Guarneri is the family name of a group of highly acclaimed violin makers (luthiers) from Cremona in Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries, whose standing is considered comparable to those of the Amati and Stradivari families. A violin The violin is a bowed stringed musical instrument that has four strings tuned a perfect fifth apart. ... An engravers impression of Antonio Stradivari examining an instrument. ... This article is about the city of Cremona. ... Amati is the name of a family of Italian violin-makers, who flourished at Cremona from about 1550 to 1740. ... Antonio Stradivari (1644? - December 18, 1737) was an Italian luthier (maker of violins and other stringed instruments), the most prominent member of that profession. ...

• Andrea Guarneri (c. 1626 - December 7, 1698) was an apprentice in the workshop of Nicolo Amati from 1641 to 1646 and returned to make violins for Amati from 1650 to 1654. His early instruments are generally based on the "Grand Amati" pattern but struggled to achieve the sophistication of Amati's own instruments. Andrea Guarneri produced some fine violas, one of which was played by William Primrose.

Two of Andrea's sons continued the father's traditions: Events September 30 - Nurhaci, chieftain of the Jurchens and founder of the Qing Dynasty dies and is succeeded by his son Hong Taiji. ... December 7 is the 341st day (342nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events January 4 - Palace of Whitehall in London is destroyed by fire. ... Amati is the name of a family of Italian violin-makers, who flourished at Cremona from about 1550 to 1740. ... Events The Long Parliament passes a series of legislation designed to contain Charles Is absolutist tendencies. ... // Events The Westminster Confession of Faith Ongoing events Wars of the Three Kingdoms, including the English Civil War (1642-1649) Births February 4 - Hans Erasmus Aßmann, Freiherr von Abschatz, German statesman and poet (d. ... // Events June 23 - Claimant King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland arrives in Scotland, the only of the three Kingdoms that has accepted him as ruler. ... Events April 5 - Signing of the Treaty of Westminster, ending the First Anglo-Dutch War. ... William Primrose (August 23, 1903 - May 1, 1982) was a Scottish violist and teacher, probably the best known viola player of his time. ...

• Guarneri died poor.

• Pietro Giovanni Guarneri (February 18, 1655 - March 26, 1720), known as Peter of Mantua (Pietro da Mantova) to distinguish him from his nephew Pietro Guarneri. He worked in his father's workshop from around 1670 until his marriage in 1677. He was established in Mantua by 1683, where he worked both as a musician and a violin maker. His instruments are generally finer than his father's, but are rare owing to his double profession. Joseph Szigeti played one of his instruments.

• Andrea's younger son, Giuseppe Giovanni Battista Guarneri (November 25, 1666 - 1739 or 1740), known as filius Andreae, joined his father's business in Cremona, inheriting it in 1698. He is reckoned among the great violin makers, although he struggled to compete with Stradivari, a pervasive presence throughout his career. From around 1715 he was assisted by his sons, and probably Carlo Bergonzi.

Giuseppe Giovanni Battista was father to two further instrument makers: February 18 is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events March 25 - Saturns largest moon, Titan, is discovered by Christian Huygens. ... March 26 is the 85th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (86th in leap years). ... // Events January 6 - The Committee of Inquiry on the South Sea Bubble publishes its findings February 11 - Sweden and Prussia sign the (2nd Treaty of Stockholm) declaring peace. ... 1670 was a common year beginning on a Saturday in countries using the Julian calendar and a Wednesday in countries using the Gregorian calendar. ... Events First performance of Racines tragedy, Phèdre Sarah Churchill marries John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough Battle of Cassel, Philippe I of Orléans defeats William of Orange Mary II of England marries William of Orange English Statute of frauds is passed into law Battle of Landskrona Elias... Mantua (in Italian Mantova, in the local dialect of Emiliano-Romagnolo language Mantua) is an important city in Lombardy, Italy and capital of the province with the same name. ... Joseph Szigeti (September 5, 1892 – February 19, 1973) was a Hungarian violinist. ... November 25 is the 329th (in leap years the 330th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1666 is often called Annus Mirabilis. ... // About the number 1739 1739 is the smallest integer that can be written as sum of three perfect cubes, in two ways. ... Events May 31 - Friedrich II comes to power in Prussia upon the death of his father, Friedrich Wilhelm I. October 20 - Maria Theresia of Austria inherits the Habsburg hereditary dominions (Austria, Bohemia, Hungary and present-day Belgium). ...

• Pietro Guarneri (Peter of Venice or Pietro da Venezia) (born April 14, 1695 - April 7, 1762), moved to Venice around 1720 and adopted Venetian techniques into his own violin making. His instruments are rare and highly regarded. One of his cellos was played by Beatrice Harrison.

• Bartolomeo Giuseppe Guarneri (del Gesù), also known as Joseph (August 21, 1698 - October 17, 1744), has been called the finest violin maker of the Amati line. Giuseppe is known as del Gesù because his labels always incorporated the characters I.H.S. (iota-eta-sigma) and a Roman cross. His instruments deviated significantly from family tradition, becoming uniquely his own style, and are considered second in quality only to those of Stradivari and argued by some to be superior. The famed violin virtuoso Niccolò Paganini’s favorite instrument Cannone Guarnerius was a Guarneri del Gesù violin of 1743, and the "Lord Wilton" Guarneri del Gesù violin made in 1742 was owned by Yehudi Menuhin. Twentieth-century players who used his instruments included Corey Cerovsek, Arthur Grumiaux, Jascha Heifetz, Leonid Kogan, Isaac Stern and Henryk Szeryng.

The Guarneri family's history may be somewhat uncertain. One Guarneri source says, "Giuseppe del Gesù and Peter of Venice may have been cousins rather than brothers, and Peter of Venice may have been the son of Peter of Mantua." April 14 is the 104th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (105th in leap years). ... Events January 27 - Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire from Ahmed II to Mustafa II (1695-1703) July 17 - The Bank of Scotland is founded by an Act of Parliament of the old Scottish Parliament. ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... 1762 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Bartolomeo Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù (August 21, 1698 - October 17, 1744), more commonly known as Joseph Guarneri, is the only violin maker to rival Antonio Stradivari in the respect accorded to his instruments. ... August 21 is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events January 4 - Palace of Whitehall in London is destroyed by fire. ... October 17 is the 290th (in leap years the 291st) day of the year according to the Gregorian calendar. ... // Events The third French and Indian War, known as King Georges War, breaks out at Port Royal, Nova Scotia The First Saudi State founded by Mohammed Ibn Saud Prague occupied by Prussian armies Ongoing events War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) Births January 10 - Thomas Mifflin, fifth President... Niccolò Paganini Niccolò (or Nicolò) Paganini, (October 27, 1782 – May 27, 1840) was an Italian violinist, violist, guitarist and composer. ... The Cannone Guarnerius is a famous violin made by Italian luthier Giuseppe Antonio Guarnieri. ... // Events February 14 - Henry Pelham becomes British Prime Minister February 21 - - The premiere in London of George Frideric Handels oratorio, Samson. ... Yehudi Menuhin album cover Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE (April 22, 1916 – March 12, 1999) was a Jewish-born, American violinist and conductor who spent most of his performing career in the United Kingdom and eventually became a British citizen. ... Arthur Grumiaux (March 21, 1921–October 16, 1986) was a Belgian violinist who was also proficient in piano. ... Jascha Heifetz Jascha Heifetz (February 2, 1901 – December 10, 1987) was a violinist, often proclaimed as one of the greatest of all time and the most famous of the 20th century. ... Leonid Borisovitch Kogan (14 November 1924 - 17 November 1982) was a violin virtuoso. ... Isaac Stern (July 21, 1920 – September 22, 2001) is widely considered one of the finest violin virtuosi of the twentieth century. ... Henryk Szeryng (September 22, 1918 – March 8, 1988) was a Polish-born Mexican violinist. ...

External links

• Guarneri family web page, violins, violin labels
• Guarneri web site
• The Violin Site - Violin Making