The Violoncello
(‘cello for short) with which Traci performs is a French instrument.
The luthier who built it, Charles Mennegand 1822-1885, was born in
Nancy, France and studied in Amsterdam. He built the cello in 1869
while he lived in Paris.
The bass (aka Double
Bass, Contrabass, Stand Up Bass, Dog House Bass, Bull Fiddle etc ),
like bassists, has a more questionable origin. It is attributed to the
Italian violin maker Michael Platner. Platner was actually born in
Austria where he studied with the master luthier David Tecchler
(1668-1747). Platner and Tecchler moved to Rome where the younger
Platner succeeded his master. Historically, there is no evidence that
Platner ever built a bass. The label in this bass dates the instrument
to 1735 (The tape holding the label in place appears to be early 21st
century). Instruments tend to be built from aged wood. If the trees
to build the cello were cut 50 years prior to construction and were
100+ years old when harvested, they were seedlings when Platner built
the bass and the trees for the bass were seedlings during Leonardo Da
Vinci’s lifetime. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to find any
information on the horses from which the bow hair comes. However, MR.
Ed is suspect.
