Description
A viola, circle of Joannes Keffer, Goisern, circa 1790.
Goisern is in the Salzburg valley (Salzkammergut) where a tradition of violin making emerged in the early eighteenth century employing many members of the Keffer, Peer and Gandl families. Instruments made by these makers tend to be more roughly put together, and they were probably intended for provincial traditions that existed outside of the higher art forms of city life. Oddly, I have seen more violas – both contralto tenor size – than other instruments suggesting a culture of village bands, possibly playing in churches, and extending the life of the larger tenor violas for more than a century after they are generally considered to have disappeared from use. Instruments by this circle of makers are maddeningly inconsistent so that two examples with the same label may look strikingly different, but there are a general set of features that allow an attribution to this region.
The best of these instruments can look quite Italianate, reminiscent of Milanese work or early Brescian. Because they add to a tiny number of old violas of a compelling playing size, there has been a habit over the last 150 years or so to pass them off as Testore, Montagnana, Gaspar da Salo, Antonio Mariani and similar. Their existence explains some of the great old Italian violas in the hands of mid-20th century musicians that seem to have disappeared from view after their attribution has been questioned.
This viola, probably by accident rather than design is quite remarkable for its resemblance to Brescian work from the late sixteenth century. The proportions resemble the contralto viola by Gaspar da Salo known as the “Kievemann”, whilst the incredibly high arching is to be found in some of the instruments by Giovanni Paolo Maggini, so much so that it is a compelling contender for the legendary Brescian sound. This instrument has a stout bass bar, but you can see right the way through the soundholes without a trace of it. The original surface has been rubbed down and doctored to give the impression of an Italian varnish. It is certain that this instrument spent a considerable part of its life regarded as one of the great Italian violas. Plus, you gotta love the scroll!
Certificate: Benjamin Hebbert
Condition notes: The instrument is overall in very good condition.
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