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Hans Jóhannsson

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Hans Johannsson (born in Reykjavík, 1957) is a contemporary violin maker, most notable for his 21st century violin, which New York Times chose as one of the best ideas of the year.[1] He makes violins, violas, cellos, double basses and various other stringed instruments. His passion for the violin started at an early age in the workshop of his grandfather Gudjon Halldorsson, a cabinet maker in Reykjavík, Iceland, where he began making musical instruments. He finished his studies at the Newark School of Violin Making[2][3] in Great Britain with a diploma of distinction, under Maurice Bouette and Glen Collins in 1980. He subsequently received a masters diploma from the Icelandic Arts and crafts council in 1982. He has been making instruments for professional musicians in many countries. After 1982, Hans lived and worked with his family at the Chateau de Bourglinster in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, until 1993.[4] He is a full member of the International Society of Violin and Bow Makers.[5] David Fulton, the well known violin collector, is quoted as considering Hans Johannsson to be one of the best violin makers in the world today.[6]

Career

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Hans has been making his instruments after his own model, designing all outlines and proportions on an ever evolving basic line. He has not made copies except in rare circumstances, as he believes that the great masters of earlier times all created their own distinctive style based on a classical theme, and that emulation is only practical when serving an educational purpose. Hans has made many experimental string instruments, both acoustic and electro-acoustic, and has studied the use of modern technologies such as Experimental Modal Analysis[7] and FFT sound radiation measurements for his work on both classical conventional stringed instruments as well as prototype experimental electric bowed instruments.

In 1998 he played the main role in a 60-minute television documentary, The Violin Maker, focusing on his works, filmed at the Chateau de Bourglinster in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, featuring Sandrine Cantoreggi and Roby Lakatos. Produced with a grant from Eurimages for international distribution.[8][9]

In 2003 he moderated and wrote the script for a BBC 3 radio documentary on technology and tradition in violinmaking.

In 2005–2007 he collaborated with Olafur Eliasson and Andreas Eggertsen on a 21st Century violin project, that imitate 17th and 18th century violins but look different. The resulting violin debuted in 2007 at the Serpentine Gallery, Hyde Park, London.[10][11][4][3] New York Times chose the violin as one of the best ideas of the year.[1]

Hans has collaborated with several musicians on custom instruments. In 2017 he collaborated with Úlfur Hansson. In 2013 he collaborated with Oscar-winner Hildur Guðnadóttir featuring experimental string instruments.[12]

Since 2013 he has collaborated with Prof. Patrick Gaydecki of Signal Wizard systems, developing the use of impulse response measurements of classical instruments to emulate sound using digital signal processing.[13] In a listening study the audience preferred the virtual violin, but the experts where still able to differentiate between the two.[14]

Interviews

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References

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  1. ^ a b Rawsthorn, Alice (9 December 2007). "The next Violin". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Líf og list í Þingholtunum". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic) – via Tímarit.is.
  3. ^ a b georgesinc (2 November 2017). "Hans Johannsson – Icelands 21st Century Violin Maker – Nov 3rd". Making Lewes. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  4. ^ a b "From Iceland — The Scientist of Sound". The Reykjavik Grapevine. 20 August 2010.
  5. ^ "Members Directory EILA". International Association of Violin and Bow Makers. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Countercurrent: conversations with Professor Roger Kneebone: Hans Johannsson in conversation with Roger Kneebone". rogerkneebone.libsyn.com. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  7. ^ "January 2011 issue | The young string stars to watch in 2011 | The Strad, essential reading for the string music world since 1890". The Strad.
  8. ^ "Violin Maker, The". Icelandic Film Centre. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Fiðlan sprettur úr alþýðumenningu". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic) – via Tímarit.is.
  10. ^ Rawsthorn, Alice (14 October 2007). "Crafting instruments for the 21st century". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Flytja tónlist með fiðlubútum". Fréttablaðið (in Icelandic) – via Tímarit.is.
  12. ^ "How "Joker" & "Chernobyl" Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir Expands the Cello's Possibilities". reverb.com. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  13. ^ Patrick Gaydecki, Hans Johannsson (October 2015). "vSound: real-time digital emulation of the acoustic violin". In: Proceedings of the Institute of Acoustics: ACOUSTICS 2015; 15 Oct 2015-15 Oct 2015; Harrogate, York, UK. UK: IoA; 2015.
  14. ^ Lloyd, T.; Gaydecki, P.; Johannsson, H.; Ginsborg, J.; Yates, C. (27 May 2018). "Listener preference towards a real and emulated violin". Journal of New Music Research. 47 (3): 270–274. doi:10.1080/09298215.2018.1459732. S2CID 65122967.
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