James Worden

Life

James WORDEN (1839-1910) was born at Leyland on August 25, 1839, the son of George and Ann Worden. His father was a descendant of the Wordens of old Worden Hall, and his mother was a descendant of the Plessingtons of the Dimples, an old Lancashire family, whose lineage includes the Rev. J. Plessington, the last British Roman Catholic martyr executed in 1678. Mr. Worden received a liberal elementary education at the school of the Christian Brothers in Preston. He married Miss Mary Anne Stirzaker in 1868 at the church of St. Joseph, Preston. He served an apprenticeship in cabinetmaking before going to Mr. Francis Booth of Wakefield in 1870 to learn organ building, and later worked for the firm of Messrs. Gray & Davidson. He was a practical pianoforte-maker, organ builder, and violin-maker, maintaining a workshop at 83 Friargate Gate in Preston. He led a very active musical career throughout his life.

Characteristics

Output

James Worden produced approximately fifty violins, one tenor, one 'cello, and one guitar.

Models

He made instruments on different models, mostly following Stradivari, but sometimes using an adopted model of his own based on the lines of Maggini. John Dilworth also mentions Personal, Stradivari, and Guarneri-derived models. Henri Poidras states his bow instruments have no definite model.

Workmanship

His workmanship is described as excellent by William Meredith Morris, with Henri Poidras noting good workmanship, and John Dilworth characterizing it as neatly worked.

Materials

The wood used was well chosen for its acoustic properties and generally handsome in appearance. One notable instrument features a Panormo back cut from a partly worked block, discarded by Vincenzo Panormo due to a few worm-holes, which is believed to be from the famous billiard table and exhibits magnificent wood with beautiful cloud-like coruscations and a broad, vivid flame.

Design Elements

The sound-holes in his original instruments are a hybrid between those of Stradivari and Joseph Guarneri. The scroll is beautifully carved and exceedingly graceful, though William Meredith Morris suggests it is too slender for the giant model, lacking the boldness and massiveness desired for such an instrument. The button is not of the usual modern British type, being somewhat smaller and more elongated.

Varnish

He used Whitelaw's varnish in various colours, as well as Walton's. John Dilworth describes it as commercial oil varnish in various shades.

Tone

The tone of his instruments is beautifully sweet and velvet-like. The fiddle with the Panormo back is noted for its round, clear, and penetrating tone.

Labels

His instruments bear labels with dedications to different saints and the motto 'Princeps Pacis'. An example label reads: 'James Worden, Maker / Preston, 1900 / Sub titulo St. Caecelia'.

Influence and legacy

• Apprenticeship: James Worden served an apprenticeship in cabinetmaking.
• Organ Building Training: He learned the trade of organ building from Mr. Francis Booth of Wakefield and later from the firm of Messrs. Gray & Davidson.
• Musical Societies: In 1883, he founded the Preston Harmonic Society, which he continued to conduct. In 1884, he was appointed conductor of the Preston Orpheonic Male Voice Choir, leading them to take second prize at the Inventions Exhibition in London in 1885, following performances at the Liverpool Eisteddfod in 1884 and the Liverpool Exhibition in 1886. He was also associated with the Preston Choral Society, appreciating his collaboration with its conductor, Signor Luigi Resegari.
• Instrument Dedications: Each instrument he finished was dedicated to and placed under the protection of a well-known saint.
• Motto: His instruments often feature the motto 'Princeps Pacis', which is part of the coat of arms of the Borough of Preston, The Paschal Lamb.