double bass

The Musical Instrument Fund purchased this rare C.F. Landolfi bass in 2018 from a British company. The bass was played for many years by John A. Schaeffer, former principal bassist of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra (from 1951 to 1996), and in recent years was played by Leon Bosch, a virtuoso bassist of the highest caliber. The condition of the double bass is exceptional, especially considering its age. Three renowned experts issued a certificate for the instrument. The funds for this purchase came largely from the estate of a private individual.

Luis Cabrera had already been selected by the Musical Instrument Fund in 2016 as the first candidate for a high-quality double bass. He plays the instrument primarily in solo performances and chamber music settings. In 2015, the Musical Instrument Fund launched a selection process for a high-quality double bass because we were unable to provide Luis Cabrera with a suitable instrument from our collection. Through a broad international network of dealers, several double basses were brought to the Netherlands. An asking price that was too high, poor condition, or doubts about authenticity were reasons for rejecting instruments at an early stage. Basses that did meet the criteria were ultimately rejected based on sound quality. The Musical Instrument Fund recognizes these as common challenges in the selection process for a double bass.

In 2017, the Musical Instrument Fund received word of a rare Landolfi bass that was for sale at a British firm. The bass was reportedly in excellent condition, and there were certificates attesting to its authenticity. In terms of sound, it was said to be one of the best basses the English dealer had ever had for sale. Due to the asking price, the Music Instrument Fund remained cautious and took no action to bring the instrument to the Netherlands. Ultimately, the bass did make its way to the Netherlands through a Dutch dealer. In consultation with Luis, it was decided to seize the opportunity to try out the bass. Luis was completely smitten by the bass’s qualities. His colleagues shared Luis’s opinion that this was an exceptional instrument.

During various sound tests, the Landolfi was compared to other high-quality basses, which once again confirmed its exceptional sound qualities. Three experts confirmed that the antique instrument was in very good condition. However, none of them had sufficient knowledge of Landolfi basses specifically. The Musical Instrument Fund therefore consulted an expert in London who is a leading authority on Landolfi. Based on photographs and a dendrochronological analysis of the bass, he was already able to confirm that it was an instrument from the Landolfi workshop. In order to draft a written statement, he wanted to examine the instrument in person. Once in the Netherlands, he reached the definitive conclusion that the bass was built by Landolfi.

A unique instrument that’s a great addition to the collection—and for Luis Cabrera, a dream bass to play!