Violoncello da Spalla Podcast

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Are you a luthier interested in making a Violoncello da Spalla?
In the archive of this newsletter I documented the whole process, sharing measures and templates. You can check the index and some of the posts at this link, and if you subscribe to a payed plan you have instant access to all the posts and to a private chat where you can ask me any question.
https://violoncellodaspalla.substack.com/t/how-its-made



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit violoncellodaspalla.substack.com/subscribe

A video of the day we closed the soundbox of our latest Violoncello da Spalla, from morning to sunset. We are following a checklist, free to download at this link:
https://violoncellodaspalla.substack.com/p/how-its-made-part-12-checklist
The background music for this video is from a live exhibition of us from almost two years ago. It’s the sonata “L’Inconnue” by Michel de La Barre.
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Our customer Wenhan Jiang released this beautiful video this week:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVRYS2piF1b/?igsh=b3diMGI4eml4cnI3
Violoncello da Spalla Daniela Gaidano 2023
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Are you a luthier interested in making a Violoncello da Spalla?
In the archive of this newsletter I documented the whole process, sharing measures and templates. You can check the index and some of the posts at this link, and if you subscribe to a payed plan you have instant access to all the posts and to a private chat where you can ask me any question.



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit violoncellodaspalla.substack.com/subscribe

We’ll be exhibiting in London again! On February 8th, in Kings Place, London, we’ll be exhibiting at the British Violin Makers Association Makers Day. Book your flight now and take the opportunity to try a Violoncello da Spalla, the special treat of a holiday in one of the most interesting towns in the world, rich in history and fabulous museums.
Are you a luthier interested in making a Violoncello da Spalla?
In the archive of this newsletter I documented the whole process, sharing measures and templates. You can check the index and some posts at this link, and if you subscribe to a paid plan, you have instant access to all posts and a private chat where you can ask me any question.



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit violoncellodaspalla.substack.com/subscribe

This video above is part of a long chat I recently had with Els, violist, viola d’amore and now da spalla player. Last June she acquired one of my Violoncello da Spalla, and this call was part a trouble-shooting talk (I already published a small clip about straightening the bridge) and a catching-up on how things were going after 6 months, and at the eve of her first concert with the Violoncello da Spalla.
After a brief introduction, Els tells us how she first got in touch with the Violoncello da Spalla through baroque cellist Hervé Douchy, and how later she got in touch with us. I then ask her about the first reactions she got and we discuss the role of the spalla as a continuo. She shares with us her practicing routine, her little obsession with playing fast spiccato notes (and her tricks to achieve that), and how everything came out easier at her first rehearsal with the group. Her first concert will be in an ensemble formed by viola d’amore, Violoncello da Spalla and theorbo. We discuss the repertoire she is working on and her strings set up, plus other technique tricks she’s practicing.
We then indulged in a long conversation about Sergey Malov, the strings he uses (I had a video coming from him on my WhatsApp just the day before) and the fantastic experience of attending one of his concerts. Finally, back to troubleshooting again, we discussed wolf notes: exercises to get rid of them, tips to avoid them while playing and how to get rid of them forever. But remember: all good instruments have wolf notes!!
We’ll be exhibiting in London again! On February 8th, in Kings Place, London, we’ll be exhibiting at the British Violin Makers Association Makers Day. Book your flight now and take the opportunity to try a Violoncello da Spalla, the special treat of a holiday in one of the most interesting towns in the world, rich in history and fabulous museums.
Are you a luthier interested in making a Violoncello da Spalla?
In the archive of this newsletter I documented the whole process, sharing measures and templates. You can check the index and some posts at this link, and if you subscribe to a paid plan, you have instant access to all posts and a private chat where you can ask me any question.



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit violoncellodaspalla.substack.com/subscribe

Last October in Brescia we attended a concert by Sergey Malov. We arrived early, but a cue was already formed at the entrance. We were lucky to have reserved sits for us, because many people had to renounce, it was already full. the concert was in a library from the baroque period, the Biblioteca Queriniana, a very special venue.
We were sitting in the first row, and I recorded the video above with my iPhone. The acoustic was beautiful but dry, and Sergey didn’t employ any effects, amp, or any other trick than his musicality and practicing. No editing. This video is really like those taken from a phone on the stand of the player.
Is it poor? Do you feel the sound of the Violoncello da Spalla is not making justice of those remarkable pieces of music? do you feel it out of place?
Updates from our workshop
The four of us are hard at work these days!
We’ll be exhibiting in London again! On February the 8th, in Kings Place London, we’ll be exhibiting at the British Violin Makers Association Makers Day. We’ll probably bring there 3 da spalla cellos by Daniela, plus a violin and a cello by Alessandro, the wonderful cello that you can hear in the video below.
We are grateful to Gianluca Montaruli, principal cello of the Haydn Orchestra in Bolzano, for trying Alessandro’s cello and making this video for us.
Are you a luthier interested in making a Violoncello da Spalla?
In the archive of this newsletter I documented the whole process, sharing measures and templates. You can check the index and some of the posts at this link, and if you subscribe to a payed plan you have instant access to all the posts and to a private chat where you can ask me any question.

We have a new domain! What else could it be if not:
have a look clicking on the button above!



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit violoncellodaspalla.substack.com/subscribe