Sesto Rocchi (1909–1991) was a

violin maker 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 of ...

from

Reggio Emilia Reggio nell'Emilia ( egl, Rèz; la, Regium Lepidi), usually referred to as Reggio Emilia, or simply Reggio by its inhabitants, and known until 1861 as Reggio di Lombardia, is a city in northern Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region. It has abou ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

Biography

Sesto Rocchi was born in

, Italy. He started his violin making studies at the School of Violin Making at the Conservatory of Music in Parma under Gaetano Scarabotto. After approximately 6 years of study, he moved to Milan to further his learning with

Leandro Bisiach Leandro Bisiach (16 June 1864 – 1 December 1945) was an Italian violin maker, who was born in Casale Monferrato and died in 1945 at Venegono Superiore near Varese. Biography Trained as a violinist, he made his first violin on his own and rece ...

. Between 1956 and 1988 Sesto served on every prestigious violin making body including an appointment (1980) as the custodian of the

Niccolò Paganini Niccolò (or Nicolò) Paganini (; 27 October 178227 May 1840) was an Italian violinist and composer. He was the most celebrated violin virtuoso of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique. His 24 Caprices f ...

Guaneri del Gesu “Canon”. He acquired over 17 international competition awards for his violins from 1952 to 1966. Sesto Rocchi made as many as ten quartets and a few antiqued instruments following in the steps of his masters, Sgarabotto and Bisiach. His experience in the Leandro Bisiach workshop where he made many instruments and where he could observe and copy antique instruments was extremely useful to his own career.

Rocchi honored

To mark the 50th anniversary of the foundation of their club, the members of the Rotary of Reggio Emilia in Italy organized a tribute (in the spring of 1999) to noteworthy personalities of their town, including violin maker Sesto Rocchi. Rocchi’s work contributed to the rebirth of violin making in the region after the difficult times of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

.All Things Strings: Market Report

Quotes

"Sesto Rocchi’s inborn capacities, his personal involvement, the passion that inhabited him, but mostly the teachings that he received from Gaetano Sgarabotto in Parma and Leandro Bisiach in Milan helped him become one of the best Italian contemporary makers. His curious mind was always on alert, and his receptive attitude toward young people interested in violin making was remarkable." — Gualtiero Nicolini, president of ALI (Associazione Liutaria Italiana), a teacher at the Cremona School of Violin Making, and an author of books on lutherie. "I feel proud to have had him as a colleague and then as a friend. The legacy left by Rocchi demonstrates that even in the 20th century, it is possible to conduct the activities of a violin maker with nobility." — Gianfranco Boretti, author of a book on Rocchi "Life for Violin Making"

-"In forma d'istrumento", Reggio Emilia 1985

Instruments

"His work is very precise and the varnish varies from a warm orange to brownish red. He was constantly occupied with varnish experiments and research. He used Stradivarian "Amatise" and Guarneri models. The sonority is always excellent". - 'Liuteria Italiana vol. 1' - Eric Blot

1994 "Rocchi is considered one of the finest modern Italian makers and many of his instruments are now being copied by shops and makers" - Life for Violin Making by Gianfranco Boretti

Viewed below, is a very fine example of this master's work. Sesto Rocchi violin 1975 made for his daughter. Image:Sesto Rocchi violin 1975 scroll photo.jpg, Sesto Rocchi violin scroll 1975 Image:Rocchi_Sesto_violin_1975_top_back_plates_photo.jpg, Sesto Rocchi violin 1975

References

*
Sesto Rocchi photo
*Italian & French Makers - Jost Thoene vol. 3 *''Dictionary of 20th Century Italian Violin Makers'' -

Marlin Brinser Marlins are fish from the family Istiophoridae, which includes about 10 species. A marlin has an elongated body, a spear-like snout or bill, and a long, rigid dorsal fin which extends forward to form a crest. Its common name is thought to deri ...

1978 *Stings, August/September 1999 * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rocchi, Sesto Italian luthiers People from Reggio Emilia 1909 births 1991 deaths 20th-century Italian musicians Italian musical instrument makers