When the violin-maker Raffaele Fiorini (1828- 1898) opened his workshop in Bologna in 1868, he started the most important and unbroken Italian tradition of violin-making, since the end of the 19th century up to today.

For almost 150 years, great violin-makers Maestri learn and work in this city, among which:
Augusto Pollastri (1877-1927), Giuseppe Fiorini (1861-1934), Cesare Candi (1869-1947), Armando Monterumici (1875-1936), Carlo Carletti (1873- 1941), Gaetano Pollastri (1886-1960), Ansaldo Poggi (1893-1984), Otello Bignami (1914-1989).

This illustrious tradition continues today with the violin-maker Maestro Daniele Canu, who was pupil of Maestro O. Bignami for four years (1979-1983). After a brief experience within the “Consorzio Liutai Bolognesi” (the “Bologna Association of Violinmakers”), Maestro Daniele Canu opened his own workshop in Bologna in 1985. In 1988 he took part in the 10th Italian Contest for Young Violin-makers winning the third prize.

A long-time member of the “Associazione Liutaria Italiana” (A.L.I.) – the “Italian Association of Violin- makers” – he is founder of the “Gruppo Liuteria Bolognese” (G.I.B.) – the “Bologna Group of Violin-makers”.

Upon invitation by several violin-players he moved to Pesaro, the city of Gioachino Rossini, where he has the pleasure of working since 1999, near the Music Conservatory named after the composer. His preference goes to making instruments according to the models of great Bologna Maestroes (A. Pollastri, O. Bignami andA. Poggi). He also gladly makes violins according to the “Cannone” model by Guarnieri del Gesù.

The soft paint which allows instruments to vibrate freely has the red tones of sandal wood and of dragon blood on a golden bottom. Italian, German, American, Taiwanese and Japanese professional musicians play instruments by Maestro Daniele Canu.