The Violin Maker: A Search for the Secrets of Craftsmanship, Sound, and Stradivari

“[A] magical, profound, and elegant look at the continued need for high quality in our throw away society.” —Douglas Brinkley, Historian

This intensely human story, which moves from an ageless workshop in Brooklyn to the rehearsal rooms of Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and across the globe to Cremona, the birthplace of Stradivari, opens up for the reader the insular and fascinating realm of music, musicians, and the craftsmanship that is essential to that world.

How does a simple piece of wood become the king of instruments?

On a quest to learn about what many consider the world’s most perfect instrument, author and musician John Marchese befriends Sam Zygmuntowicz, an old-world craftsman in Brooklyn, New York, along with the man who is waiting for Sam’s next violin, Eugene Drucker of the world famous Emerson String Quartet.

The violin does something remarkable, magical, and evocative. It is capable of bringing to life the mathematical marvels of Bach, the moan of a Gypsy melody, the wounded dignity of Beethoven's Concerto in D Major. No other instrument is steeped in such a rich brew of myth and lore—and yet the making of a violin starts with a simple block of wood. The Violin Maker takes the reader on a journey as that block of wood, in the hands of a master craftsman, becomes an instrument to rival one made by the greatest master of all time.

This rich, journalistic exploration of a hidden world reveals the obsession, science, and secrets behind the search for the perfect sound.

• The Master Luthier: Meet Sam Zygmuntowicz, the brilliant, driven craftsman in a Brooklyn workshop obsessed with recreating the magic of the Cremonese masters.
• A High-Stakes Commission: Follow the intensely personal collaboration with Eugene Drucker of the famed Emerson String Quartet, a virtuoso searching for a new voice while still playing a legendary Stradivari.
• The Secrets of Stradivari: Journey from the forests of the Italian Alps to the workshops of Cremona to uncover the history, myth, and science behind the world’s most coveted violins.
• A Celebration of Craftsmanship: An intimate and profound look at the dedication required to turn a simple block of wood into a masterpiece, celebrating the enduring value of quality in a throwaway world.

A musician and award-winning journalist, John Marchese is the author of Renovations: A Father and Son Rebuild a House and Rediscover Each Other. He lives in New York City and in New York's Catskill Mountain region.