The Municipal Building houses one of the main Strings Collection in the world. These instruments outline the history of the greatest violin making school ever known, born and developed in Cremona from the first half of the Sixteenth Century to the first half of the Eighteenth Century.

Violin: "Carlo IX di Francia", Andrea Amati, 1566

Viola: "La Stauffer", Antonio and Gerolamo Amati, 1615

Violin:"L'Hammerle", Nicolò Amati, 1658

Violin: "Il Clisbee", Antonio Stradivari, 1669

Violin: Francesco Ruggeri, 1675

Violin: "Il Quarestani", Giuseppe Guarneri (figlio di Andrea), 1689

Cello: "ex Cristiani", Antonio Stradivari, 1700

Violin:"Il Cremonese 1715", Antonio Stradivari,1715

Violin:"Il Vesuvius", Antonio Stradivari, 1727

Violin: "Lo Stauffer", Giuseppe Guarneri (detto del Gesù), 1734

Violin:"Lo Stauffer", Enrico Ceruti, 1868

Violin: Simone Fernando Sacconi, 1941





THE STRINGS OF "PALAZZO COMUNALE" COLLECTION

The violin appeared in the firsthalf of the 16th century, and Andrea Amati was the first Cremonese violin maker to distinguish himself by the construction of stringed instruments. Several weighty considerations lend substantial support to this theory: the fact that Andrea Amati was born in about 1505 puts into perspective the importance attributed to the town of Brescia as the birthplace of the violin due to the work of Gasparo Bortolotti da Salò, who was born in 1540; the group of instruments commissioned by Charles IX of France to Andrea Amati shortly after the middle of the 16th century proves that at that time, when Gasparo da Salò was not much older than twenty, the art of the Cremonese violin maker was known far beyond the Italian borders. Two of Andrea's sons, Antonio e Gerolamo, devoted themselves to violin making and worked in their father's workshop. Nicolò Amati, the son of Gerolamo, made a name for himself in the 17th century, following in his family's footsteps.
From the second half of the 17th century, the most famous violin maker who ever worked in Cremona appeared: Antonio Stradivari. In this way, the greatest masterpieces that the history of violin making has ever known came into being.
A place among the greats of Cremonese violin making is reserved for Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, who, in spite of being about fifty years younger than Stradivari, survived him by only a few years. He is the most famous member of the Guarneri family.
It would be futile to seek in Guarneri del Gesù those refined lines expressed by the Amatis and Stradivari in their works. It is more appropriate to remember that the maestro devoted his attention above all to problems of acoustic character: in instruments of a vigorous line, the responsiveness and especially the acoustic power of the sound, the latter however not detracting in any way from their capacity of penetration and softness.

Andrea Amati
Carlo IX, 1566 c. - violin
This violin was part of a group of instruments constructed for the court of Charles IX of France, the group consisting of small violins, large violins, violas and cellos, and is one of only four violins of the larger format which have survived. The instrument is still in full working order and in superb condition. On the back, considerable traces of the coat of arms of Charles IX are visible. On the ribs, one can still see part of the motto "Pietate et Justitia". The commission in charge of drawing up an expert report in May 1966 expressed itself as follows we recognise the great artistic and historical value of the instrument and conclude that it is suitable under all circumstances». Originally part of the famous Henry Hottinger collection, it passed into the possession of the Wurlitzer Company in New York, was purchased by the Ente Proviciale per il Turismo di Cremona and donated to the town on 25 February 1966.

Antonio and Gerolamo Amati
Stauffer, 1615 - viola
The viola owned by S. H. Danks, leading viola player with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, who sold it to the W. Stauffer Foundation of Cremona in May 1996. It then took its place among the collection of instruments in the Town Hall. To be accurate, the viola was made by Gerolamo, since his brother Antonio died in 1607. All the same, the label also bears Antonio's name, because Gerolamo continued to use the same label throughout his working life. The viola is finely worked and is in an exceptional state of preservation. The varnish is entirely in its original state and is of a splendid golden brown colour. The acoustic quality of the viola is due to the impeccable balance of the tone colours over the four strings.

Nicolò Amati
Hammerle, 1658 - violin
A "grand pattern" violin, this instrument worthily represents the art of Nicolò Amati, who more than three centuries ago took violin making to a remarkable level. A violin of exquisite workmanship, much of the original varnish still intact, it possesses extraordinary acoustic qualities which unmistakably reveal its only possible origin: the prestigious Cremonese school. Originally part of the Theodor Hammerle collection, it was subsequently owned by Henry Hottinger; it then passed to the Wurlitzer Company in New York, from where it was purchased through the initiative of the Ente Provinciale per il Turismo di Cremona with a civic subscription in the autumn of 1966, "A dollar for Nicolò Amati".

Francesco Ruggeri
1675 - violin
Experts consider this violin, on free loan to the City of Cremona, an example of exquisite workmanship and outstanding acoustical qualities. On 27 October 1937, on the occasion of the Stradivari Bicentennial celebrations that took place in Cremona, the violin was examined by an international commission made up of the following members: Fridolin Hamma, Simone Fernando Sacconi, Leandro Bisiach senior, Mario Corti, Ignazio Caporali, Paolo Deschamp, and Max Moller. The commission certified the authenticity of the instrument and defined it a fine example of the work of Francesco Ruggeri known as "Per". An additional certificate of authenticity was issued by Beare's of London on 24 March 2006.

Antonio Stradivari
Clisbee, 1669 - violin
The instrument, donated by Evelyn and Herbert Axelrod, is one of Stradivari's earlier works, showing both a clear reference to the works of Nicolò Amati and Stradivari's own strong personality. The violin is now part of the collection "Gli Archi del Palazzo Comunale di Cremona".

Giuseppe Guarneri (filius Andreae)
Quarestani, 1689 - violin
Attributed, as one can read in the expertise drawn up by John & Arthur Beare Limited of London, to Giuseppe Guarneri, the son of Andrea, the violin, also according to the above expertise, was constructed in his father Andrea's workshop in 1689, as revealed by the original label affixed to the interior of the instrument. This violin is considered a characteristic example of the Cremonese maestro's early period of production, even if, based on this evaluation, the widened fholes have to be excluded. An instrument of fine workmanship, it possesses remarkable acoustic qualities. Excellent woods were selected to make it: maple with a very distinct figure and spruce with a very fine annual ring pattern in the centre; The varnish is of a beautiful orange brown on a lighter ground. The violin belongs to the Municipality of Cremona.

Antonio Stradivari
Cristiani, 1700 - cello
The Walter Stauffer Foundation, on 11 November 2005, purchased the vcello "Cristiani" created by Antonio Stradivari in 1700. It was the fulfilment of a dream of the Foundation President, Paolo Salvelli, that a violoncello be displayed alongside the other celebrated works of the collection "Gli archi di Palazzo Comunale di Cremona". This violoncello completes a ‘quartet' of bowed string instruments (two violins, a viola and a violoncello). The state of preservation of the instrument is exceptional; the strikingly figured maple of the back combines beautifully with the particular quality of the red spruce of the table; all covered with an excellent varnish. The quick response and balance of the four strings place this instrument among the most significant creations of Stradivari. The former name of the instrument refers to the young ‘cellist Lisa Cristiani, who was playing it when Mendelssohn dedicated to her one of his compositions; "Song without Words" op. 109.

Antonio Stradivari
Cremonese, 1715 - violin
We know of just over ten violins constructed by Stradivari in 1715, including the Alard, the Titian, the Emperor, the Bazzini, and the Rode; the one belonging to the Cremona Collection cuts a worthy figure among the best of the group. Il Cremonese is a violin of large format, the beauty of the workmanship being magnified by the particular quality of the wood used by the Cremonese maestro and by the completely original, golden orange varnish. An instrument of extremely generous sonority, also in the less favourable pitch ranges, it displays extraordinary vitality. The balance of timbre is exceptional, from low to high-pitched notes. The G string is especially rich with regard to volume; the capacity for penetration and expansion of the sound of this instrument combines well with an extraordinary readiness of emission of that same sound. Purchased by the Ente Provinciale per il Turismo di Cremona from W. E. Hills & Sons of London in 1961, it was subsequently donated to the town.

Antonio Stradivari
Vesuvius,1727 - violin
In 1977 Remo Lauricella, violinist and composer, during a visit to the collection "Gli Archi del Palazzo Comunale di Cremona", made known to the collection Conservator of his intention to donate, upon his death, his instrument, known as the "Vesuvius" of 1727 by Antonio Stradivari. Lauricella died on 19 January 2003 and the City of Cremona was informed of his decision as registered in a clause of his last will and testament that his violin "Stradivarius Vesuvius" was to be left to the Mayor and the City Council. A campaign of civic solidarity was organised to gather funds to pay the inheritance tax and on 3 November 2005, in London, a Cremonese delegation headed by the Mayor Gian Carlo Corada finally took consignment of the violin.

Giuseppe Guarneri (del Gesù)
1734 - violin
In 1830, the violin belonged to the Italian family Bravi Mazzo; on 22 February 1916, ownership passed to a certain D.Saluzzo. In April 1924, the Hjorth Company of Copenhagen sold it to H. L. Wessel, a resident of the same city. From 1972 to 1977, it was used by the famous violinist Pinchas Zukerman for concerts throughout the world and for numerous recordings. It is one of the best conserved instruments, originating from the Cremonese maestro's second period of production. Made of a beautiful wood, it possesses excellent acoustic qualities; the varnish is of a yellow orange colour on a golden ground. The violin, owned by the Walter Stauffer Musicological Foundation, was bought in April 1980 and placed in the collection "Gli Archi del Palazzo Comunale di Cremona".

Enrico Ceruti
Stauffer, 1868 - violin
Enrico Ceruti, the son and pupil of Giuseppe, was born in Cremona in 1806. He was baptised Riccardo Fabio, but was later nicknamed Enrico. He participated in various exhibitions as well as national and international competitions, winning several prizes. He died in 1883. The violin was purchased by the Walter Stauffer Musicological Centre of Cremona and now forms part of the collection "Gli Archi del Palazzo Comunale di Cremona".

Simone Fernando Sacconi
1941 - violin
This extraordinary violin is extensively illustrated in "Loan Exhibition of Stringed Instruments and Bows" commemorating the seventieth birthday of Simone Fernando Sacconi, New York City, October 1966. Simone Fernando Sacconi, universally considered to be one of the greatest violin makers of all time, drew his inspiration for this marvellous work from the inlaid instruments of Antonio Stradivari, in particular the violin "Hellier" from 1679. This violin is the property of the Municipality of Cremona.