Stradivari’s Disciple Don Robertson

Stradivari’s Disciple, Don Robertson

By Robert Graham

ENMU alumnus Donald Robertson (BME 65) is the largest violin dealer in North America.

“Our big market is in the $50,000 or less range for instrument sales,” says Don. He currently has three violins and three cellos on inventory valued at over half a million dollars per instrument, two violas valued over $100,000 per instrument and two basses valued over $200,000 per instrument. The instruments’ production dates range from the 1600s-1800s. One of the instruments, a cello, is a Stradivarius. Stradivariuses are string family instruments produced by the Stradivari family, most notably Antonio Stradivari.

Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737) produced 1,000 instruments, and 650 of those are in existence today. Don sold a 1689 “Archinto” Cremona cello, one of the 55 to 60 cellos Stradivari made. Wood instrument experts consider Stradivari to be the greatest violin maker of all time. “Of the 12 violas Stradivari made, one is coming up for sale in a sealed bid auction. The starting bid is $45 million—three times record price,” says Don.

Robertson & Sons Violin Shop, Inc. specializes in six areas:

• Dealership of Rare and Contemporary Instruments and Bows

• World Class Restoration and Repair

• Valuations and Certificates of Authenticity

• Instruments and bows Sent Out On approval

• Extensive Sheet Music Library

• Nationwide Rental Program

Don opened Robertson & Sons Violin Shop, Inc. after teaching in Albuquerque Public Schools for six years and playing cello in The New Mexico Symphony for 10. He opened the shop in 1971 and says, “at the time, there were one or two shops in Albuquerque that did anything halfway decent with woodwinds, and that was unsatisfactory.” After 26 years in the University of New Mexico vicinity, Don relocated his shop to 3201 Carlisle Boulevard. Not only did Don relocate, but also expand to an 18,000 square foot facility that includes: a recital hall, practice rooms and instrument storage. Robertson & Sons Inc. is one of the few violin shops to repair basses; Don says most violin shops do not have the space to do so. “The biggest influencer on my decision to go into the violin business was my passion for woodworking,” a skill Don says he honed during his formative years by constructing model airplanes.

Don regularly travels internationally to attend auctions and meet with clients interested in selling instruments. “We import a good number of instruments and do most of our sales in the United

States,” Don says. When purchasing instruments, Don notes that provenance, authenticity, condition and tone are key variables for which to look. He spends a good amount of time studying instruments and the more than 20,000 instrument makers as of 2014. Being a good student of his craft allows Don to address fraud, which he says is a factor in the woodwind industry.

Don gave firsthand examples when asked how technology has impacted the woodwind industry. He recently used Computerized Tomography, CT scans, to repair a minor crack near a violin’s sound post that had been created by worms. Don also cited dendrochronology, the study of the width of the growth rings in the top of a spruce. He says dendrochronology will likely debunk many instrument certificates in the years to come. Don added that “if Stradivari had had a band saw, he would have cranked them out like crazy.” Stradivari’s two sons Francesco and Ombono assisted him in instrument production. Similarly, Don’s sons assist him with various facets of the family business from sales to restoration and repair.

Born 30 away from Portales in Muleshoe, Texas, Don’s family relocated to Amarillo when he was young. His grandparents were farmers near Friona, Texas, and his father worked for the Santa Fe Railroad. As a high school student, the Amarillo Symphony tapped Don to join their ranks.

Don’s introduction to ENMU came during his summers as a high school student where he participated in ENMU’s Sunshine

Music Camp, led by than Music Department Chair C.M. Stookey. Teacher and oral conductor Dale Kampter would go on to recruit Don along with other high caliber string students. Don also studied under cello instructor Arthur Welker. “Several of the students with whom I graduated in 1965 are still in the business in some form or fashion—teachers or performers mostly. We had a really swinging thing going,” Don says.

Don still remembers his other introduction to Portales: during the summers, he used to irrigate the peanut fields. Don has not been back on campus since 1965 and says, “it’s time that I get back.”