Editing Jacob Stainer (section)

==Biography==
[[Image:Stainer.jpg|thumb|violin by J.Stainer|alt=]]
Jacob Stainer was one of the most famous [[luthier]]s of his time in Europe before [[Stradivari]], and the only non-Italian luthier to rank at the top of that artistic craft. Until orchestral music replaced chamber music as the dominant form, Stainer's violins were more sought-after even than Stradivari's. He was born around 1618<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151127224535/http://jakob-stainer.de/Blog/ID/1/Anmerkungen-zu-Jakob-Stainers-Geburtsjahr Web archive of site]</ref> in Absam; paternal ancestors were from South Tyrol and the father worked in the salt mines. His mother Barbara Pomberger and her parents, Joachim and Anne Posch, were from Absam. The Stainers lived in Absam in ''Breitweg'' near the blacksmith.

Jacob attended the school until 1630, probably learned Latin and spoke Italian. He was sent to Innsbruck to learn the art of [[organ (music)|organ]] building with Daniel Hertz, but not being inclined to the work was directed towards the construction of violins. In this field a good knowledge of technical, artistic, drawing, carving and materials is needed. He then completed an apprenticeship in joinery with a relative, Hanns Grafinger. In {{Circa}}1630 to 1643, he went to [[Cremona]] as [[journeyman]] to complete his training as a luthier, possibly with [[Nicolò Amati]].<ref name="Stainer1">{{cite web|title=Vater der deutschen Geige|url=http://musikinstrumente.musikland-tirol.at/content/musikinstrumenteinhalt/jakobstainer/|website=musikinstrumente.musikland-tirol|language=de}}</ref> Although his name does not appear on the lists of Amati's apprentices, a violin made {{Circa}}1645 has been cited with an original label at the top block stating: "Jacob Stainer/ fecit Cremona 16..";<ref>{{cite book|last=Dilworth|first=John|title=The Brompton's Book of Violin and Bow Makers|year=2012|publisher=Usk Publishing|isbn=9780957349902|url=http://www.amati.com}}</ref> perhaps he also went to [[Venice]] to work for a short period with Vermercati.

The following year he opened his workshop and married, on 26 November, Margarete Holzhammer with whom he had eight children. Stainer continued to produce outstanding instruments for court musicians and for the orchestra of the cathedrals of Innsbruck, Salzburg, Munich, Nuremberg, Bozen (Bolzano), Meran (Merano), Brixen (Bressanone) and the court of Spain. In 1656 he achieved success and bought a house, now known as 'House of Jacob Stainer' ({{langx|de|Stainer-Haus}}) in which he built his instruments, including the most precious one, preserved at the ''Tiroler Landesmuseum (Ferdinandeum)'' [[Innsbruck]].<ref>{{in lang|de}} [http://www.absam.at/system/web/sonderseite.aspx?menuonr=218616420&detailonr=218616420 Gemeinde Absam: Jacob Stainer]</ref><ref>{{in lang|en}} [http://www.hall-wattens.at/en/jacob-stainer-father-german.html Region Hall-Wattens Jakob Stainer]</ref>

In 1658 [[Ferdinand Charles, Archduke of Austria]] awarded him the honour of 'Servant of the Archduke' until 1662 when the Archduke died. In 1669, [[Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor]] appointed him 'Imperial servant'. The same year he was arrested in Innsbruck, having been found in possession of books concerning [[Lutheranism]], and had to do an act of repentance; between 1670 and 1679 he continued to receive orders from the church. In 1680, probably due to persecution as a [[heresy|heretic]], he fell into a manic-depressive syndrome, dying three years later in Absam.<ref>{{in lang|de}} [http://www.geschichte-tirol.com/orte/nordtirol/bezirk-innsbruck-land/219-absam.html Geschichte Tirol: Absam]</ref>

{{The Cremonese violin-making school}}