Violin by Alexander Murdoch, Aberdeen, 1874

About Alexander Murdoch

Alexander Murdoch was born in Aberdeenshire in 1815 and was the son of a farm labourer. He was largely self-taught and produced instruments which show some influence from the early Aberdeen makers such as Robert Duncan and Joseph Ruddiman. It is possible that Murdoch completed some training with the Aberdeen maker Thomas Jamieson: their work shares many characteristics, most notably arching which begins relatively late and then rises sharply to the middle of the instrument.

Murdoch and some of his contemporaries are interesting for their rejection of classical styles in favour of a more local look: this fascinating refusal to produce fashionable instruments similar to the European workshop imports ensured that the Aberdeen school remained distinct and characterful in an era of standardisation and mass production.

About the violin

This violin was made in Aberdeen in 1874 and is based on Murdoch's own distinctive model.

The violin has a two-piece back of characterful quarter-sawn maple with ribs to match. The later scroll is of quarter-sawn maple and the front is two pieces of extremely fine-grained local pine. The varnish is golden brown in colour, indicative of Murdoch´s higher-quality work.

The violin has a length of back of 355 mm.

How does it sound?

This is a bright and full-blooded violin with a whole lot of voice! There's plenty of richness to the sound, but the instrument is also capable of going up a gear to cut above everything else.

Condition

The violin is in very good condition with a later scroll.

More information

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