|
I want to tell you how much I am enjoying the violin.It is going from strength to strength. Power, richness, ease of speech, and a lovely capacity for quiet intimate playing , these things are all there. I couldn't have done better.
Robin Wedderburn October 2007
"I am extremely pleased with my new Rod Ward viola. It has settled down very quickly to produce a beautiful tone that has both resonace and projection. I would recommend Rod to anyone looking for a new instrument."
Emily Wassell, November 2006
Being a post-graduate student at Trinity College of Music, the
acquisition of a large high quality viola, made by Rod Ward, has really
accelerated my learning process, as well as being a joy to play!
I feel very sure that this instrument will carry me confidently
into the music profession and beyond.
Neil Valentine, October 2005
I have recently had the good fortune of purchasing a Rod Ward violin.
It has a unique sound quality and is an absolute pleasure to play.
My tutor thought that it was a superb instrument and that it would
be very hard to find a better one at any price.
Michael J Pell, April 2002.
I just want to let you know how much I love my new viola. I'd almost
given up hope of finding a small viola with such a gorgeous sound.
My teacher, Robin Ireland, of the Lindsay Quartet, is really impressed
by it, particularly with the tone quality in the higher positions.
Helen Purton
You made me a Benjamin Banks model viola in 1988. I am still playing
the viola and absolutely love it more each year.
Amy Evans, USA, January 2002.
This cello has a comfortable feel in many respects: the stop size
seems "normal" and natural under the fingers, the tone is full and
strong and has within it an underlying human quality. In the playing
of chords, and baroque or classical music especially, the cello
has an appropriate ease and richness of sound. Additionally, the
cello is comfortable for being reasonably light in weight, and has
fine quality fittings which work smoothly. I found this to be a
fine instrument and would be pleased to recommend it.
Oliver Gledhill, soloist. September 2001.
I have no doubt about recommending your violins. The sound of Naomi's
violin is quite fantastic. She will be playing the Brandenburg on
it this autumn.
Fiona Key. September 2001.
I have recently purchased an excellent Rod Ward violin, and a superb
viola, and can thoroughly recommend these high-quality instruments.
They have a beautiful, sonorous and even tone very suitable for
chamber music and solo playing.
Louise Jones, G.R.N.C.M., M.Mus., Perf. Cert.,
Soloist, and Leader of the Gladstone String Quartet. 2000.
I am using the Baroque violin you made me, in the recital on Thursday
at the Purcell Room. It's a lovely fiddle, and like the other violins
I know, that you have produced, has a very pleasant tone. I strongly
recommend this instrument and your other violins for their fine
tone qualities.
Petronella Dittmer, Soloist and leader
of Badinage. 1998.
Rod Ward last year completed for me a Violone, a copy of the Maggini
belonging to the Dolmetsch Collection. The instrument is beautiful
in appearance, and is already producing a sound which compares favourably
with that of other instruments of this type of which I have had
experience, originals and modern copies.
It has been seen and admired by several viol players currently playing
professionally in London. It exemplifies the same high standard
of workmanship which I have observed in Rod Ward's violins, violas
and cellos over the last ten years.
Nigel Amherst, former Principal Bass of
the Boyd Neel Orchestra and Philharmonic of London, Member of the
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and Registrar, Music Dept., Dartington
College of Arts. 1990.
I bought my Rod Ward viola in 1984 and have become more and more
pleased with it.
It had a good clarified sound when I bought it, which has become
more resonant through playing. The strings are well balanced and
the C string speaks particularly well. I can highly recommend his
instruments.
Nicola Hocking. 1985.
I am delighted with the Cello which Rod Ward has recently completed.
This is his first cello and he has used as his model the Ombono
Stradivari of 1726 on which I am playing at present. Having seen
the new instrument through its gestation period, I have been impressed
with the care and affection which Rod Ward has shown in following
his chosen craft. From the player's angle, this cello is a well
made instrument with a fine sound and I am very happy with the prospect
of using it as my second cello for the next year or so.
From Michael Evans. Professor at Trinity
College of Music, London. 1982.
I bought a Rod Ward viola in June 1980, and can honestly say I
have been delighted with it. I felt immediately at home on it, it
has the quality and response that an orchestral player needs, and
I use it now as my main instrument.
The orchestra recently recorded "Tosca" for E.M.I., and I had no
hesitation in using this viola for the solo passages, and I received
nothing but good comments about the instrument from my colleagues.
I feel personally sure that Rod Ward instruments will be very successful,
and until someone leaves that Gaspar or Amati that we're all looking
for, I shall feel privileged to own one and continue to use it daily.
From Robert Leighton, sub-Principal Viola,
Philharmonia Orchestra. 1980.
I was delighted to take possession of the viola at last and have
been playing it non-stop ever since. I am sure that you will be
happy to learn that the viola seems to develop and improve daily
and has already surpassed my initial expectations. Its debut caused
quite a flurry of excitement in our small viola section, and I have
received much favourable comment and approval. I hope you will continue
to make more instruments and of course personal bias moves me to
hope you that you will make many more fine violas for us.
From Susan Ekholm, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra,
Canada. 1978.
As you must have been aware, I derived no little pleasure in playing
on your viola which you submitted to me here a few days ago. Considering
how recently it was made it seemed to me to have striking potential,
and I only wish I had had the privilege of playing on it for a longer
period. Your advent to the field of viola making should be warmly
welcomed and I wish you very great success.
From William Primrose. Banff, Alberta,
Canada. 1978.
This is to highly endorse the work of Mr. Rod Ward, whose viola
no. 8 I have seen and played. It is very finely crafted and possesses
a beautiful dark warm tone. In addition, it is extremely even from
the very bottom register up to the top of the high register. I heartily
recommend it.
From Donald McInnes. Banff, Alberta, Canada.
I am proud to be the owner of Rod Ward's Viola no. 3, which has
been in my possession for over a year. I can only describe it as
a most beautiful instrument. Besides the immaculate visual appearance
the tone is rich and mellow. The instrument is very responsive and
able to produce a wide range of suitable timbre. I would strongly
recommend the purchase of an instrument by Rod Ward, having experienced
the remarkable development of his viola no. 3.
Dear Rod,
Having been the owner of your Viola no. 3 for over a year, I now
feel qualified to give you a reasonable account of its progress.
After purchasing the instrument I started using Pirastro Eudoxa
strings. During the first two weeks of use the tone of the instrument
improved remarkably rapidly, and after about six weeks was beautifully
rich in quality. By this time, I was able to use the viola to audition
at the Guildhall school of music, and was offered a place.
Since then the viola has attracted much interest from fellow string
players, including a number of professional musicians. I now carry
your name and address around with me so that I can refer any potential
customers to you.
The instrument is very responsive and the beautiful sound is not
hard to produce; not like so many instruments that one has to struggle
with.
Although the instrument is very good at the moment, I don't feel
it has quite reached its peak of achievement.
I intend using the viola professionally and it would take a great
deal of persuasion for me to give the instrument up.
I thank you from my heart for producing such a fine viola. All the
best for the future.
From Michael Williams, Student, Royal Academy
of Music. 1977.
I have recently had the pleasure of playing on two violas made
by Rod Ward. I was impressed by the standard of workmanship, and
found both instruments to be very responsive.
Viola no.2 is an instrument 16" in length, which produces a fine
mellow tone, the lower strings in particular having impressively
full tone. Viola no. 3, 16" in length, is an instrument of easily
manageable size. It has a very pleasing tone and an excellent evenness
of quality over all four strings
From Keith Lovell, Dartington String Quartet.
1976.
I write this recommendation as a concert violinist in the Dartington
String Quartet. I have played Violin no.4 , made by Rod Ward, and
it has a rich even tone quality, and speaks easily; and in my opinion
seems good sound craftsmanship.
From Malcolm Latchem, Dartington String
Quartet, 1976.
This viola by Rod Ward seems to me to a very well made instrument,
and has a fine tone, suitable for all purposes of music making.
Malcolm Latchem, who owns violin no. 6.
|
