Our Ethos: From Forest To Stage
Our team wanted to use our skills and expertise, honed over many years of craftsmanship, to create a hand made range of violins, violas and cellos for the discerning player looking for a great sound, ultimate playability and practicality.
We believe instruments are beautifully crafted machines that work for us and should be able to provide longevity, stability and predictability. Structurally sound instruments which are expertly set up will deliver these features.
We have great respect for the old Masters and the principles of making developed in the golden age of Cremonese making. But we also believe that a new instrument, constructed with precision and engineered for the rigours of modern playing can offer as much, if not more, for our customers of today.
Everyone is looking for even tone, a well balanced sound, warmth, playability and predictability. We can deliver this without the usual price tag of an artisan hand made instrument by an individual maker, without compromising on design or craftsmanship.
We have been working behind the scenes for two years to make this dream a reality. The dream is realised in a Brazenose Violin.
We believe instruments are beautifully crafted machines that work for us and should be able to provide longevity, stability and predictability. Structurally sound instruments which are expertly set up will deliver these features.
We have great respect for the old Masters and the principles of making developed in the golden age of Cremonese making. But we also believe that a new instrument, constructed with precision and engineered for the rigours of modern playing can offer as much, if not more, for our customers of today.
Everyone is looking for even tone, a well balanced sound, warmth, playability and predictability. We can deliver this without the usual price tag of an artisan hand made instrument by an individual maker, without compromising on design or craftsmanship.
We have been working behind the scenes for two years to make this dream a reality. The dream is realised in a Brazenose Violin.
Our Greatest Strength is Our Team
We are a small team of dedicated luthiers, passionate about making, varnishing and setting up. We are a team of professionally trained violin makers and players, with complimentary skills and specialisms which we have combined to bring these lovely instruments to the market.
Our instruments are made in Europe by a team of highly trained and experienced violin makers working in a professional workshop at the foot of the forest where the wood for the instruments grows.
Our instruments are therefore unique in being traced from forest to stage, with every stage of the process being controlled and managed by us.
Our instruments are made in Europe by a team of highly trained and experienced violin makers working in a professional workshop at the foot of the forest where the wood for the instruments grows.
Our instruments are therefore unique in being traced from forest to stage, with every stage of the process being controlled and managed by us.
Libby Summers, violinist, violin maker |
Nigel Melfi,
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Charlotte McAuliffe,
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The name Brazenose Violins comes from our founding shop, Stamford Strings, which was on St Leonard's Street in Stamford. Just down the road is Brazenose Lane and Brazenose Gate. The University of Stamford was an academic institution founded in 1333 in Stamford, Lincolnshire, by a group of students and tutors from the University of Oxford, including Merton College and Brazenose Hall.
After lobbying by the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, King Edward III suppressed the institution in 1335 and the tutors and scholars were returned to Oxford. All Oxford graduates until the 1820s were required to take an oath not to lecture in Stamford.
The only name on the list of scholars at the inquisition in 1335 given further description is "Philippus le manciple atte Brasenose". Leach and Madan take this to mean that a Brasenose Hall existed in Stamford as part of the nascent university; presumably formed by scholars from Brasenose Hall, Oxford, whose site would later become Brasenose College, Oxford.
Leach identifies this hall with a building known as Brazenose Hall, or "The College" in Stamford, though there is no other evidence of use of this name before 1559. The original medieval building was demolished in 1688, leaving a gate identified as dating from the early 14th century and bearing an ancient brass knocker. It was replaced with a house known as Brazenose Hall, which became the town workhouse before being demolished in 1822. The site, including the gate, then became the garden of the adjoining early 18th-century house, which took on the name "Brazenose House".
In 1890, Brasenose College, Oxford purchased the house in order to obtain the knocker. The knocker, which was assessed as dating from the 12th century, was removed from the gate and is now mounted above the high table in the college's dining hall in Oxford; a replica was placed on the gateway in Stamford in 1961.
The site, including the 18th-century house, was leased for a time to the private Brazenose School for Girls, then in 1929 was purchased by Stamford School and became part of the school site, giving its name to one of the school's senior houses. The "Site of Brazenose College" is a scheduled monument and the gate and retaining walls of the college are Grade I listed.
After lobbying by the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, King Edward III suppressed the institution in 1335 and the tutors and scholars were returned to Oxford. All Oxford graduates until the 1820s were required to take an oath not to lecture in Stamford.
The only name on the list of scholars at the inquisition in 1335 given further description is "Philippus le manciple atte Brasenose". Leach and Madan take this to mean that a Brasenose Hall existed in Stamford as part of the nascent university; presumably formed by scholars from Brasenose Hall, Oxford, whose site would later become Brasenose College, Oxford.
Leach identifies this hall with a building known as Brazenose Hall, or "The College" in Stamford, though there is no other evidence of use of this name before 1559. The original medieval building was demolished in 1688, leaving a gate identified as dating from the early 14th century and bearing an ancient brass knocker. It was replaced with a house known as Brazenose Hall, which became the town workhouse before being demolished in 1822. The site, including the gate, then became the garden of the adjoining early 18th-century house, which took on the name "Brazenose House".
In 1890, Brasenose College, Oxford purchased the house in order to obtain the knocker. The knocker, which was assessed as dating from the 12th century, was removed from the gate and is now mounted above the high table in the college's dining hall in Oxford; a replica was placed on the gateway in Stamford in 1961.
The site, including the 18th-century house, was leased for a time to the private Brazenose School for Girls, then in 1929 was purchased by Stamford School and became part of the school site, giving its name to one of the school's senior houses. The "Site of Brazenose College" is a scheduled monument and the gate and retaining walls of the college are Grade I listed.