Canadian Viol Makers, Bow Makers and other Businesses:
First and foremost, this page lists information about Canadian instrument and bow makers, plus Canadian restorers and businesses that stock and supply materials for viol players. For those looking to purchase instruments or bows, "originals" may be scarce and expensive. But quite a number of craftspeople replicate period instruments from the exact specifications of instruments preserved in museums. The luthiers and bowmakers within Canada are very accomplished, and their instruments are highly sought by players the world over. A strong argument can be made that replicated instruments may actually produce a more authentic sound than the originals. After all, the instruments played in Bach's time were new! Antiques, although possessing a resonance and beauty widely esteemed today, are unlikely to sound as they did when they first were built.
Within Canada, there are relatively few businesses that sell music and supplies for period instruments. Though we prefer to support Canadian businesses when at all possible, when it comes to buying music and books, or finding a wide selection of strings, the sorry truth is that one must often look outside Canada. Fortunately, a number of specialty early music shops maintain online businesses, and will happily ship to Canada. Links to some of these sources are included at the bottom of this page.
 Instrument Makers: |
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Francis Beaulieu |
Philip L. Davis 67 Wolverleigh Blvd. Toronto, ON M4J 1R6 (416) 466-9619 pdluthier@yahoo.ca (no website) |
Charles Long 23 Lydia Dieppe, NB E1A 4W3 (506) 858-0253 information@violong.com www.violong.com |
Ray Nurse 2716 East 1st Avenue Vancouver, BC V5M 1A7 (604) 255-1874 snailspace@shaw.ca (no website) |
Dominik Zuchowicz 35 Kenora Street Ottawa, ON K1Y 3K7 (613) 729-8956 enquiries@zuchowicz.com www.zuchowicz.com |
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| Bow Makers: |
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Louis Bégin C.P. 131 Lanier, QC JOT IVO (819) 324-0944 lbegin@iq.ca (no website) |
Trevor Ewert 3218 Weimar Line, RR #3 Wellesley, ON N0B 2T0 (519) 699-5748 t.ewert@sympatico.ca www.ewertbows.com |
Stephen Marvin 4 Sandcliffe Road Toronto, ON M6N 2M3 (416) 239-6770 s.marvin@historicalbows.com www.historicalbows.com |
| Repairs, Music and Limited General Supplies: |
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Geo. Heinl & Co. 201 Church Street Toronto, ON M5B 1Y7 (416) 363-0093 www.georgeheinl.com |
The Sound Post 93 Grenville Street Toronto, ON M5S 1B4 (416) 971-6990 www.thesoundpost.com |
Quentin Playfair 99 Ferrier Avenue Toronto, ON (416) 466-1389 qpsd@idirect.com (no website) |
The Recorder Center 984 Dovercourt Road Toronto, ON M6H 2X5 (416) 534-7931 (no email or website) |
Frank Nakashima (sheet music - various publishers) P. O. Box 714, Station P Toronto, ON M5S 2Y4 (416) 920-5025 franknak@interlog.com |
Charles Long 23 rue Lydia Dieppe, NB E1A 4W3 (506) 858-0253 www.violong.com |
| Guy Harrison 792 Gladstone Avenue Ottawa, ON, K1R 6X9 (613) 569-4803 guy@guyharrison.com www.guyharrison.com |
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Viol Music and Supplies, Outside of Canada: |
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Boulder Early Music Shop |
New England Early Music Shop |
Old Manuscripts and Incunabula |