The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Building musical dreams
Curtin finds true calling constructing violins
By Sandi Kasha, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: February 15, 2007
At one point, Joseph Curtin had aspirations to become a professional violinist, but when things didn't materialize, he found another way to make music.
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By constructing violins, Curtin not only discovered his true calling, but found he could make his mark in the music world without playing a single note.
And others certainly took notice.
Curtin was the recipient of the 2005 MacArthur Fellows Program award, a $500,000 grant that is awarded to individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication to their creative pursuits.
Curtin said he was surprised when he heard the news of the grant, nicknamed the "genius grant."
Being recognized only proved to Curtin that he made the right decision in choosing to construct violins rather than playing them
In the beginning
"I started playing the violin when I was 12," said the 53-year-old Scio Township resident. "I started late and wasn't trained properly. I didn't have private lessons. Violin is hard and it's not a natural instrument to learn."
Despite not having any lessons, Curtin pursued the violin all the way into college.
But the road wasn't smooth.
He attended the University of Western Ontario to study music from 1971 to 1973.
"I dropped out after a teacher told me I'd never make it as a professional," said Curtin, a native of Toronto. "I was heartbroken, frustrated and lost. I didn't know what I was going to do next."
Fate intervened when Curtin met his mentor, Otto Erdesz.
The Hungarian-born Erdesz took the 23-year-old Curtin under his wing and taught him the art of violin making, commonly referred to as lutherie.
"It wasn't something that was appealing to me at first," Curtin recalled. "I didn't want to spend the day in a room full of sawdust all by myself, but that all changed. I found that I really loved it."
Under Erdesz's direction, Curtin found his career path that allowed him to blend his love of creation and design with his passion for the violin.
"I've been making my living making violins ever since," he said.
Even with modern technology replacing handmade creations, the best violins tend to be made by skilled artisans with a passion for detail.
The criteria suits Curtin who said he's interested in both arts and sciences.
The son of a Viennese photographer father and a British painter mother, Curtin grew up with an appreciation for visual arts.
"I spent much of my childhood drawing, designing and building things," he said.
Curtin put those traits to use while under the tutelage of Erdesz.
On his own
Once he felt comfortable in his violin making skills, Curtin moved to Europe, where he met fellow luthier Gregg Alf in Cremona, Italy.
Curtin moved back and forth between Cremona, Paris and Toronto. Then he and Alf decided to move to Ann Arbor, where they set up a workshop under the name Curtin & Alf.
After working together for 12 years, Curtin left in 1997 to open his own workshop on Main Street named Joseph Curtin Studios.
He's created instruments for students and professionals and his name is synonymous with quality.
The shop on Main Street has long closed and Curtin is enjoying the new studio he built next to his home two years ago.
Curtin continues to build distinctive violins using mediums such as maple, spruce and some ebony.
Music and physics
He said that he's interested in the scientific analysis of the violin and has collaborated with physicist Gabriel Weinreich on several projects.
Chelsea resident Weinreich, who worked as a professor of physics at the University of Michigan for 40 years, said that he and Curtin study the acoustics of the violin.
"Recently he's (Curtin) been working to get an idea of a good violin and imitate them," said Weinreich, who retired from the University of Michigan 12 years ago. "Imitating violins is something violin makers have been doing for hundreds of years. Good copying is difficult, but he's produced beautiful copies with good sounds."
Weinreich said while aesthetics are significant, the sound is far more important. Weinreich said he's been working in the field of musical acoustics for about 25 years.
The expertise comes in handy for Curtin, who said that his affiliation with Weinreich has been highly beneficial to his work.
"Joseph and I work together to analyze the sound of a good violin and a poor violin," Weinreich said. "We're looking at what violin structures produce the best sounds. Even though it's still a work in progress, we've made some really good progress."
Aside from his professional relationship with Curtin, Weinreich said that he's impressed with his violin making ability.
"Most violin makers are talented in some areas, he seems to be a well-rounded talent," Weinreich said. "He has a remarkable talent in understanding physics."
It's Curtin's overall enthusiasm with the sound, science and aesthetic quality of the violin that inspires him to continue his work.
Despite his love for his craft, Curtin knows how to relax and pick up interests outside music.
When he's not crafting violins, Curtin said he enjoys unwinding at cafes and working on his fiction.
"I love to write," he said. "I enjoy being in my own little world sometimes."
Curtin has racked up an impressive literary resume. He is a regular contributor to music magazines and various literary journals.
But life's not all about music and literature for Curtin. When not working, he said he enjoys catching a movie with his wife of 13 years, Jesse Richards.
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