The baroque violin that I own was made by Bendigo-based Australian luthier Steven Gregory in 2009. It is a copy of the “Titian” violin made by famed Cremonese luthier Antonio Stradivari in 1715. I typically play this instrument “chin-off”, without the use of a chin rest or shoulder rest. Although it is a new instrument, it is termed a baroque violin because it is made with characteristics of those violins made during the Baroque era. I use it both in my early music practice, and when playing contemporary repertoire written specifically for the baroque violin.

Figure 1 – baroque violin by Stephen Gregory, 2009. Copy of “Titian” by Antonio Stradivari