Guy Rabut is an American
luthier
A luthier ( ; AmE also ) is a craftsperson who builds or repairs string instruments that have a neck and a sound box. The word "luthier" is originally French and comes from the French word for lute. The term was originally used for makers o ...
based in
New York City.
Rabut grew up in
Westport, Connecticut.
In 1975 he began studying with the luthier Paul Hart at the Violin Making School of America, and in 1984 opened his own premises in New York. In 1992 he opened a workshop above
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhatta ...
. Subsequently he moved his workshop to West 28th St., New York.
He is known for his 1995 creation ''The Black Violin'',
[Vincent M. Mallozzi]
"Tools and Techniques Are Circa 1700, but the Violins Are New"
'' The New York Times'', November 7, 2008. thus named because the instrument's back features black varnish with a gold leaf design. Rabut based the Black Violin on a schematic of the interior of a
Guarneri Del Gesu, redesigning all aspects of the instrument that had no primary acoustical function. These included the corner profiles, the scroll, the accessories, and the color of the varnish. The traditional specifications were meticulously adhered to with regard to the critical acoustical components such as arching, the graduation of the plates, and the internal air cavity. As of January 2020, ''The Black Violin'' was owned and played by
Edward W. Hardy
Edward W. Hardy (born January 12, 1992) is an American composer, music director, violinist and violist. He is known as the composer, co-conceiver, music director, and violinist of the Off-Broadway show '' The Woodsman'' and is the owner of '' ...
.
References
Further reading
* Paul J. Smith, Akiko Busch, (January 1, 2001). ''Objects for Use: Handmade by Design – Objects for Sports, Music, and Play'', pp. 284–285. Harry N. Abrams, New York/American Craft Museum; first edition.
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rabut, Guy
American luthiers
Year of birth missing (living people)
People from Westport, Connecticut