Anad Luthiery | The Anād Foundation

Stradivari (model) Violin for Maharaj Thakur Singh
I had heard violin playing legends of Maharaj Thakur Singh but then he had not a single playable violin available when I met him. The 1936 German made violin had been long lost and there were only two small clips of his playing ever recorded that were available in which he played after nearly 20 years. I wanted to hear play. His unique rules denied (a married) me the chance to buy a violin for him. So the deal was struck that I would make one for him. I called Paul Hart, a old friend of mine and who is one of the finest instrument makers of this era, an educator. He was pleasantly shocked when I laid siege in Utah for 9 days the very first winter after 911 attack on the WTC and handcrafted the violin body structure which was then finished and polished by Paul himself. But, was it good enough – my first violin, of course, it was not my first woodwork nor musical an instrument.

Paris Conservatory was my next stop where Paris Philharmonic Orchestra’s first soloist, Philipe, was requested by my cellist friend Dominique D’Williamcourt to test the violin. I recorded it when he played it during his class and he loved it. The daughter of legendary bow-maker Raffin also assessed the instrument. The maveric bow-maker gifted a bow made the 19th-20th century legend Charles Bazin to match the instrument. Another Parisian violinist Raphaelle also checked the instrument. This was all to make sure that what I was wanting to present the maestro living in anonymity was not presented a piece of junk.

I came, dressed the instrument royally assisted by Billy Ripjit Singh, a Kapurthala Princess, and presented the violin to Maharaj Thakur Singh. The sweet Mrs. Bhagwant Singh is seen with the instrument in one of the images.

The instrument was made with 100 years old wood stock. The way Maharaj Thakur Singh held the instrument, tuned it, the first touch of Charles Bazin’s handcrafted bow on the violin strings, his exclamation about the harmonics – I had it all!

On Wednesday, January 23, 2013, I drove from Florence to Vicenza to meet again with master Gut-string maker, Mimmo Peruffo. I had visited him in June as well when we had calculated and identified the strings for the Rabab made on the specifications of Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s 16th century Rabab. I had made pair of those, one of which was made for my student, Harbhajan Kaur of Millis, MA, while the other, which is yet to be varnished, will be in the collection of Anad Foundation and most probably played by Luigi Hari Tehel Singh. The Rabab I carried with me was the replica of the late 17th century Rabab of Ustad Basat Khan, which was in the collection of the legendary Sarod player, Radhika Mohan Moitra. This collection is being cared for by his youngest disciple, Somjit Dasgupta, who was also featured in the first ever publication (2005) of the Dhrupadi or Hindustani Rabab published by Anad Records Pvt. Ltd.

Years ago, when I had visited Mimmo Peruffo the first time, I had carried a lot of samples of the gut-strings made by him. I had tested quite a few on the Rabab but it was now time to establish what will be the standard suggested stringing. The instrument is sounding fabulous now – the sound is much larger than it was before and it is now tuned to D#.

I was accompanied by Banipreet Kaur from Australia who documented the visit on her camera while cameraman Jasbir Singh joined us form Vicenza where he had been visiting his family friends after the 34th January Gurbani Kirtan intensive retreat. Here are some glimpses of the visit taken by Banipreet Kaur and a few by yours truly.

Unpacking the Rababa.

Luigi Hari Tehel Singh’s handiwork..!

The calculations begin with Mimmo Peruffo

Mimmo checking the strings being currently used by Luigi.

Guts can produce art work and not mere music – Aristotle by Mimmo Peruffo..!

It is a fine line – choosing the right thickness for the right tautness.

Tuning…

“How the heck can you do that..?”

Mimmo loved the sound of the strings – it is interesting that our babies are married to each other; my handcrafted Rababa and his handmade gut-strings..!

Finding solutions for he did not have any stock of a particular kind of gut-string, which he discontinued two years ago – a pity..!

The right tension..?

Final instructions for the artisan from Morocco.

Metal wound gut-string being made.

What precision..!

It isn’t just art but a lot of science but isn’t art science and science art..?

I wasn’t glad with the round wound – Mimmo tries flattening with metal mesh – it sort of worked but I have to continue to look for the right solution.