L’artigianu
Lute maker
Lute maker in Corsica.
Specialist of Cetera (corsican cittern) and early musics instruments.
“When I was 16, my dream was to buy a Cetera, but nobody was making them anymore… I didn’t have the means for paying a lute maker by myself, so I had this slightly crazy idea to built it on my own ! And it all started here…”
— Ugo
Ugo Casalonga, Atelier de Pigna (2019)
Ugo Casalonga founded the luthier’s house “A Casa Liutaiu” with the ambition to revive forgotten instruments.
For over 35 years, Ugo keeps surprising with singular instrument creations, subtly combining art and craft. Based in the village of Pigna (Balagna, Nothern-Corsica) Ugo creates, crafts and repairs all kind of stringed instruments: plucked stringed instruments like guitar and keyboard instruments like harpsichord. His refined yet eclectic craftsmanship led him to serve the most discerning musicians.
"I attach particular interest in traditional Corsican musical instruments. The study of cittern family instruments, from Middle Ages till today, are very rewarding daily research for the evolution of my work; as so are the meetings with musicians coming from different musical backgrounds. I find inspiration in my workshop, based in Pigna, self-built in rammed earth and terracotta vaults, with two main work spaces: machine tools and assembling, wood supply and varnishing space.”
Raw material of choice.
Premium local woods.
Noce (walnut), Sorbu (rowan), Cipressu (cypress), Bussu (boxwood), Chjarasgiu (cherry), Robinia (robinia), Frassu (ash).
Other species: spruce from Jura or Italian Alps (Val di Flemme), maple from Jura, rosewood and ebony.
Handcrafted manufacturing.
Each instrument is fully handcrafted in the workshop of Pigna along traditional lines, with a close attention to details.
Naturally dried wood, hygrometry control, gluing with hot glue. Shellac lacquer and finish with organic walnut oil.
Custom made instruments.
Conception of a customed instrument for a musician requires joined-up thinking to create a one-off piece of craft, that will best match client’s wishes.
Selection of the woods, desired style, specific sonority, this cannot be improvised when creating a unique piece.
