Arthur Bultitude And The Hill Tradition |
By Richard Sadler |
A Pupil of C. Retford, Arthur Bultitude (1908–1990) worked at W. E. Hill &
Sons for almost forty years and was Workshop Manager at the Hanwell Workshop from
1945 to 1961. Subsequently he worked successfully as a bow maker under
his own name and was awarded the M. B. E. for services to the craft... |
As with “A Tribute”, “Arthur Bultitude And The Hill Tradition” looks closely at Hill
bow makers and their work. It contains much information never previously
published— the result both of first-hand knowledge and painstaking research. |
What became known as “The Hill Tradition” is descended from a rich vein of earlier
traditions— Italian, French, German as well as British. This is reflected
in an interested selection of fine instruments and bows photographed for the
book— including superb examples of Gasparo da Salo, Brothers Amati, Antonio Stradivari,
Francois Tourte and Francois Nicolas Voirin. The achievements of
these makers span almost five hundred years and, as we enter the new Millenium,
continue to provide much inspiration for musicians and craftsmen. |
Amongst the many Hill and Hill-related items specially photographed is a lovely gold
and tourtoiseshell Hill Fleur de Lys bow— used by Fritz Kreisler and reportedly
at one time his favourite bow— over the making of which hovers an interesting
tale.... |
Additionaly, this book features previously unpublished conversations (1977-82) between
Arthur Bultitude and Malcolm Sadler— on bows, bow making and various craftsmen
they had known or worked with. Vivid, frank, enthralling— reading these
is, eerily, almost like being back at the bench with them.... |
There is also a detailed study of the Tubbs family— an important link between earlier
bow making traditions of the Dodd family and those of Hill— togerther with
a focus on the work of the first W. E. Hill & Sons bow maker: the
legendary Samual Allen. |
