Violin maker Frank-Ullrich Rittwagen will present his instruments and offer small check-ups of participants' instruments.
"Without consciously deciding to do so, I grew into the approach of the medieval minstrels, who built their instruments in order to play them themselves. The driving force was always the music and the sound of the marvellous Italian models. So after completing my A-levels in music, I decided to go to violin making school in Wales, UK, rather than studying music. After various positions as a journeyman, I passed my master craftsman's examination with honours in 1999. Since then, I have worked independently on around 250 instruments - violins, violas and cellos.
My desire to play an instrument myself that is on a par with the classical models, which are unaffordable for normal people, drove me on in my work. What initially seemed naive, if not presumptuous, gradually took shape, was sold and so a new one had to be made. Many of these instruments are now travelling the world in the hands of concert masters, section leaders and soloists. This also applies to the two violins that have been part of the Vogler Quartet since 2010.
I pay particular attention to the sound setting, which is adapted to both the instrument and the musician. Every body, every hand is different. Instead of purely optical copies, I adopt the old construction technique and then create my own style. In the meantime, I have also made my own violin..."
