Reinventing the Stroh Violin

The Stroh violin or “horn violin” is a relatively unknown instrument designed at the turn of the century, a time when sound recording was in its infancy and the Stroh was favourable over a standard violin. As recording technology improved, the Stroh violin fell into obscurity only to emerge decades later as a Transylvanian folk instrument.

It is my intention to recover, expose, revive, and promote the Stroh violin in the 21st century contemporary music world as a way to reinvent this unique instrument. My research will encompass a broad historical investigation, a comparison of “offshoot” Stroh violins and their migration to different cultures, culminating with the commission and recording of several new works by prominent living composers.