In addition to the Amati copy models Chris has been making for some years, there are two new models of viola now available.
The Alessandro
The first model is called “The Alessandro” in honour of the father of modern viola playing, Alessandro Rolla, born in Pavia in 1757. He moved to Milan in 1770 and subsequently led the viola section and later the orchestra at La Scala Milan. He composed and performed what was thought to be the first ever viola concerto in 1772.
His viola concertos are under-performed today, perhaps because they are technically very challenging. He was considered to be the finest virtuoso of his day, and taught another famous virtuoso, Niccolò Paganini.
The Niccolò
The second model is called “The Niccolò” in honour of Paganini, who, whilst mostly remembered for his extraordinary facility on the violin, was also a very gifted violist. He composed a number of pieces for viola with interesting combinations of instruments, such as viola, cello and guitar.
He disliked the solo viola part written especially for him by Berlioz in “Harold in Italy” and instead wrote his own “Sonata for Viola and Orchestra”, a large-scale work of concerto-like proportions. He also played his famous 24 Caprices on both violin and viola.
“The wealth of knowledge that Chris Tayler brings to his instrument making is remarkable. When I first met Chris over 20 years ago, I was struck by his ability to speak in detail on subjects spanning science, engineering, history, architecture and the arts, to name but a few.”
— Stella Mahrenholz: Violist of the Basel String Quartet; Viola Soloist with John Elliot Gardiner; Guest Principal viola with the Basel Chamber Orchestra and Bachakademie Stuttgart