Giuseppe Fiorini
Encyclopedia
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
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Biography
Fiorini was born at BazzanoBazzano
Bazzano is a comune in the Province of Bologna in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 20 km west of Bologna. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 6,386 and an area of 14.0 km²....
, Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
, the son and pupil of Raffaele
Raffaele Fiorini
Raffaele Fiorini , was an influential Italian violin maker.Innovator. personality and pioneer of the great rebirth of contemporary Bolognese violinmaking, Fiorini was born at Musiano di Pian di Macina di Pianoro near Bologna.He spent his first youth in Bazzano where he learned the first elements of...
:it:Fiorini Raffaele. Having inherited his parents' cultivated propensities in arts and sciences, he built his first instrument at the age of 16. After working in Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, from 1877 to 1888, he moved to Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
where he established the firm "Rieger and Fiorini" (1889–1914). During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he settled in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, returning to his native country in 1923, and settling in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. He was honored with knighthood (Cavaliere) in 1927.
Fiorini died in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
in 1934.
Had many pupils subsequently prominent in Bavaria and Italy, and enjoyed personal friendships with Royalty, opulent patrons of art, and eminent virtuosi in ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
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One of the founders of the German Violin-Makers' Society, and occupied the position of President for several years.
Contributed controversial articles to journals which exhibited all possible erudition coupled with acute reasoning powers. Incessantly examined the violins of the immortal Stradivari, had opportunities of personally handling the diagrams and tools used by that wondrous creator, humbly but hopefully delved into the secrets and came out of the labyrinth into the sunshine of enlightenment. Built 500 violins, 10 violas, and 10 'cellos up to year 1926.
Recipient of the highest medals at Exhibitions in Europe and America. Modeling always in the Stradivarian style, but with an individuality not to be merely exact replicas.
No inaccuracies or fanciful extravagancies whatsoever either exterior or interior. Exquisite contour which affords a perfect harmonisation of curvature. Artistry infallibly guided his hand in the execution of scrolls and sound-holes. Finely transparent reddish and golden varnishes, the whole applied skillfully. His list of known pupils includes Ansaldo PoggiAnsaldo PoggiAnsaldo Poggi was born in Villafontana di Medicina , 9 June 1893 and died in Bologna, 4 September 1984.He demonstrated his talent for the making of stringed instruments at a young age...
, Simone Fernando SacconiSimone Fernando SacconiSimone Fernando Sacconi was an expert Italian violin maker and restorer who studied fellow luthier Antonio Stradivari extensively during his lifetime....
, Paolo Morara and Pietro Messori. – Universal Dictionary of Violin & Bow Makers - William HenleyWilliam HenleyWilliam Henley may refer to:* William Ernest Henley , British poet, critic and author* William Thomas Henley British telegraph engineer and pioneer submarine cable manufacturer...
1970
"Giuseppe Fiorini, son of Raffaele, quickly achieved a solid reputation and today he is certainly considered one of the most important Italian violin makers.
Cremona too should be grateful to this scholar who, after years of essays, bought the rest of Stradivari's workshop (shapes, tools, original drawings, models) and donated them upon the city, in order to form a lutherie school which could bring again Italy at the top of the bow instrument making world. – Il Suono di Bologna
Quotes
Giuseppe, son of Raffaele, approached violinmaking when he was still pretty young. Aged fifteen made his first violin. Opened his own violin atelier in via Santo Stefano and soon obtained good mentions at various exhibits.
He won a prize at the Milano Exhibition of 1888, and the same year received the 'Gran medaglia d'oro' at the International Music Exhibition of Bologna. Having married Rieger's daughter, founder of the famous music firm in Munich, he soon left Bologna and quickly well established himself also in Germany, so that he was elected President of German Violin Maker's Association, and then he became the leader at Riegers.
In 1915 he moved to ZurichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
and lived there up to 1923, when he came back to Italy, moving to Rome. Unfortunately starting from 1925 his sight became weaker and weaker up to become almost blind. In 1920 he bought from the Marchesa dalla Valle di Pomaro what remained of Antonio Stradivari's workshop, that is from direct heirs of the count Cozio di Salabue, then he donated the whole quite valuable collection to the City of CremonaCremonaCremona is a city and comune in northern Italy, situated in Lombardy, on the left bank of the Po River in the middle of the Pianura Padana . It is the capital of the province of Cremona and the seat of the local City and Province governments...
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Great personality of the international violin world, and innovator of the technical and esthetics aspects of the profession, among his Italian pupils we list Ansaldo PoggiAnsaldo PoggiAnsaldo Poggi was born in Villafontana di Medicina , 9 June 1893 and died in Bologna, 4 September 1984.He demonstrated his talent for the making of stringed instruments at a young age...
, Paolo Morara, Turcke Bebie, Giuseppe Castagnino, Pietro Messori and Arrigo Tivoli-Fiorini. – Notes from Il Suono di Bologna Sound of Bologna
Guiseppe Fiorini was amongst the best of the violinmakers working in Italy during the beginning of the 20th century. He was part of a renaissance of violinmaking in Italy which, before then, was nearly a lost art. – Christopher Reuning
Considered one of Italy's great masters of the 20th century. – Gennady Filimonov