Paris, August 29, 1983
Link: Bernard Millant
The scene takes place in New York in the spring
of 1949. I was working as a violinmaker for Mr. Rudié on 49th Street, and I sat
at the same bench with Jacques Français.
My father Max Millant knew the Emil Herrmann
Company, and I went there to meet people. My first contact with Fernando
Sacconi dates from then; he was the director of Herrmann's shop at the time. Our
contact was direct and pleasant, since Sacconi spoke French very well. He knew
Jacques Français well, and there we were, invited to spend a Sunday afternoon
in the spring at his private home on Long Island. A simple reception, relaxed,
a real family atmosphere with the presence of Mrs. Sacconi.
Among violinmakers: what does one talk about?
violins, evidently, and clients, with numerous anecdotes... then after tea,
Sacconi invited us to visit his private workshop – or I should say sanctuary – on
the second floor, the attic of the house. For his pleasure and for the
furthering of our art, he had fixed up a workbench which (as was obvious to an
experienced eye) [made one think] more of an «experimental laboratory» than of
a productive workshop. In one corner I noticed a washing-machine that looked as
if it had been dedicated to other use, and I asked him, “What do you do with this?”
“Oh... I'm experimenting with the treatment of certain types of wood: maple
and spruce.” “What do you soak them in?” “Nothing... I put them in contact
with certain vapors, but if the result is good, I'll tell you later what it's
all about.”
Indefatigable researcher and in love with his
profession, he idolized Antonio Stradivari.
I saw him again later, a good deal later and
many times in my office in Paris, but I never was able to find out how that
experiment turned out.
Paris, August 29,
1983
Taken from the book: «From Violinmaking to Music: The Life and Works of Simone Fernando Sacconi», presented on December 17, 1985 at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. (Cremona, ACLAP, first edition 1985, second edition 1986, pages 77-78 - Italian / English).
© 2023 - In memory of Simone Fernando Sacconi in the 50th Anniversary of his death