When I began my apprenticeship as a violin maker at the age of seventeen, I knew this: Either I wanted to build violins better than Antonio Stradivari one day—or I wanted to know why that wasn’t possible.
My physics studies later opened up the world of acoustics research to me. To this day, it helps me get closer to unraveling the mystery of sound.
Martin Schleske
Biography
For me, violin making is a triad of passion for craftsmanship, acoustic research, and the creative power of sound.
For over four decades, I have been working to understand the mystery of sound.
Today, soloists and concertmasters around the world play my instruments instead of their old Italian masterpieces. It fills me with gratitude when I am able to give a musician his or her voice.
I hope that one day, when I’m 85, I’ll build my best violin.
Education and Research
- Mittenwald State School of Violin Making (1982–1986)
- Research workshop at Müller-BBM, Planegg, under Prof. Helmut A. Müller (1988–1994)
- Studied physics at Munich University of Applied Sciences (1990–1994). Thesis: Natural Vibrations in the Development of a Violin
- Master’s Examination in the Art of Violin Making (1996)
Studio and Work
- Since 1996, I have operated my own master violin-making workshop in the Munich area
- Research projects funded by the Free State of Bavaria and the European Commission
- Contributing Editor of the Catgut Acoustical Society (New Jersey)
- Member of the art collective Das Rad
- Over 400 hand-crafted violins, violas, and cellos
Personal Information
- Born in Stuttgart in 1965
- Married to Claudia Schleske since 1990
- Two adult sons
Experimental
From time to time, I take the liberty of creating innovative sound sculptures in my studio. These are experiments that know no limits, either in terms of sound or aesthetics.
These sculptures sound however they please and surprise with their uniqueness—whether made of felt, fragments, stingray leather, or clematis blossoms. It is the joy of unfamiliar timbres and a unsettling aesthetic that guides me here.
My Books
The SPIEGEL bestseller with over 120,000 copies sold—now a modern classic.
“Martin Schleske shares the secrets of his craft. Every stage of violin making—from finding the right wood to shaping the arch and varnishing the instrument—serves as a metaphor for personal growth, for our calling, and for our place in life. We become a resonant instrument when the unspeakable, the unheard aspects of life find expression within us. The message of this unique book is reflected in the sensitive photographs by Donata Wenders, the internationally renowned photographer from Berlin.”
The stories Martin Schleske tells are fascinating parables on the themes of inspiration, wisdom, prayer, beauty, love, mysticism, and the soul. With photographs by Donata Wenders and numerous woodcuts by the author.
“365 essays on the resonant experiences of faith and the coherence of our existence.” How does a life of prayer give rise to inner wisdom, joy, and vitality? How can we persevere in difficult times, in loneliness, and in suffering? Martin Schleske explores these and many other questions. He does not write in the language of a theologian, but rather from the workshop and in the language of an artist, a sound researcher, and a violin maker.”
Some of the most beautiful passages from the bestseller WerkZeuge and new reflections—accompanied by watercolors by the renowned artist Andreas Felger. The biblical Psalms are a collection of songs and prayers, often written in poetic language, that have been offering comfort and wisdom to people for more than 2,000 years.
“Martin Schleske is not only one of the greats of violin making, but also a gifted storyteller…”
Süddeutsche Zeitung
Concert-Readings
In our concert-readings, text and sound come together in a lively interplay. Together with violinist Alban Beikircher, free narration and literary texts bring out the depth and diversity of the violin’s sound. The program spans a wide range, from Bach to Messiaen and Lutosławski to contemporary music.
In addition to these artistic formats, I share my research through presentations at international conferences.
Spirituality
“Anyone seeking a fulfilling life has no choice but to ask what it is that should be fulfilled through them.” “That is, I suppose, the essence of happiness, and in that respect it mirrors the way a violin maker works with wood. The sound of life is realized in the grain of the human heart—and cannot be bypassed.”
From: Martin Schleske, Der Klang: On the Unheard Meaning of Life (Kösel-Verlag, Munich 2010)
A healing sound always comes from silence. You have to love it so that the wood can speak to you and, in the end, sing. The violin label and the small brand mark inside my instruments are signatures of my craft. Within them lies a sense of what was alive in the great old masters of violin making and in the compositions of their time:
Music is, ultimately, prayer cast into sound.
Passion
Horses are a major source of inspiration for my work in the workshop. During the quiet hours in the pasture, I experience their soothing presence—each with its own unique tone.
The energy of my hands flows from violin making to the horses and from the horses back to my workshop. That’s how I began working with horses using the Masterson Method®—a form of osteopathic bodywork.
For me, relieving pain and helping a horse regain its balance is just as rewarding as tuning a violin.
