Regarding the creation of the special “Magister” series for violin, viola, cello; treble, alto, and bass gambas; as well as baroque contrabass and violone:
 
After more than 20 years of experience in historical bow making, meeting countless professional musicians in one-to-one conversation and at specialized training courses, it was time to bring all the knowledge I had gained together and get to its heart.
 
Unlike with modern string playing technique, in the “baroque scene” there are a multitude of differing ideas about how the instruments should function. Bowing technique especially – and thus the expectations one has of the bow – can vary greatly.
 
Despite all these differences, I have nonetheless developed some very basic convictions about what a bow must be able to do, ideas that arose naturally from my intensive work with professional players of many diverse styles. Above all, I expect a bow to function well; this functionality, in combination with excellent workmanship and materials, is a guiding principle of mine. Thus, as an addition to my custom work with individual musicians, I decided to create a high-end standard model for all string instruments of the violin and gamba families.For this reason, I have named the series “Magister” (Latin for “master teacher”). The name stands for quality, clarity, the joy of playing, and continuous personal development.
 
Sincerely,
 
Hagen Schiffler - Lustig