Hermann Janzen Violins

You aspire to hear and feel the sound that lingers in your being of a violin of the past. Maybe it’s a childhood experience. You heard a violin that totally captivated you and ever since you have had a vision of that perfect instrument.

Sharing these impressions and feelings with your violin maker, you have a deep longing for understanding- an understanding that will ultimately lead you to a tool that will allow you to express all that is beautiful in music. Your thoughts are turned to the days of the old maker carving the wood, that took hundreds of years to grow, and now in his hands is shaped into that perfect instrument.

Great strides have been made in understanding this illusive quality we find in the old masterpieces and this opportunity is available to you and it is part of our daily experience in the workshop of Hermann Janzen.

From the selection of the wood to the harmonic design and artistic violin varnish we offer you the opportunity once again.

Are your aspirations to play the perfect instrument? Tell me about them!

-Hermann Janzen

Hermann Janzen was born in 1951 in Ibirama, Santa Catarina, Brazil to the illustrious Luthier, researcher and author Gustav Janzen and his wife Maria Janzen. As a young child, he visited his father’s workbench, learning how to sharpen and use the handsaw, planes, chisels and gouges.

At nine years of age Hermann began a two year journey to build his first instrument; a full size violin built entirely from Brazilian woods. His education included his father’s research and skill in plate tuning, air resonances and how they interact to produce the wonderful sound known as the “Italian Sound”. He studied Cello with the well known music teacher and conductor Ludwig Seier.

At age nine, Hermann began his first instrument, a full size violin and before the age of 14 he had built and sold two more violins as well as fashioned a cello for his own use. He also gained valuable experience maintaining and repairing the string instruments for the Parana University Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra Symfonica da Universidade Federal do Parana).

Hermann’s insatiable quest for knowledge about his craft has led him to travel and study extensively conducting research in such places as:
• Venice – “Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana
• Bologna – “Civico Museo Bibliografico Musicale
• Cremona
• Germany

He also regularly attends master classes, seminars and conferences all over North America.

At present Hermann is building his violins in a studio on his property in Mission City, British Columbia, Canada where he lives with his wife. His children and grandchildren visit him often at his workbench.

“I cannot tell you what a wonderful surprise it was to see your excellent workmanship, to recognize your fine hand with a knife, and to hear the mellow sound and feel the playing ease of the instrument.”

Isaac Stern
Violin by Gustav Janzen

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“…beautiful and excellent workmanship, the instruments are a nice surprise for musicians that are used to playing on Italian masterpieces. These instruments have a typical Italian character and at the same time each one has its own originality. Bravo!”

Alexander Korchagin, cello
Alexander Galkorsky, viola
Andrei Shishloi, 1st violin
The Shostakowitz Quartet, Moscow

Violins by Gustav Janzen
Viola and Cello by Hermann Janzen

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“Since I bought the violin from you I have not performed on my Storioni. I love the instrument and think it is the ultimate in expectations.”

Jerzy Milewski
Soloist and recording artist
Winner of the world competition of Gipsy Music in Hungary and recipient of the coveted Henry Wienawsky Medal

Violin by Hermann Janzen

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“The quickest sale of a violin I ever witnessed was certainly for good reason. The instrument, by Hermann Janzen, defied anything modern either in appearance or sound. My sincere congratulations for creating a great fiddle!”

Steven Staryk
Soloist and recording artist
Violin by Hermann Janzen