Graditelj violina 
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Violin maker 
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Geigenbaumeister 
Beginnings
Beginnings
The best Croatian violin maker, master craftsman Slavko Domitrović was born on June 30th 1937 at Petrovac, near Sisak, where he completed his secondary music school (violin).
He showed interest in violin making in his youth, so during higher music education he already played on the self-made violin.
At the Music Academy
At the Music Academy
Master Craftsman Domitrović studied the violin at Zagreb Music Academy. During his studies he had opportunity to visit violinmakers, Ivan Hus, Franjo Šnajder and Rudolf Sloković.
He graduated in 1975, in the class of professor Branko Košir, who still plays on Slavko's violin.
Professor Stahuljak noticed Slavko's talent for violin making and helped him to go to Freiburg, Germany, for further studies.
Schooling in Germany
Schooling in Germany
In Freiburg, Germany, in the Workshop of the master craftsman Hans Shicker, Slavko restored and repaired instruments of old, classic schools (Amati, Stradivari, Guarneri, Steiner).
He learnt the secrets of old violin making, and using that experience and knowledge, he made first Domitović violins and sold them in Germany.
Return of the master craftsman
Return of the master craftsman
Master craftsman Domitrović lives at the shores of river Kupa, makes and repairs instruments in the quietness of his home.
Enriched with new knowledge and skills, master craftsman Domitrovic came back to Zagreb in 1983, where he worked as a teacher of violin making at Music School Pavao Markovac and started Workshop for Musical Instruments Making and Restoring.
In 2001, at the competition in Musical Instruments Making 'Jacob Steiner', he won Certificates in three categories, for each of his three instruments: (1) (2) (3).
Today, master craftsman Domitrović lives at the shores of river Kupa, makes and repairs instruments in the quietness of his home.
How to make a violin?
How to make a violin?
Domitrović's violins are entirely handmade, because, as he says, 'A machine has no soul.' To make one instrument, 150 hours of patient work is necessary.
'To be a good instrument maker, one needs to have a good feeling and a good hearing. I can recognize the quality of a future instrument while holding a piece of wood in my hands. The best wood is Bosnian maple, and for the front part (sound board), I use spruce.'
He makes his own varnish, based on recipes of old masters, using different natural resins and essential oils.
Violins with a perfect sound
Violins with a perfect sound
Master Craftsman Domitrović makes violins after three different models: Stradivarius, Guarneri, and his own model, which he designed according to his studies of classic schools.
Beside violins, he makes and restores other stringed instruments: violas, cellos and double basses.
Violins Guarneri, Domitrović, Stradivari You can see each model on the 100 kB picture. |
Violas Big picture (cca 105 kB). |
Cellos and Double Basses Big picture (cca 96 kB). |
Violinists
Violinists
Master Craftsman Domitrović has made more than 250 violins and other stringed instruments. His violins have found a home all around the world: in Wiena, Germany, Spain, the USA. They are played by students and virtosi.
Virtuosi
Goran Končar
First violin of Zagreb quartet. Music education and perfection of playing he achieved at different European Music Academies. He plays at numerous concerts and tours, as a chamber and solo player.
'Violins made by Slavko Domitrovic are pretty and welldone, characterized by rich sound and light articulation of all four strings.'
Zlatko Stahuljak
Violist, professor at Music Academy in Zagreb, and justiciary connoisseur for stringed instruments.
'Slavko Domitrović is one of the best violin makers in the Central and Southeastern Europe.'
Tonko Ninić
Concert master and art director of Zagrebački Solisti. He played with them all around the world, at more than 2500 concerts.
Contact
Contact
If you would like to have an excellent stringed instrument for yourself, or your orchestra, please, contact us at:
Mirjana Leskovar DomitrovićObala Ruđera Boškovića 13
44000 Sisak
Croatia Telefon: +385 (0)44 531 230 E-mail: info@violine-domitrovic.com
Webmaster: ivica2003@gmail.com
With fond remembrance
The best and most famous builder of stringed instruments in Croatia, Slavko Domitrović, passed away on February 10th 2015. He was, and he will stay very much appreciated in Europe and all around the world because of his skills of playing as well as skillful construction of stringed instruments.
For information regarding to the remaining violins which he built, you can contact his wife Mirjana through contact details listed above.
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