” Jane’s viols are not only superbly crafted from gorgeous quality wood, with the benefit of her broad knowledge and deep experience of historical instruments – they also reflect her personal commitment and intuitive response to each individual musician she is building for. Since I first met her and heard her viols in the 1980’s, she has sought out feedback from players, and responded to our comments by continuously integrating new ideas and refinements, to an extent I have never seen in another maker. The results are, I believe, the finest viols being made today. Jane’s meticulous high standards for every detail, combined with the warmth and unique personality of each instrument, puts her work in a class by itself.”
Sarah Cunningham. Philadelphia, USA
Sarah Cunningham teaches viol at the Julliard School, the Viola da Gamba Society of America Conclave and the Amherst Early Music Winter Weekend. She is currently preparing recordings with Dana Maiben and Lisa Crawford of violin sonatas by Elizabeth de la Guerre with Richard Egarr of Bach’s gamba sonatas and with LeStrange Viols of Elizabethan consort music.
Her website is still in preparation at www.sarahcunningham.me
” Of my six viols made by Jane Julier I couldn’t possibly pick one as my favourite. Each has it’s own voice and those voices are ideally suited to me as player and to the music I play.”
Jane has a wonderfully open- minded and enquiring attitude to making viols, listens carefully to her customers and has an innate way of skilfully tailoring her instruments to their requirements. This along with her vast experience and superb technical ability, consistently provides players with an exceptional and unique viol which is truly their own.”
” It’s no surprise that a great number of Jane Julier viols are heard on concert platforms the world over and that very rarely are they to be found on the second-hand market!”
Susanna Pell. North Yorkshire, UK
Susanna Pell is a member of Pellingmans’ Saraband, The Herschel Trio, Da Camera and a former member of Fretwork and The Dufay Collective. Susanna can be heard on several film tracks including Zeffirelli’s Hamlet, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and The Da Vinci Code.
She teaches viol at the Universities of York and Durham.
www.pellingman.co.uk
www.herscheltrio.co.uk
Photo courtesy of Mick Cookson
” J
ane has a reputation for making instruments that are perfectly matched to the needs and desires of the player who has commissioned them. This was absolutely the case with the 7 string Bertrand model she made for me. My bass has served me unfailingly from my earliest performances through to month-long overseas tours with Fretwork. I have just taken delivery of another Jane Julier instrument – a 6 string English bass.”
” The quality of her craftsmanship and the resulting beauty of her instruments both visually and in their tone and response, are unparalleled. I would not hesitate to recommend her as a luthier – she’s undoubtedly one of the best in the world.”
Dr Sam Stadlen. London, UK
Sam is a member of Fretwork and Chelys and is professor of viol consorts at the Royal College of Music in London.
” Jane Julier’s viols are exquisitely made and sound fabulous. The action on every viol is perfect, and she makes sure that each viol suits the player exactly. In 2000 I had my first one, and since then I have owned a total of 5. Each one is still a special delight.”
” She makes great coffee, too. What more could you want?”
Peter Hallifax. Berkeley, California.