Maestro Paavo Järvi prior to the Pärnu Music Festival concert “Eesti Pillifondi kõla” (The sound of the Estonian Foundation of Musical Instruments), delivered to the interpreters playing on the string instruments of the Estonian Foundation of Musical Instruments, historical instrument bows. The total value of the six bows made in the 19th-20th centuries, by French masters is in excess of 100 000 euro.
“The collection of the Estonian Foundation of Musical Instruments, to which belong ten master instruments and two bows, was recently supplemented with six valuable bows that have been made by French masters. I thank Mr Aare Kaarma, the family Sapožnin, Cultural Endowment of Estonia and many other friends of music, who highly value our string instrument culture and supported the acquisition of the master bows”, said Maestro Paavo Järvi when delivering the bows to the musicians.
“A high quality bow is as important to a musician as a musical instrument, as the bow is an extension of the hand of the musician. The bows made by distinguished masters are extremely expensive and it is thus gratifying that Estonian entrepreneurs supported the purchase of the precious bows”, said Marje Lohuaru, head of the Instrument Foundation.
The oldest violin bow, is believed to have been made in 1895, was made by the master Joseph Alfred Lamy and it was given into the use of Gloria Ilves. The violin bow completed roughly in 1910, by the master Victor Fétique, was given into the use of Mari Poll-Novakovic. The violin bow that was made in about 1940 by Henri Louis Gillet, was given into the use of Katariina Maria Kits. The viola bow made in the period 1945-1950, by Henri Louis Gillet was given into the use of Johanna Vahermägi and the cello bow made in about 1880, by the master Francois Nicolas Voirin, was given into the use of Theodor Sink.
The sixth bow that was made approximately in 1930 by Victor Fétique, will be delivered to Hans Christian Aavik on 12 August, at the concert “Virtuoosid meistripillidel” (Virtuosos on master instruments), in the Kadriorg Palace.
The Instrument Foundation owns ten historical master instruments and eight historical bows. The instruments and bows of the Instrument Foundation predominately belong to private investors, who through the mediation of the foundation make the instruments available to musicians, for limited periods of use. The value of the collection of the Instrument Foundation is more than 1.7 million euro.
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