Cremona Quartet brings together four of the world’s most treasured string instruments, conveying their sound with stunning authenticity. With phase-aligned stereo samples and meticulously sampled chromatic articulations, you’ll be able to explore every nuance and sonic detail of these historic treasures. Advanced parameter controls provide unrivaled precision, and the addition of the Cremona Quartet Ensemble makes creating detailed arrangements easier than ever.
Welcome to Cremona
The Italian city of Cremona, known as the birthplace of stringed instruments, has a long and special history. Each instrument, built hundreds of years ago from wood from the surrounding forests, has its own unique personality, and together their sound embodies the heart, soul and magic of this region. The Cremona Quartet, a collection of four treasured stringed instruments dating back to the 1600s, captures and preserves every detail of their rare characteristics.
- Phase-aligned velocity transitions on long articulations allow for superbly realistic bow changes
- Innovative live virtuoso vibrato modeling allows for highly realistic results with real-time control
- Customize the perfect tone for the mood, just like a real violinist would, with Low-String, High-String, and Smart fingerboard positions
- Switch between 20 articulations, including Long, Short, Expressive, Dynamic, and Special articulations, each with four legato transitions
- Mix close, middle, and far mic positions to create the perfect acoustic space for your string ensemble
Meet the Quartet
These instruments were made by the finest luthiers (luthieres) in history. Every note played by the virtuoso players at the Auditorium Giovanni Arvedi in Cremona, and recorded with exceptional precision, is now immortalized for the present day.
Stradivarius Violin – “Vesuvius”
Antonio Stradivari was born around 1644 and is the most famous luthier in the history of violin making. His innovations in proportion and form set trends that continue to influence the craft today. His violin “Vesuvius”, the leader of our Cremona Quartet, was made in 1727, at the end of the master’s golden period. You can also enjoy the sound of “Vesuvius” in solo form with the Stradivari Violin Library.
Stradivarius Cello – “Stauffer”
Although Stradivari is best known for making violins, he also made other string instruments. His cello, the Stauffer, made in 1700, is listed as an Italian National Treasure. Complementing the quartet with its rich, deep tones, it adds weight to the ensemble’s overall sound. You can also enjoy the Stauffer in solo form with the Stradivari Cello library.
Guarneri Violin – “Prince Doria”
Stradivari may be the most famous violin maker in the world, but many great performers and composers consider del Gesù (Giuseppe Guarneri’s nickname) to be the best. The second violin in this quartet is his “Prince Doria”, made in 1734.
Amati Viola – “Stauffer”
Andrea Amati, a pioneering luthier, is considered the inventor of the violin as we know it. His son Girolamo continued the tradition in the family workshop in Cremona and in 1614 created the oldest quartet instrument, the Stauffer viola.
The Cremona Quartet Ensemble brings all four instruments together in one place, allowing stunning orchestral arrangements to be created with ease and unrivalled speed. The new Auto Divisi function distributes parts seamlessly across the ensemble, while real vibrato samples for the sustain and marcato articulations give each instrument a distinct personality and character.
An extraordinary recording process
The sounds of the Cremona Quartet were recorded using a specially designed set of microphones and preamplifiers, placed in a specially created acoustic environment. Even the locals of Cremona played their part: during the recording, traffic near the hall was stopped so that no outside noise could disturb the process.
- Located in the city of Cremona and home to these precious instruments, the Museo del Violino (Museum of Musical Instruments) made the project possible by providing the recording space
- The Giovanni Arvedi Auditorium was specially built to allow the string instruments to sound their best
- The concert hall was designed by the Italian architect Giorgio Palu with the help of the Japanese acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota
- 32 microphones were placed throughout the concert hall to capture the various timbres of each instrument
- All recordings were carried out under armed guard due to the exceptional value of the instruments used
