Amati

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This article is about the Amati family of violin makers. For the automobile marque, see Mazda.

Amati is the name of a family of Italian violin makers, who flourished at Cremona from about 1550 to 1740.

Andrea Amati (before 1511 – before 1580) was the earliest maker of violins whose instruments still survive today. Indeed he seems more or less responsible for giving the instruments of the modern violin family their definitive profile. A small number of his instruments survive, dated between the years of 1564 and 1574 and most bearing the coat of arms of Charles IX of France.

Andrea Amati was succeeded by his sons Antonio Amati (born c. 1540) and Girolamo Amati (1561–1630). The "brothers Amati", as they were known, implemented far-reaching innovations in design, including the perfection of the shape of the soundhole. They are also thought to have pioneered the modern alto format of viola, in contrast to older tenor violas.

Niccolò Amati (December 3, 1596 – April 12, 1684) was the son of Girolamo Amati. He was the most eminent of the family. He improved the model adopted by the rest of the Amatis and produced instruments capable of yielding greater power of tone. His pattern was usually small, but he also made a wider model now known as the "Grand Amati", which have become his most sought-after violins.

Of his pupils, the most famous were Antonio Stradivari and Andrea Guarneri, the first of the Guarneri family of violin makers.

The last maker of the family was Nicolo's son, Girolamo Amati, known as Hieronymus II (February 26, 1649 – February 21, 1740). Although he improved on the arching of his father's instruments, by and large they are inferior and no match for the greatest maker of his day, Antonio Stradivari.

1 Trivia
2 See also
3 External links
4 References

[edit] Trivia

The girls in the anime "Gunslinger Girl" use Amati instrument cases to carry their firearms to avoid suspicion.

Chicago violinist Rachel Barton was badly injured when the strap of the case holding her Amati violin was caught in a railing as she exited a Metra commuter train. Barton was dragged over 300 feet and lost the use of her legs. During the ensuing litigation, the argument was made by Metra attorney Barry Montgomery that Barton could have let go of the strap, but did not want to risk losing the violin.