Amati Quartet

The University of Saskatchewan instruments are the only set in Canada made by the Amati family.

The 1637 violin previously belonged to the Australian concert violinist Daisy Kennedy (1893–1981).

The viola's back bears the painted crest, or coat of arms, of the House of Borghese, which originally commissioned it.

• Violin 1637, Nicola Amati (Nicolo)
• Violin 1627, Antonio & Girolamo Amati
• Viola 1607, Antonio & Girolamo Amati
• Cello 1690, Girolamo Amati II, aka Hieronymus II

The Amati instruments, two violins, a viola and a cello, were acquired in 1959, from Kindersley farmer and collector Stephen Kolbinson, who sold them to the university at the urging of his friend Murray Adaskin, then the director of the university's music department. The sale price was C$20,000 (equivalent to ${{Inflation|CA|20000|1959|r=-3|fmt=c}} in {{Inflation/year|CA}}), considerably less than their 1959 value, but both men held the deep desire that the instruments be shared with the people of Saskatchewan. In 2016, the combined value of the instruments exceeded $3 million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|CA|3|2016|r=1|fmt=c}} million in {{Inflation/year|CA}}).

In 1968, the first Amati String Quartet was founded by Murray Adaskin and three other faculty members of the University of Saskatchewan: Norma Lee Bisha{{cite web |last1=Mihalovic |first1=John A. |title=Norma Lee Bisha |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/norma-lee-bisha-emc |website=thecanadianencyclopedia.ca |publisher=The Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=9 January 2022}} (second violin), Michael Bowie{{cite web |title=Michael Bowie |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/7651796-Michael-Bowie-3 |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=9 January 2022}} (viola), and Edward Bisha{{cite web |title=Edward Bisha |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edward-bisha-emc |website=thecanadianencyclopedia.ca |publisher=The Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=9 January 2022}} (cello). It gave its first concert on 2 February 1969. Later that same year, Robert Klose was named second violin and Norma Lee Bisha replaced Michael Bowie. The personnel remained stable until the group was supplanted in 1971 by the Canadian Arts Trio after fewer than 10 formal concerts. The quartet was too short-lived to develop a wide repertoire or a distinctive style.{{cite encyclopedia |title=Amati Quartets |first1=Garnet |last1=Ward |first2=Betty |last2=Nygaard King |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/amati-quartet-emc |encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia |date=2017-01-09 |access-date=2020-04-16}}

From 1992 to 1998, the instruments were on loan to the University of Victoria's Lafayette String Quartet, and were then returned to the University of Saskatchewan, held in storage and rarely used in performance. In 2003, in response to growing calls for the instruments to be heard, the Amati Quartet was re-established, with musicians who were already performing under the name The Cole Quartet.

The Amati Quartet in Residence was established in August 2003 with Marla Cole (first violin), Michael Swan{{cite web |last1=Fuller |first1=Cam |title=Violinist Swan...Sept 2017 |url=https://thestarphoenix.com/entertainment/local-arts/violinist-swan-puts-five-centuries-into-one-recital |website=thestarphoenix.com |publisher=The Saskatoon StarPhoenix |access-date=9 January 2022}} (second violin), Geoff Cole{{cite web |title=Elixir Ensemble |url=http://www.elixirensemble.com/ |website=elixirensemble.com |publisher=Elixir Ensemble |access-date=9 January 2022}} (viola) and Linda Bardutz{{cite web |title=Linda Bardutz |url=https://livevictoria.com/lindabardutz&expand_instruments=1 |website=livevictoria.com |publisher=Live Victoria |access-date=9 January 2022}} (cello). In 2004, Luke Hnenny{{cite web |title=Luke Hnenny |url=https://www.lesamateursvirtuoses.com/en/musicians/lukehnenny |website=lesamateursvirtuoses.com |publisher=Les Amateurs Virtuoses |access-date=9 January 2022}} became second violinist and Peter Hedlin replaced Bardutz as cellist. The Amati Quartet performed a yearly recital series, and played at various University of Saskatchewan events. In May 2005, it performed for Queen Elizabeth II during her visit in honour of Saskatchewan's 100th anniversary, and undertook a project to perform all of Joseph Haydn’s string quartets.

It was Marla Cole's wish that the quartet record an album. After she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was able to secure financial help from The Cameco Riders' Touchdown for Dreams program, a partnership between Cameco, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, and the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan.{{cite web |title=Touchdown for Dreams – Archive {{!}} 2015 {{!}} Marla's Dream |url=https://www.cameco.com/community/stories/touchdown-for-dreams-archive |work=Cameco |date=2015-06-09 |access-date=2020-04-16}} The album Passion for Haydn was released in 2016.{{cite web |last1=Charlton |first1=Jonathan |title=Amati Quartet makes Haydn shine...Nov 2016 |url=https://thestarphoenix.com/entertainment/music/amati-quartet-makes-haydn-shine-in-weekend-concert |website=thestarphoenix.com |publisher=The Saskatoon StarPhoenix |access-date=9 January 2022}} Cole died in 2017;{{cite news |title=Saskatoon loses passionate violinist Marla Cole |first=Cam |last=Fuller |work=The StarPhoenix |date=2017-09-22 |url=https://thestarphoenix.com/entertainment/local-arts/saskatoon-loses-passionate-violinist-marla-cole/ |access-date=2020-04-16}} in 2018, the quartet released the album From the Heart,{{cite web |title=Amati Quartet |url=https://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/event-16350/Amati-Quartet#.YdqqiFmIZPY |website=mcnallyrobinson.com |publisher=McNally Robinson |access-date=9 January 2022}} which is dedicated to her.{{cite news |title=Amati Quartet's new album dedicated to Marla Cole |work=The StarPhoenix |date=2018-02-21 |url=https://thestarphoenix.com/entertainment/local-arts/amati-quartets-new-album-dedicated-to-marla-cole/ |access-date=2020-04-16}}

In June 2018, the Amati Quartet played its last concert, which was a fundraiser for the Marla Cole Memorial Fund.{{cite web |title=Marla Cole Memorial Fund |website=Saskatchewan Community Foundation |date=29 November 2018 |url=https://www.saskatooncommunityfoundation.ca/posts/fund/marla-cole-memorial-fund/ |access-date=2020-04-16}} The musicians were her husband Geoff Cole (viola), Rudy Sternadel{{cite web |title=Ménestrel, Aug 2021 |url=http://musiqueroyale.com/event/2021/2021-08-03-Menestrel/ |website=musiqueroyale.com |publisher=Musique Royale |access-date=9 January 2022}} (violin), Terence Sturge{{cite web |title=Sound Xchange |url=https://www.cbc.ca/soundxchange/episodes/2013/05/25/wind-trees-strings/ |website=cbc.ca |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=9 January 2022}} (cello) and violinist Sam Milner.{{cite web |title=Ritornello Chamber Music Festival |url=https://www.facebook.com/RitornelloFest/photos/we-are-fortunate-to-have-our-friend-samuel-milner-joining-us-for-ritornello-10-h/10156477804920762/ |website=facebook.com |publisher=Facebook |access-date=9 January 2022}}

The instruments remain in the possession of the university.

• Passion for Haydn (2016)
• From the Heart (2018)

{{Reflist}}

;Other sources

• {{cite web | author=Lorraine Omness | title=About the Amati instruments | url=http://amatiquartet.usask.ca/instruments | publisher=University of Saskatchewan | year=2008 | accessdate=2008-04-29}}
• {{cite web | author=U of S Archives | title=1969: Amati Quartet Makes its Debut | work=Deo et Patriae | url=http://scaa.usask.ca/gallery/uofs_events/articles/1969.php | publisher=University of Saskatchewan | year=2008 | accessdate=2008-04-29}}

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Category:Amati instruments

Category:Canadian string quartets

Category:Musical groups from Saskatoon

Category:Musical groups established in 2003

Category:2003 establishments in Saskatchewan