Reviews

Monograph of the Antonio Stradivari Cello c.1690 ‘Barjansky’ Ed. Jost Thöne

392PP ISBN 9783000662034 JOST THÖNE VERLAG €890 (LIBRARY) €1,690 (DELUXE)

One is seldom treated to a book that caters to the needs of both the amateur enthusiast and the most experienced collector. It could certainly be argued that Jost Thöne’s latest publication does just that. He has laid out in detail the history of this instrument (named after Russian cellist Serge Barjansky) and its restorations up to recent owners such as Julian Lloyd Webber. By no means just a pretty picture book, from start to finish it contains highly valuable original research contributions from an array of makers, researchers, restorers and experts in the fields surrounding lutherie. Of particular value are the detailed illustrations and side-by-side explanations on such matters as the spectral analysis of the varnish, age of the wood, and CT-scanned views of the instrument: all relatively recent innovations. In particular, the inclusion of these scans is what sets this book apart from previous literature, treating readers to a non-invasive look inside the cello.

While certain theories and terminologies may be a challenge for the novice to grasp, the book is still something of a trendsetter as a monograph devoted to bringing all the available scientific methods of analysis to a wider audience. Much literature of this type tends to be either too academic or simplistic, often glossing over important historical aspects. Here we have a research piece that is both concise and meticulous, and there is also a website of accompanying content with developing features.