Davide Somenzi was born on May 14, 1967 in Casalmaggiore, a small city about 40km from center of Cremona. He currently lives in the Rivarolo del Re, a village in the province of Cremona.Davide decided to become a violin maker when he was still a child. He doesn\'t exactly remember what it was that triggered such a decision, whether it was the fascinating sound that emerged from the violin, or the unusual shape that so caught his eye when he visited an instrument exhibition in Palazzo Comunale in Cremona.He remembers making little objects out of wood. He found a hand saw and pocket knife amongst his father\'s tools. In the seasoned stockpile of wood for winter burning, he spotted some pieces that were just the right size. With these, he amused himself by building little wooden boats and planes, and even a collection of pistols that could be fired with rubber bands. When he was 13 years old and in middle school, he had to decide which high school to attend. His decision came easily. He was still intrigued with the violin and he remembered the sensation it evoked in him when he first discovered it. Now he wanted to make one of those beautiful wooden objects himself, with its unique and curving shapes and brilliant sound. Davide heard about the violin school in Cremona, and recalls the moment of his first visit there one summer day in 1979. He had persuaded his mother to accompany him and they drove into town in an old Fiat 850. It was the last day of school before the summer holidays, and the ground keepers almost refused to let him enter. During that brief visit, the smell of varnish, only reinforced his desire to become a violin maker. He finally enrolled in the school in 1981, when he was only 14. The workshop hours were a thrill to him because he could finally put to use the manual skills that came so naturally to him. His creativity and expression which lost their vigor on toy boats, suddenly flowed anew. They were challenged like never before by the intricate spirals of the scroll and the delicate curves of the f-holes. Davide studied under Riccardo Bergonzi for three years, and finished the school under Ezio Scarpini. He fondly remembers his music history teacher, Nello Ascolese, who instilled in him a love of music and an understanding of the origins of the violin. His school years evoke pleasant memories of his companions Marco Coppiardi, Fabio Volta, Alberto Denti, and Massimo Semiani.Davide graduated in 1986. Three days later Master Riccardo Bergonzi invited him to come and work with him in his workshop on Corso Garibaldi where he remained until March 1992. He then worked briefly in the workshop of Jorge Grisales. In late 1992 he fulfilled a long standing dream: he established his own workshop in Via Platina 48.
This joy however, was tinged with lots of fear. He had just been married a week, had not a single client, and for the first time in his career, had to work alone. Davide refers to that period as the "sacrifice years" because he worked 15 hour days, and sold his instruments very cheaply. He is particularly indebted to his colleague Pier Angelo Balzarini, who provided him with the moral support, encouragement, and technical guidance he needed during those initial months on his own. He also wishes to acknowledge his friend and master, Primo Pistoni, who taught him the importance of research and study in order to continually better his instruments.
He has participated in several national and international competitions and has received the following awards:
- Special prize for Best Young Maker at the 2nd national competition in Baveno.
- Gold medal from the Russian Luthier\'s Union for Best Young Maker at the 1st international competition in Mittenwald.
- 3rd place in the viola category at the 1991 Triennial in Cremona.
- 2nd place in the cello category at the 1994 Triennial in Cremona.
Davide fondly remembers the academic year 1996-97 when he taught classes in varnishing and restoration at the violin making school. His natural teaching style combined with the eager and enthusiastic young minds that filled his classes, proved to be a rewarding experience. Unfortunately, he had to give up teaching in order to fulfill his instrument commissions.In his early work he concentrated on the aesthetic aspects of his instruments, taking great care with details like the corners, purfling, scroll and the f-holes. His research led him to apply the golden ratio in the design of his personal instrument models, as well as in f-hole placement. He also experimented with making his own oil varnishes.Today Davide maintains that high level of craftsmanship, but his emphasis is on the acoustics. He collaborates with several musicians, and they have acknowledged the results that years of acoustic research have produced. This is a personal triumph for Davide, to be able to create fine sounding instruments consistently.
In October 2002 he decided to move his workshop from the center of Cremona, to his village - Rivarolo del Re - in the Cremona province. He finds that the tranquillity of the countryside allows him to better focus on his work. Perhaps what has kept Davide going in this most intense of professions, is his attitude towards the craft. When something goes wrong, it has to be corrected, and when something is good, it has to be made even better. His character appears calm, but his close colleagues know that at any given moment there is some new idea whirling about in his mind, some new theory to put to test. Even after years of violin making, his passion for his craft remains more alive than ever, and thus, gives life to every one of his creations.
Davide\'s sells his instruments in Europe, Japan, and the United States.
Davide,Somenzi
