Although customers may purchase violas, cellos and basses from the store, Wu is most well-known for his handcrafted violins.
Originally from the Zhejiang province of China, Wu began playing the violin at age 13 when he acquired an old, battered instrument from a neighbor.
“That time in China was start of the Cultural Revolution,” he said. “There was no school, so I stayed home. For a child, it was something [to do] for fun.”
Wu also learned woodworking from an older friend who was an apprentice to a furniture maker, he said. He continued to hone his music and craftsmanship skills throughout his youth, learning from the likes of the late Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra concertmaster Mu Zhen Li.
“[Li] said, ‘Hey Xiao Hua, you have furniture-making skills, why don’t you try to learn to make violins?’” Wu said. “That made me interested in this idea. Then, I had a chance to go to the music conservatory in Shanghai. I [first] learned violin-making in that place.”
Wu later traveled to Cremona, Italy, where he studied violin making from famed craftsman Pier Angelo Balzarini. Even after decades of learning the craft, Wu said he never stops trying to improve, spending up to 600 hours on one instrument, constructing it from raw materials and making his own varnish.
“It takes many, many hours because it’s all hand cut, and every step has to be perfect,” he said. “Violin making is an art. You can always improve.”
Many processes go into creating the final product—cutting the wood, joining the material, forming the mold—and the details are what separates the average violins from the truly great ones, Wu said. If the mold is even a hair’s breadth imprecise, it would make the instrument less desirable.
“Every step has to be a perfect match,” he said.
Although musicians and experts may debate on what makes a violin great, Wu said he personally believes the best violins are versatile—capable of a wide range of tones—which is what really makes music interesting.
“A violin’s sound should be like people’s voices,” he said. “Good sound equals good workmanship.”
Wu has won multiple awards for his craft, and his violins can be found in shops throughout Asia, Europe and North America. He credits his success to a combination of expert mentors, experience and years of dedication—allowing him to leave a legacy of valuable instruments.
“I do everything with a serious [approach],” he said. “I never want to start something and throw it away. That’s not my personality...If you purchase the violin, it’s your property, but it is my name [on the instrument].”
Because of this, Wu said he constantly strives to improve the quality of his products.
“First you learn with your hands,” he said. “You learn the basic techniques. You use your brain to study [the craft]. Then, your heart controls your hands.”
Wu’s Fine Violins
15510 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land
281-565-7088
www.wusviolins.com
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. by appointment
