Matteo Goffriller
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Matteo Goffriller (also Mateo Gofriller) (1659-1742) was a renowned 18th century Italian cello maker. He was thought to be active between 1689-1740, was a master craftsman and one the greatest cello makers of his time. He founded the Venetian School of luthiers. His brother was Francesco Goffriller. Recent research indicates that Francesco Goffriller may actually have been the son of Matteo.
Goffriller was virtually unknown until the 20th century. In the past, his celli have been erroneously attributed to Guarneri, Bergonzi, and even Stradivari. In the 1920s, his instruments began to be identified. The earliest of his instruments which has been identified is a viola de gamba dating back to 1689. Pablo Casals' Goffriller was originally attributed to Bergonzi.
Goffriller's instruments are today highly sought after, and are a preferred instrument for accomplished cellists.
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[edit] Legacy
Pablo Casals had a Goffriller which was his main concert instrument for most of his professional life. It was acquired by Casals in 1913 and used until his death in 1973. Since 2000, the use of this instrument has been awarded to the winner of the quadrennial International Pablo Casals Cello Competition in Germany. [1]
Other notable musicians who own or have owned a Goffriller are:
Zuill Bailey, Emanuel Feuermann, Édouard Lalo, Johann Sebastian Paetsch, Nicolo Paganini, Carlo Alfredo Piatti, Leonard Rose, Mischa Schneider, Joseph Schuster, Janos Starker, Matt Haimovitz, Jacqueline du Pré and Milt Hinton (Double Bass).
Jazz Double Bassist Milt Hinton played a rare Gofriller Double Bass during his latter career. The dimensions of the bass being much larger than that of a cello or violin, one could make many fine cellos or violins from the amount of wood required to make a single double bass. The bass was in pieces in a cellar in Italy and a musical agent arranged the purchase from the family for Hinton. Hinton in his autobiography "Bass Line" ascribed the tone as magnificent and said it was one of the reasons for his long success in the the New York recording studios in the 50's, and 60's .
[edit] Goffriller Instruments
[edit] Violins
| Model | Year | Owner | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goffriller violin | 1695 | ||
| ex-Sivori, ex-Lalo | 1700 | ||
| Gofriller violin | 1702 | played by Jaakko Kuusisto | |
| violin | 1722 | This violin was stolen from violinist Charmian Gadd in 1999 | |
| Goffriller Violin | 1730 | formerly owned by the Counts of [[Colloredo Castle[[ (Friuli) until 1959 |
[edit] Violas
Many Goffriller violas are still known to exist.
| Model | Year | Owner | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goffriller viola | c. 1720 |
[edit] Cellos
Matteo Goffriller built many Celli in his life, of those, many still exist.
| Model | Year | Owner | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ca. 1700? | Antonio Meneses | ||
| "ex-Leonard Rose" | 1693 | ex-Alfredo Piatti, on loan to Leonard Elschenbroich | |
| Goffriller Cello | 1693 | It has a carved Rosette on the top, under the fingerboard. Formerly owned and played on by Mischa Schneider of the Budapest Quartet, now played by Zuill Bailey | |
| Goffriller | 1695 | played by Anner Bylsma | |
| "Count Marcello" | 1697 | Nicholas Anderson | Was owned by Count Girolamo Marcello. Then Aldo Pias of Venice. Then Irving Klein (Claremont Quartet) |
| "Rosette" | 1698 | Leslie Parnas | This cello has a carved rosette decoration |
| Goffriller cello | 1698 | Andres Diaz plays this cello | |
| Goffriller cello | ca. 1700 | Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt plays this cello | |
| Goffriller cello | 1700 | Jorg Baumann from the Berlin Philharmonic plays this cello | |
| Goffriller cello | 1701 | Gautier Capuçon plays on this cello | |
| Goffriller cello | 1703 | Karl Fruh | Raya Garousova owned it from 1930-1951 |
| "The Star" | 1705 | Janos Starker | in 1965 Starker acquired it. |
| ex-Warburg Goffriller | 1706 | Played by Daniel Gaisford | |
| Goffriller cello | 1707 | played by Eric Kim | |
| Goffriller cello | 1708 | Collection in Istituto della Pieta, Venice | |
| Cello | 1710 | played by Matt Haimovitz | |
| Cello | 1711 | played by Marc Coppey | |
| cello | 1712 | Venice Research, has this uncut cello. | |
| Goffriller cello | 1715 | Samsung Foundation of Culture | |
| Goffriller Cello | 1715 | The Stradivari Society of Chicago | Sant'Ambrogio uses this cello |
| Goffriller cello | 1720 | formerly played by Joseph Schuster and formerly owned by Emanuel Feuermann | |
| Goffriller cello | 1720 | played on by Moray Welsh | |
| 1722 | Yo-Yo Ma | ||
| Goffriller cello | 1722 | Pierre Fournier played on this cello | |
| 1728 | This cello is played by Timothy Eddy | ||
| "Guffy" | 1730 | Johann Sebastian Paetsch | formerly played by Gunther Paetsch from 1970-1985 |
| ex Casals | 1733 | ex. Pablo Casals, This cello was played for a few years by Matt Haimovitz and now by Claudio Bohorquez. |
[edit] Double Basses
Matteo Goffriller made a few Double Basses, few of these still exist.
| Model | Year | Owner | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Salute Goffriller | 1712 | This bass was made for the "Santa Maria della Salute" Church in Venice | |
| Benedetto Marcello Goffriller | This bass is the twin of the "La Salute". It is in the Conservatory in Venice. |
