecourt, 1998.

*Les archets de Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, Jean-François Raffin, Groupe des luthiers et archetiers d'art de France ; Association des luthiers et archetiers pour le développement de la facture instrumentale, France 1998.

*Violons, Vuillaume, Cité de la musique, Musée de la musique, Paris, 1998.

*Le Violon, des hommes, des œuvres, Emmanuel Jaeger, Frédéric Laurent et Jean-Michel Molkhou (CD-Rom), éditions Montparnasse / Accord Parfait, 1997.
*Les Luthiers Parisiens aux XIX et XX siecles Tom 3 "Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume et sa famille : Nicolas, Nicolas-François et Sébastien" by Sylvette Milliot published by Edition les Amis des la Musique 2006
*Jost Thöne / Stephan-Peter Greiner, S.-P. Greiner: Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, Bildband mit originalgrossen Abbildungen, Bocholt 1998.
*Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume - Violins and Violinists Series of Violin Makers published by William Lewis and Son
*"Les Trésors de la Lutherie Française du XIXe siècle", Paris c 1992
*The Reminiscences of a Fiddle Dealer by David Laurie
* New Grove Dictionary - DAVID CHARLTON
*Encyclopedia of the Violin - Alberto Bachmann
*A. Dandelot: La Société des concerts du Conservatoire (1828–1923) (Paris, 1898)
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=qCvVwtB38XcC&pg=PA134-IA1&lpg=PA134-IA1&dq=Jules+Garcin&source=web&ots=J87dZOkEYB&sig=2XKBnMYhsQVbOxmzUYfc8hR34xY&hl=en The Société Des Concerts Du Conservatoire, 1828-1967 ]
*C. Pierre: Le Conservatoire national de musique et de déclamation (Paris, 1900), 760
*E. Hondré, ed.: Le Conservatoire de Paris: regards sur une institution et son histoire (Paris, 1995)
*W.E. Hill & Sons, Antonio Stradivari: His Life & Work
* “Salabue” Strad - monograph
*Violins & Violinists- Farga
*Antonio Stradivari – Henley
*Violin Iconography of Antonio Stradivari - Hebert K. Goodkind
*How Many Strads – E. Doring
*Antonio Stradivari - Charles Beare

Quotes

"Jean Baptiste was born in Mirecourt, where he worked until he was 19. He then went to Paris where the influence of François Chanot led him to approach violin making in a scientific manner. This led to his study of acoustics, analyses of varnishes, and to experimentation of various kinds. He won many prizes and achieved recognition as the greatest technical genius of his time, surpassed in French violin making only by Nicholas Lupot." - Smithsonian Institution

"As to the numbering system, for the most part, his instruments were numbered. But the very fine copies especially those of 'Le Messie' Strad, Guarneri Del Gesu 'Canon' and Del Gesu 'David'(which Ferdinand David owned) and Maggini are without Number(s).

According to Doring's tabulation (made between 1947-1961), there were at least 78 instruments Vuillaume made (between 1830's to 1874) which were not recorded by number, and are outstanding and magnificent" - [http://www.filimonovfineviolins.tk Filimonov Fine Musical Instruments]

External links

* [http://underzerainbow.canalblog.com/albums/black___white/m-Chaumeil.jpg"La petite Fille et l'Octobasse de JB Vuillaume"]
* [http://www.renard-music.com/selectficheinstrument.php3?1000263 A hollow steel bow by Jean-Baptiste VUILLAUME, c. 1834]
* [http://www.tarisio.com/web/archives/public/popwin/pwin2_30052763_0_3.php J.B.Vuillaume 1860 top "Le Messie" Stradivarius copy.]
* [http://www.tarisio.com/web/archives/public/popwin/pwin2_30052763_0_1.php J.B.Vuillaume 1860 back "Le Messie" Stradivarius copy.]
* [http://www.tarisio.com/web/archives/public/popwin/pwin2_30052763_0_2.php J.B.Vuillaume 1860 scroll "Le Messie" Stradivarius copy.]