Kois, theorbo, archlute, viola da gamba and... banjos

Patricia Stefanelli joue son théorbe réalisé par Éric.

Éric Stefanelli joined the stars in the fall of 2025. Far too soon, leaving a great void in the hearts of many of us.

But his "touch" as a luthier had time to mark the music of many musicians, in France, Europe, but also in China, Japan, and the United States.

An encounter in Burgundy with Patricia Stefanelli and some amazing instruments.

Éric Stefanelli started his luthiering life at a very early age and, at the age of 17, trained as an organ builder with a "companion". This experience allowed him to work restoring instruments in chapels and churches around Nice (France). He then studied classical guitar building with luthier Olivier Fanton d'Andon.

He began making baroque music instruments in 1991, after a period of entrepreneurship breeding koi carp and ornamental fish (well, already the Japanese brand). Patricia and Éric settled in Burgundy in an old family home that needed to be restored, initially with a very small workshop in the attic, later expanded. Éric then participated in exhibitions and conferences and began to build a small clientele.

Serge Leclerc, then director of the Alliance Française in Japan, commissioned a lute from him, and a close friendship developed, particularly around Japanese culture. Serge invited him to Tokyo, where he gave a few lectures and received orders for instruments from lute and theorbo teachers.

Then it was off to China, where Serge Leclerc headed to manage the Alliance Française. Further commissions followed. And the fond memory of a ragtime banjo concert in Chengdu.

Thus, viols da gambas, theorbos, Renaissance guitars, Baroque lutes, archlutes, theorbo lutes, marine trumpets, and numerous lutes were born.

Today, Patricia plays, on a theorbo made by Éric, especially musical pieces dating back to the 16th century (circa 1530), including highly rhythmic dances.

Les ouïes d'un archiluth Stefanelli.

Patricia Stefanelli et un archiluth réalisé par Éric.

Des rouleaux de cire, tous enregistrements anciens de musique de banjo.

It was much later, in 2008, that he opened up even more to the world of the banjo, which also proved to be much more open and welcoming than that of baroque music. Éric confided to Patricia that he felt a true connection with this instrument. "He was a passionate person who loved life and was interested in a huge variety of things," a small spark passed on by his grandfather Henri Pravaz (family of the inventor of the syringe), who gave him his first banjo. Éric played the banjo from the age of 15 until his final year at 69.

This was followed by numerous encounters around this instrument, travels, notably to Chicago, where Patricia and he played ragtime, and years of life and passion. More information and details about Éric Stefanelli's life and his connection to the banjo can be found in this article published in the fall of 2024.

The last time I heard Éric play was at Bluegrass en Morvan 2024, at Lac des Settons, simply put, during the open stage. He delivered a stunningly fluid clawhammer performance to the audience, a truly beautiful moment of magic. We subsequently had several phone conversations about building my own banjo based on his prototype, and then about plans for workshops and concerts, but the story unfortunately ends there. Beyond the usual regrets at the loss of a loved one, I truly felt like I had all too briefly crossed paths with the life of a luminous person. I naturally think about this every time I pick up my banjo.