17/10/2017

Master violinist

Majster husliar

We live in a fast-paced world of technological innovation. Every day we discover new knowledge and inventions that become relics of a bygone era faster than they were born. In the age of Instagram, things become momentary objects of desire, only to fade into oblivion with a swipe of a finger across the screen.

It is all the more worthy of recognition if someone goes against the flow of time. If they create an object that is not intended for quick consumption. An object that is beautiful and creates artistic value for centuries.

Jan Hus Bursik

On the ground floor of an inconspicuous house in the center of Brno, you will find two generations of master violin makers working side by side, whose instruments regularly rank among the top performers in world competitions in Paris and Cremona. Mr. Jan Hus Bursík, together with his two sons Jan and Bronislav, have been restoring meaning to the phrase "handicraft" for decades. Upon entering the studio and looking at the finished instruments, one cannot help but feel a sense of humility and respect for these masters. The world in their workshop takes on completely different dimensions in the context of modern life, and the visitor suddenly thinks about the beauty of traditional work and the meaninglessness of fast consumption.
Everything that goes into making an instrument takes time. The wood used must be matured for at least fifty years, the varnish must dry for several months. Working on one violin takes more than half a year, and until the last moment, the masters are in anticipation of what sound their instrument will make.

Ján Hus Bursík with his sons

"It's a job about patience and details. The quality of the resulting instrument is determined by millimeters, and no one can be built like the other. Paradoxically, it's the small irregularities that give the violin its sonic and visual beauty," says Bronislav.

Violin making

“You can only work on one instrument at a time, so in the morning you know exactly where you left off the night before. We have to be fully aware of every change during the manufacturing process, because even the smallest detail can affect the final sound. Moreover, the instrument has to last for hundreds of years, so 100% precision is an absolute necessity,” adds Jan.
During our conversation with Bronek and Jan, we find more and more similarities between the art of violin making and hand sewing. It is the passion for absolute perfection that draws these two seemingly different crafts together. And the successes of the Bursík studio only confirm this passion. Leading artists of the Czech and Slovak philharmonic societies place their careers in the hands of instruments built by the chisels of the Bursík family. Milan Paľa, one of the most respected violin soloists in Europe, has developed such a close relationship with the studio that together they decided to embark on a journey of innovation, a word that is very rarely heard in the world of classical music.

Violin fingerboard

The custom-built five-string violin created by the Bursí family, combined with the unique playing of Milan Paľa, resulted in a success that has led us to call them the Steve Jobs of classical music.

Finished violin

Next time you visit the Philharmonic, pay special attention to the masterpieces that the artists hold in their hands. You will certainly be captivated by the visual beauty that gives life to notes on paper and turns them into an experience. And if you look really hard, you may come across the work of the Bursík studio. The work of a father and sons that will continue for many generations to come. Our fast-paced, technology-flooded world can only be grateful to them.
17/10/2017