$4,500.00
A German Viola from Ernst Heinrich Roth, 1955. 17”
There are few places in the world with a historic tradition of violin making as long and rich as the Saxon town of Markneukirchen, stretching back to the mid 17th century and to the formation of the first associated guilds. In the same way that Chinese instruments have flooded the marketplace today and set a standard for entry level commercial instruments, 19th century making in Markneukirchen flourished and fueled the expansion of the classical music industry. By the end of the 19th century, Markneukirchen alone produced upwards of two hundred thousand violins for worldwide export annually, half of which were bound for the United States.
This 17” viola has been professionally played for decades and was made on a pattern after Antonio Stradivari, a 1700 model that boasts both original brand stamps and internal label; crafted in 1955, just two years after the Ernst Heinrich Roth firm relocated to Bubenruth as a result of communist rule after WWII. It features a high quality medium grained spruce top with tight, pronounced flamed maple from the alps for the back, with matching selections for the ribs and scroll. It demonstrates delicate fluting and well executed purfling close to the edge, finished in an attractive golden brown varnish of pleasing translucence. It is remarkably responsive to changes in pressure and articulation; highly resonant, with a well balanced palette of equal brilliance and depth. This viola is 65 years old and in a good state of preservation, less some typical varnish wear from heavy use, and is currently set up with Vision strings and a Jargar ‘A’. At just $3,500, this viola is certainly worthy of trial from any discerning player who would typically expect to spend significantly more to satisfy their needs.
Ernst Heinrich Roth I (1877-1948) was well versed as a musician and studied under several violin makers across Europe, including his father, Gustav Robert Roth, who established the family workshop in 1873. In 1902 at the age of 25 he started his own firm with his cousin, Gustav August Ficker and was producing 13 grades of violins just two decades later.
This 17” viola has been professionally played for decades and was made on a pattern after Antonio Stradivari, a 1700 model that boasts both original brand stamps and internal label; crafted in 1955, just two years after the Ernst Heinrich Roth firm relocated to Bubenruth as a result of communist rule after WWII. It features a high quality medium grained spruce top with tight, pronounced flamed maple from the alps for the back, with matching selections for the ribs and scroll. It demonstrates delicate fluting and well executed purfling close to the edge, finished in an attractive golden brown varnish of pleasing translucence. It is remarkably responsive to changes in pressure and articulation; highly resonant, with a well balanced palette of equal brilliance and depth. This viola is 65 years old and in a good state of preservation, less some typical varnish wear from heavy use, and is currently set up with Vision strings and a Jargar ‘A’. At just $3,500, this viola is certainly worthy of trial from any discerning player who would typically expect to spend significantly more to satisfy their needs.
Ernst Heinrich Roth I (1877-1948) was well versed as a musician and studied under several violin makers across Europe, including his father, Gustav Robert Roth, who established the family workshop in 1873. In 1902 at the age of 25 he started his own firm with his cousin, Gustav August Ficker and was producing 13 grades of violins just two decades later.