Johann Joseph Held

History

Johann Joseph Held (1823-1904) was born on July 17, 1823, in Flamersheim, Rheinbach (Cologne), Germany, and passed away in 1904. As the son of a musician, he was initially destined for a musical career, becoming a proficient flautist by the age of twelve. At thirteen, he began to learn the violin, which sparked his interest in violin making. His initial attempts in this art were driven by a desire to correct a flaw in his own violin. He gradually developed his skills autodidactically, eventually venturing into constructing new instruments, though he continued to earn his living as a musician. According to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, after his marriage, he moved to Euskirchen and, in 1861, opened a musical instrument shop and repair workshop there. John Dilworth also notes his presence in Euskirchen in 1861 as a flautist and violinist. In 1862, he met Ole Bull, who was taking a cure in Godesberg, and performed several repairs for him. Ole Bull returned to Held in 1878, staying as a guest for fourteen days, during which Held implemented a significant idea from the renowned violinist to achieve an evenly responsive tone across all strings of a violin. Cecie Stainer states that Held moved to his abode in Beuel, opposite Bonn (Rhine), in 1871.

Craft

• Self-Taught Development: Johann Joseph Held developed his violin-making skills autodidactically, initially by repairing instruments and later by constructing new ones.
• Production Volume: He produced between twelve and sixteen violins and violas annually, with assistance from his son and one workman, though he always performed the varnishing himself.
• Tonal Innovation: Held adopted a method, inspired by Ole Bull, involving the oblique position of the bass bar and the placement of the soundpost, to ensure an evenly responsive tone on all strings. He remained faithful to this method for his new violins.
• Material Invention: He invented a "Substanz zum Imprägnieren der Decke" (substance for impregnating the top plate), intended to facilitate a lighter response from the instrument.
• Pattern Copying: Held copied Italian patterns for his instruments.

Influence

• Mentorship: Johann Joseph Held's interest in violin making was initially sparked by his own need to repair his violin. He was largely self-taught.
• Collaboration with Ole Bull: His interaction with the celebrated violinist Ole Bull in 1862 and 1878 significantly influenced his craft, leading to the practical implementation of an idea for achieving an evenly responsive tone in violins.

Legacy

• Family Continuity: His son from his second marriage was expected to become his successor in the craft.
• Awards and Recognition: Johann Joseph Held received numerous accolades for his work, including a Diploma in Vienna (1873), a medal in Düsseldorf (1880), a Diploma in Detmold (1881), silver medals in Krems and Wels (1882), a silver medal in Milan (1884), and a medal in Gorlitz (1889).

Further Information

• Workshop Locations: Johann Joseph Held established a musical instrument shop and repair workshop in Euskirchen in 1861. He later moved his residence and workshop to Beuel, opposite Bonn (Rhine), in 1871.
• Biographical Reference: A biography and picture of Johann Joseph Held can be found in De Wit's Zeitschrift, 1893, No. 34.

Summary

Johann Joseph Held (1823-1904) was a German luthier who began his career as a musician before becoming a self-taught violin maker. He opened a musical instrument business in Euskirchen in 1861 and later moved to Beuel in 1871. Held is noted for his collaboration with violinist Ole Bull, which led to an innovative method for achieving an evenly responsive tone in his instruments, involving the bass bar and soundpost placement. He also invented a substance for impregnating violin tops. Held produced 12-16 instruments annually, copying Italian patterns and personally performing the varnishing. His work earned him several diplomas and medals at various exhibitions.