Musical Instrument Bank

The Musical Instrument Bank is a repository of string instruments maintained by the Canada Council for the Arts. It was established in 1985.[1]

Every three years, the Canada Council conducts the Musical Instrument Bank Competition amongst entrant Canadian classical musicians, the winners of which select an instrument from the bank's inventory that will be loaned to them for a period of three years.

History

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An advisory panel to the Canada Council for the Arts proposed the creation of an instrument bank in 1975.[2] In the early 1980s, cellist Denis Brott wrote a letter requesting funding and sent it to "some 50 corporate executives", one of whom asked to meet him.[2] This led to a bequest of $100,000 (equivalent to $224,762 in 2021) from the Barwick family and the creation of the Musical Instrument Bank in 1985.[2][3]: 454 

In 1987, the first instrument acquired for the Musical Instrument Bank was the 1706 Brott-Turner Tecchler cello, obtained using funds raised by W. I. M. Turner and the Brott family, and is on a career loan to Brott.[2] The second acquisition was the 1717 Windsor-Weinstein Stradivari violin, obtained in 1989.[2]

In 2012, a bequest of $1.1 million was used to purchase three instruments.[4] These were the 1730 Newland Joannes Franciscus Celoniatus cello, the 1871 Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume violin, and the 1900 Stefano Scarampella violin.[4]

Competition

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In 2000, with the repository of musical instruments having expanded, the Canada Council for the Arts established a "larger scale competition" for Canadian classical musicians, the winners of which could choose from the bank's inventory to obtain an instrument on a three-year loan.[2]

The purpose of the competition is to ensure all instruments from the collection are loaned to musicians.[5]

Application

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The Council receives applications from musicians throughout Canada.[1] The applicant must be at least 18 years old and have had professional training,[6] and must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and maintain that status for the duration of the loan period.[7] In addition to a curriculum vitae and other biographical information, the applicant must submit a recording of three solo works accompanied by a description of those works, a description of their instrument, and a copy of their repertoire.[7]

The applications are assessed by a peer committee, who select a group of finalists.[1] The finalists are sent a bailment agreement, which they must review.[7]

Interview

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The finalists travel to Toronto for an interview,[1] where they can also test the available instruments.[6][8] They then "compete in a live audition process"[1] for a panel of five individuals in the peer committee.[9] Potential conflict of interest is avoided by excluding from the peer committee any owner of a donated instrument and any teacher of an applicant.[5]

The week-long event consists of two days of evaluation of the cellists, followed by four days of evaluation of the violinists.[10] The musicians are ranked by the committee.[6] On the final day, the winning musicians select an instrument to borrow,[10] in order based on their standing in the competition.[6] If a musician forfeits their choice, another musician from a reserve pool of finalists is invited to make a selection.[5]

In 2012, there were 51 applicants, from which 28 finalists were selected and 18 granted the privilege of choosing an instrument from the Musical Instrument Bank.[1]

Bailment

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Once a musician selects an instrument, they are required to sign the bailment agreement they had received during the application process.[7] They will then attend a training session in Toronto on instrument care, as well as the policies regarding use of the instrument.[7] Musicians must also present confirmed engagements and plans covering the first year of their loan.[7] These must include concerts and recitals performed in Canada and internationally.[7]

Once these criteria are met, the musicians will receive their selected instrument. Costs associated with insurance for the instrument, repairs and restoration not resultant from neglect, and luthier fees for the required annual inspection will be borne by the Canada Council for the Arts[7] from its operating fund.[5]

Instruments

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The Musical Instrument Bank consists of cellos, violins, and bows that are either owned by the Canada Council for the Arts or loaned to it.[2] Owned instruments are acquired via donation or purchased with funds from monetary donations, and loaned instruments are obtained from patrons in Canada or the United States.[6]

Newly acquired instruments are immediately loaned to one of the reserve applicants from the most recent competition once the instrument has undergone an inspection and any required restoration work is completed.[5]

Cellos

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The status column indicates whether the instrument is owned by the Canada Council for the Arts, or if it is on loan from a donor
Instrument Luthier Year manufactured Year acquired Status On loan to References
1696 Bonjour Stradivarius Antonio Stradivari 1696 2000 On loan Bryan Cheng [10][IMB 1]
1706 Brott-Turner Tecchler cello David Tecchler 1706 1987 Owned Denis Brott [2][IMB 2]
1730 Newland Joannes Franciscus Celoniatus cello Giovanni Francesco Celoniato 1730 2011 Owned Daniel Hass [10][IMB 3]
c. 1750 Gennaro Gagliano cello Gennaro Gagliano c. 1750 2023 On loan Cameron Crozman [10][IMB 4]
c. 1769 Shaw Adam cello Attributed to Juan Guillami II c. 1769 1999 Owned Leland Ko [10][IMB 5]
1824 McConnell Nicolaus Gagliano II cello Nicolò Gagliano II 1824 2000 Owned Andrea Stewart [10][IMB 6]
1929 Carlo Giuseppe Oddone cello Carlo Giuseppe Oddone 1929 2022 Owned Christopher Hwang [10][IMB 7]

Violins

[edit]
The status column indicates whether the instrument is owned by the Canada Council for the Arts, or if it is on loan from a donor
Instrument Luthier Year manufactured Year acquired Status On loan to References
1689 Baumgartner Stradivari violin Antonio Stradivari 1689 1997 On loan Alice Lee [10][IMB 8]
1700 Taft Stradivarius violin Antonio Stradivari 1700 2003 On loan Daniel Dastoor [10][IMB 9]
c. 1700 Bell Giovanni Tononi violin Giovanni Tononi c. 1700 2002 Owned Lucy Wang [10][IMB 10]
1715 Dominicus Montagnana violin Domenico Montagnana 1715 2006 On loan Eva Aronian [10][IMB 11]
1717 Windsor-Weinstein Stradivari violin Antonio Stradivari 1717 1988 Owned Emma Meinrenken [10][IMB 12]
1747 Palmason Januarius Gagliano violin Gennaro Gagliano 1747 2003 On loan Julia Mirzoev [10][IMB 13]
1729 Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesú violin Giuseppe Guarneri 1729
1757 Carlo Tononi Bolognese Violin Carlo Antonio Tononi 1757 2014; 2023 On loan Yu Kai Sun [10][IMB 14]
c. 1759 Jeanne Lamon Santo Serafin violin Sanctus Seraphin c. 1759 2023 Owned [IMB 15]
1768 Miller Januarius Gagliano violin Gennaro Gagliano 1768 2012 Owned Gregory Lewis [10][IMB 16]
1820 Joannes Franciscus Pressenda violin Giovanni Francesco Pressenda 1820 2000 On loan Kumiko Sakamoto [10][IMB 17]
c. 1830-1850 Eckhardt-Gramatte Joachim Georges Chanot I violin Georges Chanot I c. 1830-1850 2017 On loan Astrid Nakamura [10][IMB 18]
1851 Jean Baptiste Vuillaume violin Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume 1851 2018 Owned Vivian Kukiel [10][IMB 19]
1869 Jean Baptiste Vuillaume violin Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume 1869 2009 Owned Tiffany Yeung [10][IMB 20]
1871 Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume violin Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume 1871 2012 Owned David Baik [10][IMB 21]
1900 Stefano Scarampella violin Stefano Scarampella 1900 2012 Owned Christopher Whitley [10][IMB 22]
1902 Enrico Rocca violin Enrico Rocca 1902 2000 On loan Shannon Lee [10][IMB 23]

Maintenance

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The instruments are maintained by Ric Heinl[1] and luthiers of Toronto-based George Heinl & Company.[2][8] Costs for restoration are funded by the instrument donors.[2]

Once an instrument loan expires, the instrument is returned to the company, where any required repairs are made.[5] If major restoration is necessary, the instrument is removed from the loan cycle until the restoration is completed.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Instrument Bank grants rare violins, cellos to young artists". CBC News. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Lee, Hye Won Cecilia (26 September 2018). "In search of a musical instrument bank that won't break the bank". Ludwig-Van. Museland Media. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  3. ^ Keillor, Elaine (2019). "Canada: History, culture, and geography of music". In Sturman, Janet (ed.). The SAGE encyclopedia of music and culture. Vol. 1. Sage Publishing. pp. 446–454. ISBN 978-1-4833-1775-5.
  4. ^ a b "Canada Council acquires violins and cellos valued at C$1.6m". The Strad. 8 July 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Sadler, Naomi (8 March 2016). "Canada Council Musical Instrument Bank". Cozio Archive. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e Robb, Peter (22 August 2018). "The Canada Council banks on music". Artsfile. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "Musical Instrument Bank competition for fine violins, cellos and a cello bow: Guidelines". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  8. ^ a b Brown, Ian (24 September 2012). "How a violinist can play a $4-million Stradivarius, no strings attached". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  9. ^ MacArthur, Cecilia (13 June 2016). "Rare instruments in action at the Montreal Chamber Music Festival". CBC News. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Wassenberg, Anya (16 August 2023). "Canada Council For The Arts Announces 2023 Musical Instrument Bank Competition Winners". Ludwig-Van. Museland Media. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

Instrument Music Bank

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  1. ^ "ca. 1696 Bonjour Stradivarius cello". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  2. ^ "1706 Brott-Turner Tecchler cello". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  3. ^ "1730 Newland Joannes Franciscus Celoniatus cello". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  4. ^ "ca. 1750 Gennaro Gagliano cello". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  5. ^ "1769 Joannes Guillami cello". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  6. ^ "1824 McConnell Nicolaus Gagliano II cello". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  7. ^ "1929 Carlo Giuseppe Oddone cello". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  8. ^ "1689 Baumgartner Stradivarius violin". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  9. ^ "1700 Taft Stradivarius violin". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  10. ^ "ca. 1700 Bell Giovanni Tononi violin". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  11. ^ "1715 Dominicus Montagnana violin". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  12. ^ "1717 Windsor-Weinstein Stradivari violin". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  13. ^ "1747 Palmason Januarius Gagliano violin". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  14. ^ "1757 Carlo Tononi Bolognese Violin". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  15. ^ "ca. 1759 Jeanne Lamon Santo Serafin violin". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  16. ^ "1768 Miller Januarius Gagliano violin". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  17. ^ "1820 Joannes Franciscus Pressenda violin". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  18. ^ "ca. 1830-1850 Eckhardt-Gramatte Joachim Georges Chanot I violin". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  19. ^ "1851 Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume violin". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  20. ^ "1869 Jean Baptiste Vuillaume violin (with Vuillaume model bow)". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  21. ^ "1871 Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume violin". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  22. ^ "1900 Stefano Scarampella violin". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  23. ^ "1902 Enrico Rocca violin". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
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