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From forest to concert hall, a tree makes an incredible journey to become a beautiful sounding musical instrument. But why does it sound as it does? Is it the quality of the wood? The skill of the instrument builder? What part do the acoustics of performance spaces play?

Radio 3 presenter Martin Handley has played on his Great-Great-Grandfather’s violin since he was seven years old. He’s always admired its beauty and been intrigued by its provenance, which set him to wondering about the alchemy of the relationship between wood and the craftsmen who return it to a living thing.

To find out more, Martin joins violinist Christian Garrick, about whose instrument we know everything, and together they chart a journey backwards from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s Bradshaw Hall to visit the forests of Bavaria. While there, we also discover the surprising story of a little Alpine town that was the cradle of lute & violin-making 500 years ago.

Martin talks to the maker of Christian’s violin – John Dilworth – about the process of building instruments, and what is required from the raw materials. He also meets an acoustician, an engineer and a dendrochronologist who help reveal some of the science behind the music.

The final chapter takes us to forester Andreas Pahler, who lovingly sources the trees that will become countless instruments, the world over, and who takes us to the very spot where Christian’s violin was born.