Trained as a violin and keyboard-instrument maker, Stewart Pollens (born in New York, 1949) served as the Conservator of Musical Instruments at the Metropolitan Museum of Art from 1976—2006. His work there included the restoration and maintenance of the museum's encyclopedic collection of over 5,000 instruments, as well as research, writing, and lecturing on the collection.
After leaving the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Pollens formed Violin Advisor, LLC, a consulting firm that advises purchasers of fine violins. He continues to conduct research and write on the subject of musical instruments, including an article published in the May 2009 issue of The Strad on a scientific analysis of Stradivari's instrument varnish. Pollens is frequently interviewed by publications that most recently include The New York Times and Slate.
In addition to his work at Violin Advisor, Stewart Pollens restores important stringed and early keyboard instruments for museums (including an early New York piano for the Merchant's House Museum), private collectors, and musicians. His book Stradivari was published in February 2010 by Cambridge University Press and includes new biographical information and detailed analyses of Stradivari's workshop materials preserved in the Museo Stradivariano in Cremona. Pollens's seminal work on the history of the piano, The Early Pianoforte (Cambridge University Press), was republished in paperback in 2009.
Stewart Pollens is married to the concert violinist Stephanie Chase.
Stewart Pollens has written extensively on stringed and early keyboard instruments, including The Violin Forms of Antonio Stradivari (London, 1992), The Early Pianoforte (Cambridge, 1995), Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù (London, 1998), François-Xavier Tourte: Bow Maker (New York, 2001), and The Cambridge Companion to the Guitar (Cambridge, 2003). He is a contributor to The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians and writes on a regular basis for The Strad.
Mr. Pollens's book The Violin Forms of Antonio Stradivari has been hailed as "the standard work on the evolution of Stradivarius's designs." This book contains life-size photographs of all of the extant wood forms and patterns used by Stradivari in the construction of his violins, violas, and cellos, and includes an analysis of their geometry.
In The Early Pianoforte, Pollens traces the history of the piano back to 1440, nearly three-hundred years before the work of Bartolomeo Cristofori, the harpsichord maker who is generally credited with having invented the piano in Florence around 1700. This book examines the work of numerous makers, including Henri Arnaut de Zwolle, Bartolomeo Cristofori, Giovanni Ferrini, Domenico del Mela, Henrique Van Casteel, Joachim José Antunes, Francisco Pérez Mirabal, Gottfried Silbermann, and Christian Ernst Friederici.
In François-Xavier Tourte: Bow Maker, Stewart Pollens and co-author Henryk Kaston provide a technical description of Francois Tourte's working methods and reveal new biographical facts based upon previously unpublished documents discovered in French archives.
Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù features 200 life-size color photographs taken by Pollens and complete technical documentation of the twenty-five Guarneri violins that were displayed in the “Masterpieces of Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù” exhibition held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1994. Containing newly discovered biographical and historical information, this is the most thorough study to date of this great maker and his work. Stewart Pollens contributed the chapter on dendrochronology, a scientific procedure used to determine the age of the wood used in making violins.
In 1999, Stewart Pollens challenged the authenticity of the world's most famous violin, the Ashmolean Museum's Messiah Stradivarius, in a series of articles published in the Journal of the Violin Society of America. The controversy initiated by these articles and presentations at the Violin Society of America and the American Federation of Violin Makers was widely reported in major newspapers and magazines throughout the world.
American Musical Instrument Society's Nicholas Bessaraboff Prize, 1997.
Profiles of Stewart Pollens have appeared in Sinfonica (March, 1999), City Journal (Spring, 1995), Continuo (April, 1989), and American Lutherie 20 (Winter, 1989).
In 2002, Pollens was featured playing the world's oldest surviving piano, the Cristofori piano of 1720, on the WNET television arts program entitled "Egg."
Stradivari. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010.
With Henryk Kaston. François-Xavier Tourte: Bow Maker. New York: Machold Rare Violins, 2001.
With Carlo Chiesa, John Dilworth, Roger Hargrave, Duane Rosengard, and Eric Wen. Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu. London: Peter Biddulph, 1998.
With Roger Hargrave. Amati, Stradivari, and Guarneri: The Library of Congress Violins. London: Peter Biddulph, 1997.
The Early Pianoforte. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995; second printing 2009.
With Carlo Chiesa, John Dilworth, and Duane Rosengard. The Violin Masterpieces of Guarneri del Gesù: An Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Maker’s Death. London: Peter Biddulph, 1994.
The Violin Forms of Antonio Stradivari. London: Peter Biddulph, 1992.
Forgotten Instruments. Katonah: The Katonah Gallery, 1980.
Articles
"The Restoration of a Fortepiano by Conrad Graf, ca. 1838, in the Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art." In Actes des Rencontres Internationales Harmoniques 2008. Forthcoming.
"Cristofori and Erard." In Musique, Images, Instruments 11. Paris, 2009: 75-81.
"The Pianoforte in the Performance of Scarlatti's Sonatas." In Domenico Scarlatti en Espana: Proceedings of FIMTE Symposia 2006-2007. Garrucha, 2009: 301-311.
"The Care and Handling of Musical Instruments." In The Care and Handling of Art. New York and New Haven: Metropolitan Museum of Art and Yale University Press. Forthcoming.
"Violin Cleaning and Retouching." In The Conservation and Restoration of Stringed Instruments and Bows. Forthcoming.
"A Proposal for the Conservation of the Rediscovered 1690 Cristofori Spinetta Ovale and a Few Remarks." In Restauro e conservazione degli strumenti musicali antichi: la spinetta ovale di Bartolomeo Cristofori. Florence, 2008: 133-136.
"The Instruments and Music Depicted in Caravaggio's Apollo the Luteplayer." In Caravaggio (New York, London; 2007): 45-46.
"Animal Magic: Origins of the Patterns on One of Stradivari's Most Beautifully Decorated Violins," The Strad vol. 118, no. 1410 (October, 2007): 34-40.
"Michele Todini's Golden Harpsichord: Changing Perspectives," Music in Art: International Journal for Music Iconography, vol. 32, nos. 1-2 (Spring-Fall, 2007): 142-151.
Review of Stefano Pio, Violin and Lute Makers of Venice 1640-1760 (Venice, 2004), Journal of the Violin Society of America: VSA Papers, vol. 20, no. 2 (Summer, 2006): 219-222.
"The Schumann/Brahms Conrad Graf Piano," The American Brahms Society Newsletter, vol. 24, no. 1 (Spring, 2006): 1-4.
"Salmon, Stefkins, Visconti, and Stradivari: An Unlikely Collaboration." Viola da gamba und Viola da braccio: Symposium im Rahmen der 27. Tage Alter Musik in Herne 2002 (Munich, Salzburg; 2006): 57-68.
"A Viola da Gamba Temperament Preserved by Antonio Stradivari," Eighteenth-Century Music vol. 5, no. 1 (March, 2006): 125-132.
Review of Joel Speerstra, Bach and the Pedal Harpsichord: an Organist's Guide (Rochester, 2004) Eighteenth Century Music vol. 2, no. 2 (September, 2005): 337-340.
"An Eye for Detail." (Biography of bow maker Henryk Kaston). The Strad vol. 116, no. 1383 (July, 2005): 30-36.
"Conserve the Cannon." The Strad vol. 115, no. 1376 (December, 2004): 1271.
"Antonio Stradivari: Maker of Lutes in the French Style." Musique, Images, Instruments: Review française d' organologie et d' iconographie musicale (Paris, 2004): 28-46.
"The Hill Bass Bar Collection." The Strad vol. 115, no. 1369 (May, 2004): 498-503.
Review of Italian & French Violin Makers vol. 1, by Jost Thöne. The Strad vol. 115, no. 1369 (May, 2004): 548.
“Softly, Softly.” (Interview with violin restorer and maker Horacio Pineiro.) The Strad vol. 114, no. 1353 (January, 2003): 44-49.
Review of Italian Violin Making in Argentina, by Pablo Alejandro Saravi. The Strad vol. 114, no. 1361 (September, 2003): 1021.
Review of The Violin of David Oistrakh: Stradivari "Conte de Fontana" 1702, by Danilo Prefumo. The Strad vol. 114, no. 1358 (June, 2003): 677.
"Antonio Stradivari and the Baroque Guitar." In The Cambridge Companion to the Guitar, edited by Victor Anand Coelho, 207-28. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003.
"The Gatti-Kraus Piano Action Ascribed to Bartolomeo Cristofori." The Galpin Society Journal vol. 55 (April, 2002): 269-78.
"The Claviorgan by Lorenz Hauslaib, Nuremberg, 1598." In 600 Jahre Cembalobau in Osterreich, edited by Alfons Huber, 247-67. Tutzing: Hans Schneider, 2001.
“Messiah Redux.” Journal of the Violin Society of America vol. 17, no. 3 (2001): 159-79.
"The Messie: A Panel Discussion." Journal of the Violin Society of America vol. 17, no. 3 (2001): 181-222.
“‘Messiah’ on Trial." The Strad vol. 112, no. 1336 (August, 2001): 854-58.
Fifteen catalog entries in The Still Lifes of Evaristo Baschenis: The Music of Silence, edited by Andrea Bayer, 62-65. Milan: Olivares, 2000.
"5000 Instruments, One Conservator: Conservation Practices and Policy at the Metropolitan Museum of Art." In Instruments pour demain: conservation & restauration des instruments de musique, 47-53. Champs-Sur-Marne: SFIIC, 2000.
"Christoph Gottlieb Schröter: Inventor or Fraud." Early Keyboard Journal vol.18 (2000): 139-53.
"A Pantalonclavichord by C. Kintzing of Neuwied, 1763." In De Clavicordio IV; Proceedings of the International Clavichord Symposium, Magnano, 8—11 September 1999, edited by Bernard Brauchli, Susan Brauchli, and Alberto Galazzo, 203-13. Magnano: Musica Antica a Magnano, 2000.
"Le Messie." Journal of The Violin Society of America vol.16, no. 1 (1999): 77-101.
"The Man Behind the Bows: François-Xavier Tourte." The Strad, vol.110, no. 1308 (April, 1999): 402-9.
"Early Alterations Made to Ruckers, Couchet, and Grouwels Harpsichords in the Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art." In Kielinstrumente aus der werkstatt Ruckers: Schriften des Händel-Hauses in Halle 14, 137-70. Halle an der Saale: Händel-Haus, 1998.
"Flemish Harpsichords and Virginals in The Metropolitan Museum of Art." The Metropolitan Museum Journal 32 (1997): 85-110.
"Curtains for Cremona." (Profiles of the violin copyists Joseph Curtin and Gregg Alf.) The Strad vol. 106, no.1267 (November, 1995): 1160-1167.
"Parley with Francais." (Interview with Jacques Francais about the work of Guarneri del Gesu.) The Strad vol. 105, no. 1254 (October, 1994): 973-979.
"The Violin Forms of Antonio Stradivari." Journal of the Violin Society of America vol.13, no. 3 (1994): 87-120.
"Interview with Daniel Phillips." The Strad vol. 104, no. 1243 (November, 1993):1072.
"Chasing the Authentic Sound." (Interview with violinist Stephanie Chase about the use of period instruments and original text sources in the first recording of Beethoven's Violin Concerto and Romances on Classical Instruments.) The Strad vol. 104, no. 1243 (November, 1993): 1060-1064.
“An Upright Pianoforte by Domenico Del Mela.” The Galpin Society Journal vol. 45 (1992): 22-28.
"Three Keyboard Instruments Signed by Cristofori's Assistant, Giovanni Ferrini." The Galpin Society Journal vol. 44 (1991): 77-93.
"Michele Todini's Golden Harpsichord: An Examination of the Machine of Galatea and Polyphemus." Metropolitan Museum Journal vol. 25 (1990): 33-47.
"Curt Sachs and Musical Instrument Restoration." The Musical Times vol. 130, no.1760 (October, 1989): 589-94.
Review of Piano Information Guide, by Robert Palmieri. The Musical Times vol. 131, no. 1766 (April, 1990): 203-204.
Review of The Piano(New Grove Musical Instrument Series), by Philip R. Belt. The Musical Times vol. 131, no. 1764 (February, 1990): 93-94.
"Early Nineteenth-Century German Language Works on Piano Maintenance." Early Keyboard Journal vol. 8 (1990): 91-109.
Review of The Violin Makers of the United States, by Thomas James Wenberg. The Strad vol. 99, no. 1183 (November, 1988): 930.
Review of Count Ignazio Alessandro Cozio di Salabue, translated and edited by David Woodrow and Andrew Dipper. The Strad vol. 99, no. 1179 (July, 1988): 573.
"Young Master." (Profile of the bow maker and restorer Yung Chin.) The Strad vol. 99, no. 1175 (March, 1988): 207-11.
"The House that Jack Built." (Profile of the violin dealer Jacques Français and a discussion of his system of violin identification.) The Strad vol. 99, no. 1183 (November, 1988): 879-89.
"Historic Lute and Violin Varnish Formulas: 1500-1800." Journal of the Violin Society of America vol. 8, no. 2 (1987): 31-40.
"The Bonafinis Spinet." Atti del XIV Congreso della Societa Internazionale di Musicologia, Study Session: Cembali, e cembali che fanno il piano e il forte, edited by Eva Badura-Skoda, Bologna: International Musicological Society,1987: 286-287.
"The Bonafinis Spinet: An Early Harpsichord Converted into a Tangent Piano." Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society vol. 13 (1987): 5-22.
"Violins on View." (Preview of the 1987 Stradivari exhibition in Cremona.) The Strad vol. 98, no. 1169 (September 1987): 685-87.
"Cremonese Reincarnation." (Documentation of Samuel Zygmuntowicz copying the 1733 "Kreisler" Guarneri del Gesù.) The Strad vol. 98, no.1171 (November, 1987): 835-45.
"Prodigious Celebration." (Review of the 1987 "Capolavori di Antonio Stradivari" exhibition in Cremona.) The Strad vol. 98, no. 1172 (December, 1987): 957-61.Review of The Herbert Axelrod Stradivari Quartet by Jacques Francais. The Strad vol. 98, no. 1155 (July, 1986): 201-202.
Review of From Violin Making to Music: The Life and Works of Simone Fernando Sacconi, edited by Franco Feroldi. The Strad vol. 97, no. 1154 (June, 1986): 131.
"Gottfried Silbermann's Pianos." The Organ Yearbook vol. 17 (1986): 103-21.
"Travelling Apprenticeship." (An account of Rembert Wurltizer's early years and travels through England and the Continent as revealed by letters to his family.) The Strad vol. 97, no.1160 (December, 1986): 559-64. “Fine Tuning.” (An interview with Jascha Heifetz’s lifelong luthier, Benjamin Koodlach.) The Strad vol. 96, no. 1150 (February, 1986): 781-2.
“Morel Responsibility.” (Interview with violin restorer René Morel.) The Strad vol. 97, no. 1154 (June, 1986): 102-4. "First Class." (Profile of the violin maker David Burgess.) The Strad vol. 97, no. 1159 (November, 1986): 487-90.
"Knotty Problems." (Profile of the violin bow maker William Salchow.) The Strad vol. 46, no.1147 (November, 1985): 487-490.
"The Early Portuguese Piano." Early Music vol. 13, no. 1 (February, 1985): 18-27.
"The Pianos of Bartolomeo Cristofori." Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society vol. 10 (1984): 32-68.
