Georg Tieffenbrunner

History

Georg TIEFFENBRUNNER (1812-1880) was born in 1812 in Mittenwald and passed away in 1880 in Augsburg. He initially worked for Engleder in Munich before establishing himself in Augsburg. He became the son-in-law and, from 1842, the successor of F. Krenn, a zither maker in Munich. This transition led him to increasingly focus on zither construction. He was appointed luthier to the court and retired in 1875. His business was subsequently managed by his wife until 1881, after which it was taken over by his son, also named Georg, who continued as a guitar maker in Mittenwald.

Craft

• Primary Focus: Georg TIEFFENBRUNNER was chiefly occupied with the creation of plucked instruments, including guitars and zithers.
• Zither Development: He was instrumental in developing the zither from a simple folk instrument into one capable of meeting higher musical demands, leading composer Franz d. P. Ott to refer to him as the "father of the modern zither."
• Violin Making & Repairs: Although primarily focused on plucked instruments, he also occasionally made violins and was highly regarded for his careful repair work.
• Documented Repairs: A repair label bearing his name is found in a viol housed at the Bach Museum in Eisenach.

Influence

• Early Training: According to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, he was a pupil of Kriner in Landshut.
• Violin Making Education: He completed his training as a violin maker while working as an assistant for Engleder in Munich.
• Shift in Focus: His marriage to the daughter of zither maker F. Krenn and subsequent takeover of Krenn's business in 1842 prompted him to increasingly dedicate his efforts to zither construction.

Legacy

• Court Appointment: He achieved the esteemed position of Hofinstrumentenmacher (court instrument maker).
• Family Succession: His business was successfully continued by his wife until 1881, and then by his son, also named Georg, who became a guitar maker in Mittenwald.
• Zither Innovation: His significant contributions to the development of the zither earned him recognition from composer Franz d. P. Ott as the "father of the modern zither."

Further Information

• Workshop Locations: His repair labels indicate workshop addresses in Munich, including "Petersplatz No.811" and "Sendlingerstrasse No.23."

Summary

Georg TIEFFENBRUNNER (1812-1880) was a prominent German instrument maker born in Mittenwald, who worked in Munich and Augsburg. Initially trained in violin making, his marriage into the Krenn family led him to specialize in plucked instruments, particularly the zither, which he significantly advanced. He was appointed court instrument maker and his business was continued by his family after his retirement in 1875.