From Füssen to Today: The History of German Violins and Their Modern Legacy
Germany has a rich tradition of violin making that stretches back over four centuries. From the small workshops of the ‘Freestate’ of Bavaria to the large-scale instrument trade of Saxony, German violins have shaped the way musicians learn, play and enjoy music across the world. Today, German craftsmanship continues to influence both individual luthiers and modern suppliers of stringed instruments. How?
Early Origins in Füssen
The story begins in the 16th century, in the Bavarian town of Füssen. Nestled in the Alps, Füssen became a renowned centre for lute making, and as the violin family began to take shape in Italy, many makers from Füssen travelled south. These early craftsmen carried their skills into Cremona, influencing the development of the instrument at its very heart. Interestingly, looking at the dimensions and proportions of the Füssen style instruments, their musical interval proportions are very different from the later Italian measurements. The early German violins have darker more mysterious interval dimensions like minor fifths, augmented sixths and ‘dissonant’ seconds, whereas the later Italian golden period violins are full of ‘belting’ fifths and ‘sonorous’ thirds and octaves.
The Rise of Markneukirchen, Klingenthal and Mittenwald
By the 17th and 18th centuries, violin making had flourished in Saxony and Bavaria. Three towns in particular, Markneukirchen and Mittenwald, became hubs of production. The Klotz family headed the development in Mittenwald over many generations, where Heberlein and Roth were the prominent families in Markneukirchen. German violins of this period often displayed a sturdier build and darker varnish than their Italian counterparts, reflecting both regional style and practical considerations for durability as well as a difference in visual taste. Bohemian influences from Schönbach (now Luby in the Czech Republic) into Germany in the 17th Century gave that area the nickname, the ‘Saxon-Bohemian-Music-Corner’. I have come across a few Schönbach violins through our shop and one of my own earlier full size instruments was a Bohemian instrument.
Expansion in the 19th Century
The 19th century saw German violin making expand on a remarkable scale. Markneukirchen developed a cottage industry where entire families specialised in different parts of the instrument: scrolls, bodies, varnishing, before the parts were assembled into complete violins in another workshop. Basically streamlining the process of artisan making into a handmade production line. A very ‘lean’ way of production and this allowed Germany to export large numbers of affordable instruments worldwide, particularly to Britain and America. These “trade violins” gave countless students their first opportunity to learn the instrument, making music accessible to many who might otherwise never have played. Two of my grandparents had one violin each from this period. Dutch teachers of my grandparent generation all had to learn to play an instrument at the teacher academy, so granddad chose the violin.
Challenges and Changes in the 20th Century
The two World Wars brought disruption to the violin trade, and the rise of mass production affected quality. After 1945, German violin making split between East and West. In East Germany, state-owned companies such as Musima produced instruments in large numbers, while in the West, family workshops in places like Mittenwald preserved traditional craftsmanship. After the second world war, many German workers, including instrument makers were expelled from Schönbach and settled just over the border in Bubenreuth. The German firm Paesold still operates from there today as a testament to those displaced craftsmen looking for a new home.
German Violin Making Today
German violin- and bow making continues to thrive, balancing tradition with modern needs. The region of Markneukirchen remains a centre for fine luthiers, many of whom are internationally respected. At the same time, companies such as GEWA, based in Adorf near Markneukirchen and Paesold in Bubenreuth, have become leading global suppliers of stringed instruments and accessories. Their products combine the heritage of German craftsmanship with the efficiency of modern production, serving students, teachers and professionals alike.
A Lasting Legacy
From the early workshops of Füssen to today’s respected luthiers and suppliers, German violin making has shown a remarkable ability to adapt and endure. For today’s musicians, German instruments remain a trusted choice, whether you are a beginner picking up your first violin or a professional seeking a finely crafted instrument.
At Bridge Street Violins, we are proud to stock carefully selected German products, including fine made European instruments, trusted dependable bows, and notably the GEWA Luthier II violin case, which continues this long tradition of quality and reliability. After all, those black wooden ‘coffin’ instrument cases (which by the way revolutionalised instrument protection from a leather sleeve to slide the instrument in and out of, to a hinged case) from the early German making era are still around today My granddad’s violin has now passed to me together with one of these wooden cases. It still bears his old nametag: L. Huige. So if anyone could be trusted to make a durable, functional and iconic case, it’s the Germans!