The violin maker

the long version

The violin does something no other instrument can do, something remarkable, magical, and evocative. It is the closest thing there is to the human voice. No other instrument is steeped in such a rich brew of myth and lore. The making of a violin in the hands of one man, from start to finish, is also something of a miracle. On a quest to learn about what many consider the world's most perfect instrument, author and musician John Marchese befriends an old-world craftsman in Brooklyn, New York: Sam Zygmuntowicz has built instruments for some of the world's most renowned musicians, and professionals from all over make the pilgrimage to his studio to add their names to his waiting list. This intensely human story takes the reader from the workshop in Brooklyn to the rehearsal rooms of Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and to Cremona, the birthplace of Stradivari.--From publisher description.