NZ’s oldest viola turns 400

A 400-year-old viola, likely commissioned by the Medici family, will celebrate its birthday in style with two concerts this summer.

Before the birth of Bach, Vivaldi or Handel, renowned instrumentmaker Nicolo` Amati crafted an exquisite viola in his Italian workshop.

Four centuries later, the

New Zealand String Quartet believes it is the country’s oldest string instrument, and, far from securing it behind glass in a museum, it is played every day.

Viola player Gillian Ansell secured the instrument for the quartet in 2017, after it arrived in New Zealand via Wellingtonbased restorer and repairer David Hume.

She borrowed it for a couple of months from August 2017 to ensure it was the right fit for her, and the quartet. ``I grew to really, really like it, and I had to do everything I could to keep this in my hands.’’

She approached potential sponsors, including the Adam Foundation, a prominent supporter of the arts in Wellington, which agreed to buy it and lend it to the quartet long term. It was played in about 100 concerts a year, and was a joy to play. ``It’s sweet in pitch, dark chocolatey, as opposed to bright like a violin. Very warm and dark,’’ Ansell said.

An insignia on the viola indicates the influential Medici family probably commissioned the instrument. The Medicis reigned over Florence and Tuscany and bankrolled the music industry from the Renaissance to the 18th century. Sarah Chesney, general manager of the New Zealand String Quartet Trust, said it was likely the viola stayed in Italy for the first couple of centuries, passed down through the family but ``I think there’s a chunk of its history we will just never know’’.

While certainly the quartet’s oldest instrument, the viola wasn’t the only instrument with the weight of time behind it. The youngest – a violin – was a distinguished 235 years old.

``Each has a specific depth of tone and sound and a personality,’’

Chesney said.

The quartet is hosting a

Party For The Amati on November 16 in Wellington, and in Paeka¯ ka¯ riki on

December 1, to showcase the viola.

Works by New Zealand composers Jack Body and Salina Fisher will be featured, alongside Mozart, Brahms and Beethoven.

The viola bears the Medici family symbol. Gillian Ansell knew she had to do everything she could to keep the Amati viola in her hands.