Book: The Meisel Family Violinmakers

Early in 1949 at the age of only nineteen, a violinmaker who had just passed his apprenticeship examination made the dangerous journey from his Klingenthal home in East Germany s Music Corner to the West and to freedom. His name was Lothar Meisel, and in his veins flowed the blood of eight previous generations of Meisel family violinmakers who had passed the craft from father to son for nearly three centuries. Eventually Lothar came to settle in the United States in southern Minnesota, where he has continued to create and repair violins. The history of all nine generations of Meisel family violinmakers is chronicled here. The book opens with an account of Lothar's decision to leave and his escape from East Germany. Subsequent chapters follow the life, times and instrument production of each of the nine makers, beginning with Johann Meisel in 1660. Detailed photographs of violins from all but the first maker are provided, along with thorough descriptions of each of the featured violins. Violins, violas and cellos made by Lothar Meisel and his family are on display in the United States at the National Museum of American History (Smithsonian Institution) in Washington, D.C, and the National Music Museum in Vermilion, South Dakota; and in Germany at the Klingenthal Museum, Vogtland, Saxony. 

ISBN: 9780977483129
Binding: Hardcover
Author: K. Lothar Meisel with Betty Vos
Pages: 269
Published: 2007