Throughout the two-week run of the Scotiabank Northern Lights Music Festival, another key player has been working tirelessly behind the scenes – Leyland Hiphner, a luthier who is in Ajijic by courtesy of his employers, Geo. Heinl & Co of Toronto.
Derived from the French word for lute, a luthier makes or repairs stringed instruments: violins, violas, cellos, basses, guitars, etc. These are usually divided into two categories, instruments that are plucked and instruments that are bowed. (A bow-maker is an archetier ... but that’s another story.)
Heinl was founded in 1926 and now boasts four generations of conservators and restorers of, and dealers in, fine and rare instruments.
The company and its team of luthiers are responsible for restoring and maintaining the instruments for the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank.
One of six luthiers, Hiphner is the latest to join the George Heinl family. After obtaining his joinery degree at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, he spent the next two years making custom furniture for select clientele.
Looking to challenge and improve his skills Hiphner attended the Chicago School of Violin Making where for the next three years he pursued this dream, finishing five violins, a viola and cello.A pleasant and unassuming man, it’s obvious that Hiphner enjoys his work. He says he gains great satisfaction from the craftsmanship of using hand-tools and the opportunity to touch and handle a wide range of instruments. Achieving the trust, appreciation and respect of clients is important to him.
Since joining Heinl, Hiphner has moved away from the traditional German method of working – from the outside in – taught at the Chicago School. Always in pursuit of the perfect sound, his research into the subject increased his interest in the old Italian Catenary Method – working from the inside out – that he now follows.
He brings an assortment of bridge blanks and all other essentials with him. Since arriving in Ajijic he’s checked and repaired the instruments of the children at the Centro Regional de Estudios Musicales (CREM), including full, half and quarter-sized violins, full and half-sized cellos and a double bass, together with instruments of some of the teachers and one or two musicians at the festival. There is no charge for this service, which, like the children’s master-classes provided by the visiting musicians, has become a much valued and integral part of the festival.
At the Closing Gala on Saturday March 1, Artistic Director Chris Wilshere thanked Hiphner for working nine hours a day, every day – except the day before he left when he took the morning off! He added, “During that time he repaired and/or serviced over 40 instruments.”
Heinl is very proud of its relationship with the Scotiabank Northern Lights Music Festival. “Being able to send a luthier to repair and restore instruments of those less fortunate, is a source of great pride for all of us at the workshop.”