'I was very pleased when Ian Highfield approached me to make a copy of my Brothers Amati Viola.  Not long before I had been asked to try out a violin for a student (gallery-4.html) and when I saw it and played it I thought that the pupil must unexpectedly have the sort of budget to be trying out an old Italian violin.  It looked and sounded superb.  I then discovered it was brand new, and one of Ian's!  I was more delighted than embarrassed by my mistake.

I hoped I would not be disappointed when Ian came round with the Amati copy of the old viola straight off the workbench.  Visually the instrument looks superb, and Ian has indeed managed to capture the antique golden sheen of the original varnish, and when I played Ian's viola, there was an unmistakable quality to the sound that we both immediately recognised as being akin to that of the Amati.  Ian has somehow reproduced a mellow warmth and eloquence in his viola which are characteristic of the Amati.  I am full of admiration for his work.'

Robin Ireland - 2010

Available from Tim Toft Violins:  www.timtoft violins.com

e-mail:  timtoftviolins@aol.com

e-mail: violins@ianhighfield.com

Brothers Amati Viola - 2010

I have known & respected Robin Ireland and his Viola for several years but have only heard him playing fairly contemporary music (such as the stunning Dance of the Knights on the Prokofiev & Shostakovich CD - Nimbus Alliance N16117).

However, during a long period of family illness his Bach CD (J.S. Bach, Transcriptions for Unaccompanied Viola - QTZ 2027; www.robinireland.co.uk) brought a great deal of comfort and I became completely enthralled by the wonderfully expressive quality of the music.  The instrument is a cut down Brothers Amati Viola of about 1630 with an exchange scroll and much of the original ground & varnish remaining.

I am grateful to Robin for allowing me to make a copy of the instrument and I think that I have successfully captured quite a lot of the character and appearance of the original.