CS9/ 05A NEW Handmade violin by Anthony Perry. ‘Copy of Il Cannone’. Circa 2017. Sound sample.

Two-piece back with wide grain and tight figure. Medium-grain front. Amber-red varnish. Rosewood pegs and ebony fittings. String length: 32.9 cms.

This instrument is a copy of ‘Il Cannone’ is a violin created by the Italian violin-maker, Giuseppe Antonio Guarneri of Cremona (1698–1744). It was  also known by the variants Il Cannone del Gesù, the Cannon, often appended with Guarneri del Gesù, the Guarneri trademark.

Il Cannone was named by  former owner, the Italian violin virtuoso Niccolo Paganini (1782–1840), because of its power and resonance. So as  Paganini  is associated with Il Cannone that it is common for the violin to be referenced as ‘Il Cannone, ex Paganini’.

English maker Anthony Perry has made over 80 violins and violas in a career spanning more than 40 years.  He specializes in making full-size, but slightly smaller-proportioned, instruments (in terms of body and/or stop length), making them easier to play but losing none of the tonal quality of larger full-size instruments. The sound quality and responsiveness of his instruments is well-received by the professional players who work at Moseley Violins.