The International Violin Bridge Competition 2021

[violinbridges]

Very Pleased to announce that registrations are now open for

THE INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN BRIDGE COMPETITION 2021.

A wonderful opportunity to celebrate and promote your work on a global stage..

Please share amongst your networks.

www.violinbridges.co.uk

[DiemViolins]

Huh? What is this?

[jacobsaunders]

11 minutes ago, DutchViolins said:

Huh? What is this?

He wants you to buy his book

[violinbridges]

Jacob your such an old cynic :).

We have four internationally acclaimed judges who will be reviewing the bridges and as it says above and on the site its a wonderful opportunity to share and celebrate your art and work in these restricted pandemic times. 

I already know its not for you Jacob.

We feel its important to continue to celebrate our work and art and the competition has been a long time ambition, and I am very pleased that its going ahead this year.

 

 

 

 

 

[David Burgess]

Will there be lotsa babes?

[Wood Butcher]

44 minutes ago, violinbridges said:

We have four internationally acclaimed judges who will be reviewing the bridges and as it says above and on the site its a wonderful opportunity to share and celebrate your art and work in these restricted pandemic times.

So it's a competition to judge the function of a bridge that's not on an instrument?

Or it's just a test to see how neatly a bridge can be cut?

Are cnc cut bridges allowed?

[Shelbow]

I've never made a violin, but I might enter a bridge!

[Wood Butcher]

Imagine if you won!

[Shelbow]

Future career as a master bridge maker 

[violinbridges]

@Wood Butcherthanks for that question, the purpose of the International Violin Bridge Competition is to compare aesthetically the standards of violin family bridges, and to celebrate and award the best entries.. It is not to judge tone.

But as part of the run up to the results we have 4 webinars planned, one on bridge cutting, one on Bridge tuning and adjustments and one from a major manufacturer and one q & a. All lead by industry experts.

 

 

[David Burgess]

Will Lynyrd Skynyrd be performing live?

How does one judge a bridge aesthetically, since there is no agreed-on prior standard of excellence, like there is in the fiddle world with the violins of Stradivari, Guarneri and Amati? Is it mostly up to the whim of the judge, or whatever happens to come closest to their preferred personal style?

Will deliberate asymmetry be penalized?

Who are the judges?

[violinbridges]

@David Burgess thanks for that question, didnt Lynrd Skynyrd die in a plane crash?

The judging criteria is on Workmanship, Execution, Material choice, Branding/ stamp, Usability, Design, Finish, Visual Balance and Overall appearance.

Excellence always shines.

"Will deliberate asymmetry be penalized?"  the bridge needs to show they are fit for purpose but there is an other category for non standard bridges which I would think is the best place for experimental design.

Judges will be revealed as in other violin competitions after the closing date, but I can tell you they are from America, Europe and England. Each a master luthier from different fields of the trade.

 

 

[Wood Butcher]

26 minutes ago, violinbridges said:

@David Burgess thanks for that question, didnt Lynrd Skynyrd die in a plane crash?

The judging criteria is on Workmanship, Execution, Material choice, Branding/ stamp, Usability, Design, Finish, Visual Balance and Overall appearance.

Excellence always shines.

"Will deliberate asymmetry be penalized?"  the bridge needs to show they are fit for purpose but there is an other category for non standard bridges which I would think is the best place for experimental design.

Judges will be revealed as in other violin competitions after the closing date, but I can tell you they are from America, Europe and England. Each a master luthier from different fields of the trade.

 

 

Does this mean the judges are all German trained? I’m pretty sure the only country you can actually gain a master luthier certificate is Germany, and can’t apply for exam until you have worked in the trade for a minimum of seven years.

[Rue]

Whoa! This is one tough crowd! 

Will there a bunny hill category? 

[David Burgess]

1 hour ago, violinbridges said:

@David Burgess

The judging criteria is on Workmanship, Execution, Material choice, Branding/ stamp, Usability, Design, Finish, Visual Balance and Overall appearance.

 

So the competitors will not be anonymous to the judges?

[violinbridges]

@David Burgess the stamps and how they are applied are part of the marking process so they wont be anonymised.

all the information is on the website.

@woodbutcher, no they are not all trained in the same schools, or workshops.

@rue yes, it wont be for everybody, but I am positive that it will be of interest to many.

[FenwickG]

I applaud the effort put into the book, but for me it is one of the most boring tomes I have ever read. We have a display in the shop I work in of the worst specimens that have crossed our benches. It is much more interesting to mock and ridicule these efforts. To each his own. 

[Rue]

8 minutes ago, FenwickG said:

I applaud the effort put into the book, but for me it is one of the most boring tomes I have ever read. We have a display in the shop I work in of the worst specimens that have crossed our benches. It is much more interesting to mock and ridicule these efforts. To each his own. 

Looking forward to your book as well! 

[FenwickG]

I am contemplating a two volume set on sound post designs. No illustrations, only descriptions. It should be an all time best seller.

[Don Noon]

3 hours ago, Wood Butcher said:

Are cnc cut bridges allowed?

Or are there special categories?

If so, in which one should I enter a 3D printed bridge out of orange PETG?

[violinbridges]

@Don Noon@fenwickG I would love to see both

 

 

 

[Televet]

I think this is a great idea. On one hand making a beautiful bridge is an art, even if many luthiers take their own skill for granted. On the other, if it can also inject some sense of fun into what is a rather gloomy year then I am all for it. I think that the option of winning a bridge-themed tiara in the novelty category ought to drive some innovation!

[David Burgess]

4 hours ago, violinbridges said:

@David Burgess

 

Judges will be revealed as in other violin competitions after the closing date, but I can tell you they are from America, Europe and England. Each a master luthier from different fields of the trade.

Actually, judges are revealed in many violin competitions prior to the closing date. That helps potential competitors get an idea whether their work will be judged by total hacks, or by people who know at least a little bit about what they are doing.

3 hours ago, violinbridges said:

@David Burgess the stamps and how they are applied are part of the marking process so they wont be anonymised.

 

Oh chit, I haven't stamped my bridges for about 30 years now, after I arrived at the notion that this was an expression of vanity, or advertising, not dissimilar to placing a repair label in a fiddle. Should I submit an unstamped bridge, or would it automatically not be up to snuff?

[GeorgeH]

12 minutes ago, David Burgess said:

Oh chit, I haven't stamped my bridges for about 30 years now, after I arrived at the notion that this was an expression of vanity, not dissimilar to placing a repair label in a fiddle. Will this place me at a disadvantage?

As a player/collector, I really like seeing the bridge maker's stamp. I think it would be cool to find a bridge with "David Burgess" stamped on it. Or even better, a "Hulk Hogan" stamp.

[rudall]

Isn’t how well the feet fit on the top of the instrument one of the most important features of a bridge? Yet this cannot be judged.