Name: CREMONA QUARTET
SKU: CremonaQuartet

EXQUISITE STRINGS COLLECTION

CREMONA QUARTET brings together four of the world’s most valuable string instruments. Featuring phase-aligned stereo samples and performance-captured vibrato, plus extensive chromatic sampling of 20 articulations, every quirk and nuance of these historic treasures is now available to producers via a wealth of cutting-edge parameter controls.

CREMONA QUARTET Walkthrough

CREMONA QUARTET audio demos

WELCOME TO CREMONA

Known as the birthplace of strings, the Italian city of Cremona has a long and special history. Built hundreds of years ago with wood from surrounding forests, each instrument has its own unique personality, and together their sound represents the heart, soul and magic of the region. A collection of four cherished string instruments dating back to the 1600s, CREMONA QUARTET captures and preserves every detail of their rare characteristics.

Phase-aligned velocity crossfades on long articulations allowing for superbly realistic bow changes.

Innovative modeling of live virtuoso vibrato performances lets you produce highly authentic results with real-time control.

Dial in the perfect timbre for the mood you want, as a real violinist would, with Low-String, High-String and Smart fingerboard positions.

Switch between 20 articulations in total, including Long, Short, Expressive, Dynamic, and Special articulations, all with up to four legato transitions.

Mix close, mid, and far mic positions to create the perfect acoustic space for your strings ensemble.

MEET THE QUARTET

These instruments were made by the finest luthiers in history. With each articulation of every note played by virtuoso performers in Cremona’s Auditorium Giovanni Arvedi, and recorded in exceptional detail, their sounds are now immortalised for contemporary productions.

STRADIVARI VIOLIN - ‘VESUVIUS’

Born around 1644, household name Antonio Stradivari is the most famous luthier in the history of violin making. His innovations in proportion and shape set trends that continue to influence the craft today. His ‘Vesuvius’ violin, the leader of our CREMONA QUARTET, was built in 1727 towards the end of the master craftsman’s golden period.

You can also access the sound of Vesuvius in solo form with STRADIVARI VIOLIN.

Stradivari Violin Solo audio demo

DISCOVER STRADIVARI VIOLIN

STRADIVARI CELLO - ‘STAUFFER’

Though best known for violin making, Stradivari also made other stringed instruments. His ‘Stauffer’ cello, built in 1700, is listed as an Italian national treasure. Completing the quartet with luscious deep tones, it adds weight to the overall sound of the ensemble.

You can also access the sound of Stauffer in solo form with STRADIVARI CELLO.

Stradivari Cello Solo audio demo

DISCOVER STRADIVARI CELLO

GUARNERI VIOLIN - ‘PRINCE DORIA’

Stradivari may be the world’s most famous violin maker, but many of the world’s most prominent players and composers consider Guarneri del Gesù to be the best. The second violin in the quartet is his ‘Prince Doria’, built in 1734.

Guarneri Violin Solo audio demo

AMATI VIOLA - ‘STAUFFER’

A pioneering luthier, Andrea Amati is widely regarded as the inventor of the violin as we know it. His son Gerolamo continued this tradition in the family workshop in Cremona, and built the quartet’s oldest instrument, the ‘Stauffer’ viola, in 1614.

Amati Viola Solo audio demo

AN EXTRAORDINARY RECORDING PROCESS

The sounds of CREMONA QUARTET were captured using a bespoke array of microphones and preamps, placed in a specially designed acoustic environment. Even the local people of Cremona played their part, with all traffic near the auditorium stopped for the duration of the recordings, to ensure that no external noise could interrupt the process.

Situated in the city of Cremona and the home of these precious instruments, the Museo Del Violino enabled the project by allowing the recordings to take place.

The Auditorium Giovanni Arvedi was purpose-built to allow stringed instruments to sound their very best.

The concert hall was designed by Italian architect Giorgio Palù, with consultation from pioneering acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota.

32 microphones were placed around the concert hall in order to capture every possible timbre from each instrument.

All of the recordings were carried out under armed guard, due to the exceptionally high value of the instruments used.

ABOUT E-INSTRUMENTS

Responsible for producing SESSION STRINGS and SESSION HORNS, e-instruments specializes in crafting intensely detailed sampled instruments. They launched the CREMONA QUARTET project to digitally preserve these rare and extraordinary sounds for current and future composers and musicians to use in contemporary production contexts. The team captured the uniquely special character of each instrument using the highest-quality recording equipment.

Read more about e-instruments

AT A GLANCE

Product type:	KOMPLETE Instrument
Instrument type:	Solo Violin, Solo Cello, Solo Viola
For use with:	Free KONTAKT PLAYER version 6.2.2 and higher, or KONTAKT version 6.2.2 and higher.
Sound category:	Solo Strings
Number of NKIs:	2 per instrument, 8 in total
Download size:	Stradivari Violin 23.5 GB (about 39 GB uncompressed sample pool) Guarneri Violin 25.6 GB (about 42 GB uncompressed sample pool) Amati Viola 24.3 GB (about 40 GB uncompressed sample pool) Stradivari Cello 27.3 GB (about 45 GB uncompressed sample pool)
System requirements:	Free KONTAKT PLAYER version 6.2.2 and higher, or KONTAKT version 6.2.2 and higher. Please also see the KONTAKT PLAYER system requirements and the KONTAKT PLAYER FAQ
User Manual online:	STRADIVARI VIOLIN GUARNERI VIOLIN AMATI VIOLA STRADIVARI CELLO
Download manual:	STRADIVARI VIOLIN (PDF) GUARNERI VIOLIN (PDF) AMATI VIOLA (PDF) STRADIVARI CELLO (PDF)

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