‘la Stauffer’ Amati Viola by Douglas MacArthur, 2021

Performed by Lourenço Macedo Sampaio This viola is an exquisite rendition of the 1615 “la Stauffer” Brothers Amati - the earliest known contralto viola, which itself, is housed in a Cremona museum in excellent condition. The project spanned eight years, with four dedicated to sourcing scarce historical data and drafting plans from multiple sources. Without any commercial outline available, Douglas learned to draw Cremonese moulds from scratch using period Euclidean geometry. Every element is meticulously planned, from the carefully chosen wood and bespoke varnish process informed by modern research to the facsimile label printed on genuine seventeenth-century paper with historically accurate typesetting and inks. Celebrated for its elegant proportions and refined style, the instrument delivers superb sound and appearance.