Dennis Plowright
160+ instruments. Concentrates on good tone. Also a noted violinmaker biographer and chronicler,wrote a lot of books on makers and violins.
Engineer with a passion for making stringed instruments
Like so many artistic professions, the world of violin
restorers, makers and dealers has its fair share of
enthusiastic amateurs, seduced by the fathomless beauty of
the instruments and their endless fascination.
Dennis Plowright was one such enthusiast. He was born in
1925 and grew up in Mill Hill, North London. His interest in
stringed instruments began when, at 15, he came across a
book on violins. Having an aptitude for all things
mechanical he joined the Navy as an engineer. He later
established himself as a chartered mechanical engineer and
consultant.
His practical skills would stand him in good stead when he
began to make violins. Initially he studied violin-making
with Raymond Franks, who was active in London from the 1930s
until the mid-1950s. Later, he received much helpful advice
from two highly regarded professional violin experts, Paul
Voigt and Clifford Hoing.
Plowright produced his first instrument in 1951 and in the
next 45 years he completed an impressive 51 violins, 98
violas and 27 cellos. In addition to constructing new
instruments he also carried out repairs for string
musicians.
Modern and historical, were his
specific area of interest, and he compiled accurate details
of every instrument he came across. This labour bore fruit
in the publication of two books: a comprehensive and very
useful Dictionary of British Violin and Bow Makers (1994,
revised & enlarged 1996) and Aspects of the Violin - A
Handbook for Makers and Players (1994).
Plowright was not only a keen amateur cellist and pianist
but also had a great love of cricket. Moving to Devizes in
1958 he began a long association with the Wiltshire Queries
cricket club, where he is remembered fondly as "a nurdler, a
poor fielder and someone who pinched the bowling".
In 1984 he retired to Exmouth, but not from the world of
instruments - he made his last instrument in 2005 despite
his failing eyesight.
Dennis Plowright, mechanical engineer and violin-maker, was
born on January 11, 1925. He died on October 26, 2007, aged
82
Dennis(G.),Plowright
