ehhh that’s the cost of an expensive professional violin, 20k is more typical for professional grade. and then for students, the cost is more like 1-5k
Most great concert performing violinists (and those of other instruments, of course) will show their worth by 12 years old, because they have to be well on their way by that age anyway. You can't start violin lessons at 16 and then become the best. Look into the biographies of all the current and past great performers: they very often were giving concerts by 12!
as someone who has played the violin for over 20 years I can tell you that unless you have played for a very long time and have gotten used to listening to old strads, you will not be able to tell a great contemporary violin when compared to a strad or a del gesu. This was a very well done video, love this content!
@@pauljones9150 I am not referring to cheap temu violins in my comment. I said, "..a great contemporary violin...", such as a Kurt Widenhouse, or a Joseph Curtin. I would not call a temu violin a great contemporary anything. Read and digest the entire comment before rushing to your keyboard to comment next time?
She keeps saying, "the rich guy," without acknowledging that she IS the rich guy. Except very beautiful. I don't know about you, but even now I couldn't afford $50k in anything, let alone an instrument. And I'm a musician. Yes, high-end pianos are easily that much, and I once played on a 10ft concert grand Kawai worth at least $150k (owned by the university of course), but I never had parents who could afford to provide me with even a decent-quality piano despite the fact that I was once a piano major. The business themes she brings out are interesting though. Long story short, she argues that the value of a violin is almost purely based on marketing. Almost. I mean, the sound has to be good. But sound quality is not what people pay for, apparently. It's popularity. As a filmmaker, I can say that video quality was superb. Her delivery and comfort on camera is engaging, the script is interesting, and the video specs are well thought-out. There's some color grading there, and the color is excellent. Skin tones are perfectly saturated. Shot-to-shot color matching is seamless. The camera must be a a good DSLR like a Sony a7s-iii or better.
If your child’s violin teacher told you your child had a chance of being a world class musician and needed a very good instrument to pursue this career, maybe you would feel differently. People take loans and do what they can for their children.
@@rickjason215 No. $50 is more than most cars, lol, even by today's standards. Most people don't have that kind of money. In the case you described, I'd buy a mid-tier instrument that was a couple thousand dollars. As a musician myself I can easily judge the quality of a classical instrument. Yes, I complained that my parents couldn't afford a high-end piano for me. But even I sounded good on the super cheap, worn out, Story and Clark piano worth probably around $500. A 12-year-old does not need a $50k violin. If a child is that good, as I said, I'd get a $2k violin instead of a $100 one. And I'd tell the child that if he/she wants a $50k violin, to go out and have a few concerts and earn the money themselves to buy it.
@@ramonbmoviesI think we don’t know the whole story about her violin. I know 50k is a lot of money, but maybe their parents took a risk because they saw real potential in her. What I can conclude is that it was money really well spent, she has been using it for more than 15 years and still conserves the same value! I have seen cars for the same price that don’t last a decade and their price go down after every mile.
honestly, I thought this video was stolen from a big youtube channel at first, like how many channels steals documenteries and re-uploads them. But not this is completely original content... such high quality!
Another reference is Saconni's "Secrets of Stradivari" if you can find a copy. From memory, he said the magic was first the genius of the master, then the wood he used from Venice which had been stored on water, then the varnish and finally the fact that the wood had very slowly dried to become thinner over the centuries.
I really enjoyed this excellent piece. Content, quality, delivery... all excellent. Some years ago I had the opportunity to observe a master class given by Joshua Bell. He told the students the story of his Strad, which he called "The Gibson". His story matches your account of the violin which was missing for decades, until the "borrower" confessed on his death bed. Bell recounted that he had visited a renowned violin shop in London prior to performing an evening concert. The proprietor welcomed Maestro Bell warmly (as one does), and asked whether we would like to see "The Gibson", which had recently come in to the shop's possession. "Of course." He tried out the instrument and after a few seconds declared, "I must play this tonight!" An arrangement was made, and he Bell played the evening concert on an instrument he barely knew. He explained to the master class that, as you said, most high valued instruments are owned by wealthy benefactors and loaned to artists. He said that with assistance from financiers, he was one of very few artists able to personally own a top-shelf Stradivarius violin.
Great idea, well executed. Love that she says “different order of operations” after playing beautifully. Perfect combo of biz smarts + artistry. Standing O!
38 years ago, I was dealing vintage Levis. I was on a plane from Japan talking to a Japanese Levis dealer. He told me he was wearing 'red line' Levis which were worth $1,500. The term comes from the red line of thread on the inside seam. So, because of an internal red line of thread, that cannot be seen when the jeans are worn, the wearer is on cloud nine.
Fantastic video and a fine introduction for this channel. I like the fact that Nora was learning some of this information in real time, and we got to "be there" while it was happening. Also, thank you for the musical performance -- honestly I would've been fine with more of it.
Many humans have an empty place in their hierachy of needs that having something like a Strat violin gives their ego the self actualization it needs to feel special, differnt, important and close to greatness.
There is absolutely no way that any Stradivarius sounds anything like it did when it was new. They have all aged and have been repaired and maintained over the centuries. It is likely they sounded much better at the time, but it's impossible to know for sure.
I'd argue the contrary. Small design flaws like cracks in the wood have been phased out, the wood itself has matured therefore the sound has improved.😉
The $14M violin feels like there's a living spirit in it. I'm just listening through the speakers and my eyes are teary. I wonder what it feels like if I'm there on a live play.
I was perfectly open to believing that the Chanot would sound as good as the Strad but in those very brief extracts the Strad seemed to have the edge to my ears, but not by very much. You sounded great on both of them any way!
@@nigelhaywood9753 I can hear a slight difference too, but if the qualities of the two violins are reversed, you would perceive the slightly more smoothness as "better", because it is attached to the name Stradivarius.
Not a violinist but really appreciate fine instruments. This woman is Articulate and so lovely. Would be ideal to be her close friend. She raises a good question about the practical matter of buying a classical Strad violin. Clear sound & projection should be a player's guide.
It was a Guarneri model. Could be that it was just easier to play as stated in the video. Something not talked about in this video is high-end violins (particularly older, high-end violins) have wolf notes. That is, notes so resonate they can kick the bow off the string. Having to play around a wolf can be challenge.
@@syntaxlost9239 as she stated she's been playing that violin for 20 years so her sound production may be ingrained and adapted for that instrument and it can take a while for people to remember how the f to produce sound on a different instrument (you can be sure of this because 99% of youtube info about sound production is wrong). And we can hear a couple of choked notes that can be because of that and because of the instrument being too hard from not being played
I also picked B, because I felt it had more tonality, yet in the end of the video, I saw that the crux was wood tuning pegs. Sound wise both had personalities, it is really hard to tell them apart if you don't know what you're listening to. They made bunch of good points about art and other luxury lifestyle endeavors - they all seem to hang on a certain name, if you don't know it, that ain't it. But it is like that in everything for us in this lifetime, we seek better quality, which means we hear about certain brands of certain products that entice us for the belief that it has to be good.
Pedigree.... Provenance... History.... Documentation. One of my Luthier friends called me many years ago (circa 1980) and said he had a early 18th-century violin someone wanted to sell for $150,000, with papers documenting the various owners from its original maker on. He also had a copy that had been made by one of its owners for display purposes to fool any potential thief. The copy faithfully reproduced the appearance, including scuffs, repairs, color, proportions, in great detail. I played both. The Copy had as beautiful a voice as any fiddle I'd ever heard in person. The original was dull, harsh, nasty. But it had all its paperwork! Investors want the history, not mystery. Almost like investing in a fine piece of furniture.
Violin A definitely had a bit of a more open/resonant sound imo so I was able to guess it, but it's definitely not that big of a difference to justify the price from a player's perspective.
I really salute your parents for purchasing an expensive for a little girl... and why not? Together with the instrument came a lot of insistence, love, coaching, lessons, and it shows in the way you "integrate" into the instrument. Frankly in the end I really was anxious to hear you play your violin and although the Strat might have a creamier & richer range & sound... you and your violin sound beautiful.
A guy I used to work with was a part time violin player for the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and also was a violin collector. He brought several violin players from the BSO to his house and played three violins behind a curtain and had them judge which was the best violin. The Stradivarius came in last. One of the violins was made less than 5 years earlier.
In the general public's mind, Stradivari is like Neil Armstrong who first walked on the moon, and Guarneri is like,.... what's the name of the other guy who came out after Armstrong?
That was a lot of fun! While I do not play, I truly appreciate the art, science, and passion in many things and how each complements the other. I know exactly what you mean about someone wanting to say they have the finest of something, but value is not gauged by only performance even though I feel it should be weighted that way. Nora Ali, along with being pretty, your reactions and inquisitiveness were quite adorable! The search for truth is not as simple as right or wrong, so enjoy the journey. Cheers, Tony
I thought her personal violin had a sweeter sound, whereas the Strad was brighter and more piercing sounding in the higher register. I work on violins for local musicians doing repairs like new bridges, pegs etcetera. I am no master luthier at all, and I wouldn’t dream of touching fine vintage instruments like those in this video. I do have a good ear for instruments that sound excellent and have worked on a few from the mid 1800’s. I mostly work on guitars, banjos, mandolins and other instruments. I build acoustic guitars, ukuleles and banjos. I have had an excellent mentor to teach me many fine points of acoustic instruments and the people who commission me to make them seem pleased. I have been a performer for over 50 years and am well versed in what sounds good, at least to me.
I guess you hit the nail. The Strad apparently is able to play "sharp" when required, while her personal violin gives a "warm" touch (what I liked best). For this the Strad is better able to produce the sound as required.
I am soo glad that you can break down the history down to a science. You would think who would buy the violin(s) for such a price and then play them at home?
As a fan of early music, I could tell immediately that violin A was older (so clearly the Strad), and violin B was more modern. I like A more than B but, superficially, I agree that they are not dramatically different to each other in terms of sound. However I don't understand why people find it so surprising that A is more expensive. A is a historical relic, has a special significance and is unique. B is a very decent violin, and there are hundred of thousands of those. Price is not just about the sound, it's about many people wanting the same rare thing.
I was able to tell the difference. I've listened to many comparisons, even the blind tests where professionals supposedly couldn't tell the difference, but I was always able to pick out the Strad. What I hear in a Strad is a consistent maturity to the tone quality, no matter what string is played, loud or soft, or where it's played. There are new violins that can sound similar in certain areas, and brighter at different volumes, but all of them change the maturity of their sound as they're played, which is what I think some people today consider to sound 'better'. A new violin would favor a younger, more dynamic type of player, while a Strad would favor someone who is more refined and reserved in their playing. A young prodigy like Chloe Chua would bring a lot of dynamic energy to a newer violin, which would sound very exciting, while an older, seasoned player like Hilary Hahn who is a master at refined emotions and subtlety would bring the sound signature of a Strad to life. For me, it's basically this: if you want to put on a performance, choose a newer violin. If you want to tell the story of the music or song, choose the Strad.
besides how it makes an artist feel, i think it's also because the antiques are more likely have had the effort put in to find the best setup. in a way, it's reassuring that such a strong brand still has quality backing it where a lot of other brands are just a feeling.
16:29 even on my bad speakers. You can hear it has more "volume", more "depth". It's like when a quiet, whispy person speaks vs someone who speaks from their chest. The resonance stands out. If you listen carefully, you can hear it. A violinist can put energy into their strokes to sound better, but if the instrument is already amazing, the person doesn't have to work so hard
Antonio Stradivari was buried in Basilica of San Domenico, implying he was a Devout practicing Roman Catholic man. Roman Catholic Church teaches what about Morality & Immorality? Your playing is a Gift to the rest of us, raising us up to somewhat higher level.
Great video! But now you need to do an episode on bows, because their value has also been heavily skewed by collectors. I know they touched on the cost of bows briefly, but I think people would be absolutely shocked to know how much bows run.
Beautifully done, thank you for answering many of my questions 👍 In the future could you do a similar video on original Stainer violins, which were also held in high esteem at the time of Stradivarius. How do they compare?
Your violin was responding better on the fast passages. On the other hand you have more experience with it and you're used to playing a Guarneri-type not Strad-type anyway, so it wasn't really a fair test of the violins.
The same effect goes for the Selmer´s Mark VI alto and tenor saxophones. They really were innovative instruments at the time. So Selmer´s became saxophones of choice for the best musicians and by none other than the great John Coltrane. It´s a self-reinforcing fame. Nowadays, Yanagisawa saxophones are considered the technical perfect woodwinds.
It can be snob appeal, marketing, rareness, feeling, etc. At some point absurdly priced items demand absurd prices due to something other than the quality of craftsmanship.
Thank you for Sharing your quest. It was a pleasure hearing a bit of your music, even with just the speakers on my iMac... You did a fine job of researching and assembling a thoughtful review of the history and various factors that figure into the complex equation. In some ways the question is very much like "How do we decide who is the most beautiful woman in history?"
I found that some violins and mandolins produce a sound from inside the instrument. Great instruments produce a sound that appears to be coming from in front of the instrument. The sound that appears to be coming from in front of the instrument is purer and richer. I have talked to many makers and they just can't understand what I am talking about.
I think the key point here is that while there are many of these tier-one violins that are very good, there are a tiny number that are unbelievably good and that drive the values up across the board. I'm a vintage guitar collector and the same dynamic is at work. There are a tiny number of 1959 sunburst Les Pauls that are incredible beyond belief, and many that are meh. But the magical ones keep the craze going. I remember reading Itzak Perlman played 3 notes on his Strad, put it down and said, "how much?" It was that good.
Paganini should have been mentioned in the section about 19th century violinists. He started the virtuoso craze, coming before Joachim, Sarasate, etc. and influencing many piano virtuosos as well, such as Liszt. Paganini was the original rock start.
Yep, Paganini was the world's first rock star. He made about 1.5 million French francs in one summer there performing in Paris and other cities as well. For the violinist, there was before Paganini and ...after Paganini.
There’s a big difference in the sound, even through my phone speakers. Violin A (turned out to be my guess, the Stradivarius) was alot more resonant than her violin, right off the bat.
Too bad this kind of "tests" do not really bring clarity in anything. The A is more open and resonant, still it could be that the B is the "most expensive".... whatever that means. A Strad or another top tier violin does not equal a better sound in every cirumstance. Second of all, the violinist has to know the instrument and no, a professional does not always know how to play it in the first seconds. Third, the bow is essential. Fourth (relevant to this video): what's the other instrument, what is the difference supposed to be? Fifth of all, how did they record it? Sixth: the result in a given room is not the same as in another room. Seventh: If you give the vioilnist time to get to know both instruments, it means, you cannot compare two recordings, because they cannot be made in the exact moment. And first of all: a true, immensely beautiful instrument carries the sound of all violinists who played it during the centuries. Which means it can virtually give back any sound and the downside of it is, it has almost no "self voice", resulting poorly, when compared with lesser instruments played by poor players -> which brings us back to the "second of all".
The same with guitars, I have played well engineered copies of old Martins that sound as great or “better” that cost a fraction…We value rarity as well as perceived tonal improvements due to age.
I thought that this might be the best against a Walmart Special. Instead, the best against an excellent second-tier instrument. I couldn't tell the difference between the two, and you probably couldn't either. In addition, I was paying too much attention to the violinist and not to the playing. If I had to do it again, I would still watch her. She is not only beautiful but also very talented, and she has a lovely voice that is not too high and not too fast. We men have difficulty understanding a high, shrill, and quick voice. We generally only use about 6000 words a day, while women can easily use 20,000 words as they think while talking. As do all of you, I wish her the very best!
Interesting topic. I think your violin sounded better than the Strad, however, an additional factor could simply be that you are more familiar, and therefore more comfortable, with your own instrument.
I remember the day I went to but a French Horn. I am trumpet player but wanted to "play" a bit with other brass instruments. My trumpet is a very old and dreamy sound Yamaha 6310. The shop sold on sale Chinese trumpets on half price sale, for about $170 (after 50% discount). My Yamaha 6310 costs around $2800. The Chinese trumpet sounded fantastic. I didn't have my Yamaha with me, so I drove 40 Km home and back 40 Km to bring my Yamaha to compare. No one in the store couldn't tell the difference. I asked the sales man and another musician to tell, without looking, which one I am playing. they couldn't say either. I bought the Chinese just for a spare one on the shelf in case I need an extra trumpet on travels or whenever I don't want to take my Yamaha. You do the math.
Double blind trials at the Violin Society of America (players and listeners blindfolded) determined that even trained musicians couldn't tell the difference between Strads and high-quality modern instruments. Sound-wise there is nothing magical about a Strad -- it's just a very good violin, comparable to scores of other excellent European makers or to very good violins being produced today by makers all around the world. The value of the Strad isn't about the sound, it's about the history of the instrument, who's played it, its condition. Like a painting, a Strad is worth what collectors will pay to own it. Strads are routinely loaned to famous musicians because the association with someone famous will enhance its value for the owners.
Forget the market value of sales and auctions. There is an inherent value that an instrument possesses. That would be in the quality of tone and timbre, its playability and ease thereof, its endurance, and to some degree how elegant it looks. An expensive violin will not help a beginner very much. And a very good player can probably deliver a convincing performance on a cheap violin. The qualities of an expensive instrument will become apparent in an acoustic environment where upper partials outside of hearing range will add resonance to lower fundamental frequencies and the timbre that resembles the human voice has the space to sound out.
Her parents bought her a $50k violin when she was twelve!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jesus!!!
ehhh that’s the cost of an expensive professional violin, 20k is more typical for professional grade. and then for students, the cost is more like 1-5k
Most great concert performing violinists (and those of other instruments, of course) will show their worth by 12 years old, because they have to be well on their way by that age anyway. You can't start violin lessons at 16 and then become the best. Look into the biographies of all the current and past great performers: they very often were giving concerts by 12!
They probably thought there was a high chance she'd turn professional. I was an investment in her career.
Compared to the costs of private violin tuition over more than a decade, the violin was cheap.
@@garypippenger202 Daniel Kurganov started at 16. I think most aspiring violinists would be thrilled to get as good.
as someone who has played the violin for over 20 years I can tell you that unless you have played for a very long time and have gotten used to listening to old strads, you will not be able to tell a great contemporary violin when compared to a strad or a del gesu. This was a very well done video, love this content!
Bro no need to gatekeep. Anyone can hear the resonance and "depth" difference between this and an Temu violin
@@pauljones9150 I am not referring to cheap temu violins in my comment. I said, "..a great contemporary violin...", such as a Kurt Widenhouse, or a Joseph Curtin. I would not call a temu violin a great contemporary anything. Read and digest the entire comment before rushing to your keyboard to comment next time?
"Can you guess which one of these violins is worth $14M and which is not"? No, not over youtube through my laptop speakers
@jamesfoo8999 learned that lesson the hard way.
@@CanadianDivergent yeah I paid $10 million for a guitar from youtube ad, sounded terrible IRL
@@jamesfoo8999 😅
My sound is desktop to my main audio system via cable.
@@honesty_-no9he We don't care
She keeps saying, "the rich guy," without acknowledging that she IS the rich guy. Except very beautiful. I don't know about you, but even now I couldn't afford $50k in anything, let alone an instrument. And I'm a musician. Yes, high-end pianos are easily that much, and I once played on a 10ft concert grand Kawai worth at least $150k (owned by the university of course), but I never had parents who could afford to provide me with even a decent-quality piano despite the fact that I was once a piano major.
The business themes she brings out are interesting though. Long story short, she argues that the value of a violin is almost purely based on marketing. Almost. I mean, the sound has to be good. But sound quality is not what people pay for, apparently. It's popularity.
As a filmmaker, I can say that video quality was superb. Her delivery and comfort on camera is engaging, the script is interesting, and the video specs are well thought-out. There's some color grading there, and the color is excellent. Skin tones are perfectly saturated. Shot-to-shot color matching is seamless. The camera must be a a good DSLR like a Sony a7s-iii or better.
If your child’s violin teacher told you your child had a chance of being a world class musician and needed a very good instrument to pursue this career, maybe you would feel differently. People take loans and do what they can for their children.
@@rickjason215 No. $50 is more than most cars, lol, even by today's standards. Most people don't have that kind of money. In the case you described, I'd buy a mid-tier instrument that was a couple thousand dollars. As a musician myself I can easily judge the quality of a classical instrument. Yes, I complained that my parents couldn't afford a high-end piano for me. But even I sounded good on the super cheap, worn out, Story and Clark piano worth probably around $500. A 12-year-old does not need a $50k violin. If a child is that good, as I said, I'd get a $2k violin instead of a $100 one. And I'd tell the child that if he/she wants a $50k violin, to go out and have a few concerts and earn the money themselves to buy it.
@@ramonbmoviesI think we don’t know the whole story about her violin. I know 50k is a lot of money, but maybe their parents took a risk because they saw real potential in her. What I can conclude is that it was money really well spent, she has been using it for more than 15 years and still conserves the same value! I have seen cars for the same price that don’t last a decade and their price go down after every mile.
very beautiful? she is average at best, standard for women are so low these days
Hi I"m Nora and I'm privileged lol
I am obsessed with this episode and the extraordinary melange of subject matter, depth, heart, soul and production values.
honestly, I thought this video was stolen from a big youtube channel at first, like how many channels steals documenteries and re-uploads them. But not this is completely original content... such high quality!
Same here. I rarely subscribe to stuff but their first video was good enough to convince me. They're well funded though so I guess that helps
Their 3rd video went viral with almost a million views. This channel will grow fast.
👎👎👎 When are you going to start your "Learn to Write in English" lessons ?
Your violin is warmer and more soulful.
Fantastic. Brings me back to a time, over 50 years ago, that I may have played a never authenticated Guarneri.
Another reference is Saconni's "Secrets of Stradivari" if you can find a copy. From memory, he said the magic was first the genius of the master, then the wood he used from Venice which had been stored on water, then the varnish and finally the fact that the wood had very slowly dried to become thinner over the centuries.
Fascinating! I still love your old faithful violin you’ve had since childhood, the memories are priceless
violin...second most beautiful sound i have ever heard...no matter the song my eyes sweat...i am a ciello guy though...love the bass
Nice documentary, riveting second-by-second through the very end!
I really enjoyed this excellent piece. Content, quality, delivery... all excellent. Some years ago I had the opportunity to observe a master class given by Joshua Bell. He told the students the story of his Strad, which he called "The Gibson". His story matches your account of the violin which was missing for decades, until the "borrower" confessed on his death bed. Bell recounted that he had visited a renowned violin shop in London prior to performing an evening concert. The proprietor welcomed Maestro Bell warmly (as one does), and asked whether we would like to see "The Gibson", which had recently come in to the shop's possession. "Of course." He tried out the instrument and after a few seconds declared, "I must play this tonight!" An arrangement was made, and he Bell played the evening concert on an instrument he barely knew. He explained to the master class that, as you said, most high valued instruments are owned by wealthy benefactors and loaned to artists. He said that with assistance from financiers, he was one of very few artists able to personally own a top-shelf Stradivarius violin.
Thanks for sharing this story!
14M violin playing on my 1K iPhone built-in speakers
Great idea, well executed. Love that she says “different order of operations” after playing beautifully. Perfect combo of biz smarts + artistry. Standing O!
Thank you very much!
Orgasmic feeling playing That i guess?😂
38 years ago, I was dealing vintage Levis. I was on a plane from Japan talking to a Japanese Levis dealer. He told me he was wearing 'red line' Levis which were worth $1,500. The term comes from the red line of thread on the inside seam. So, because of an internal red line of thread, that cannot be seen when the jeans are worn, the wearer is on cloud nine.
He should wear his jeans inside out 😁
I would not have known that vintage Levi’s Worthing 38 years ago. Very interesting.
Fantastic video and a fine introduction for this channel. I like the fact that Nora was learning some of this information in real time, and we got to "be there" while it was happening. Also, thank you for the musical performance -- honestly I would've been fine with more of it.
Awesome debut. Bravo, Dynamo!
A Stradivarius has become a collectors item. Just like coins or stamps are. These aren't collected because they are better...
Exactly right! They are collected because they are RARE!
Any die-hard fan of Michael Jordan is convinced that their Air Jordans make them jump higher.
" collectors item"
Don't forget they are older then the USA
@@Sarah-im3lp They're not as rare as most people think. Over 500 exist today.
@@ckmoore101 That is what rare mean, kid. 500 of something is quite rare.
Their creations livng on long after they have passed on. The ultimate legacy.
An outstanding and enlightening video that offers much-needed clarity on the endlessly debated mystery of Stradivarius violins. Thank you!
Many humans have an empty place in their hierachy of needs that having something like a Strat violin gives their ego the self actualization it needs to feel special, differnt, important and close to greatness.
Brilliant video. This deserves an award.
There is absolutely no way that any Stradivarius sounds anything like it did when it was new. They have all aged and have been repaired and maintained over the centuries. It is likely they sounded much better at the time, but it's impossible to know for sure.
Noise is still noise no matter how much it costs.
I'd argue the contrary. Small design flaws like cracks in the wood have been phased out, the wood itself has matured therefore the sound has improved.😉
@@geerthenkwijnants "Phased out"?
musical instruments usually sound better the older they get and the more they are played.
@davidlindgren7605 That's what antique instrument dealers tell us.
Thanks, Nora Ali, for this great presentation!
Excellent. Very informative and from a very talented and articulate woman.
Congrats on your new channel!
The $14M violin feels like there's a living spirit in it. I'm just listening through the speakers and my eyes are teary. I wonder what it feels like if I'm there on a live play.
I was perfectly open to believing that the Chanot would sound as good as the Strad but in those very brief extracts the Strad seemed to have the edge to my ears, but not by very much.
You sounded great on both of them any way!
On your phone speakers...
@ No. Actually.
@@nigelhaywood9753 I can hear a slight difference too, but if the qualities of the two violins are reversed, you would perceive the slightly more smoothness as "better", because it is attached to the name Stradivarius.
Not a violinist but really appreciate fine instruments. This woman is
Articulate and so lovely. Would be ideal to be her close friend. She raises a good question about the practical matter of buying a classical
Strad violin. Clear sound & projection should be a player's guide.
Your violin sounds superb even next to the Stratavarius! Amazing your parents purchased such a fine violin for you. They must love you dearly.
I picked B. I wonder if you just played your old violin with more 'love' !?!!
It was a Guarneri model. Could be that it was just easier to play as stated in the video.
Something not talked about in this video is high-end violins (particularly older, high-end violins) have wolf notes. That is, notes so resonate they can kick the bow off the string. Having to play around a wolf can be challenge.
@@syntaxlost9239 as she stated she's been playing that violin for 20 years so her sound production may be ingrained and adapted for that instrument and it can take a while for people to remember how the f to produce sound on a different instrument (you can be sure of this because 99% of youtube info about sound production is wrong). And we can hear a couple of choked notes that can be because of that and because of the instrument being too hard from not being played
I also picked B, because I felt it had more tonality, yet in the end of the video, I saw that the crux was wood tuning pegs. Sound wise both had personalities, it is really hard to tell them apart if you don't know what you're listening to. They made bunch of good points about art and other luxury lifestyle endeavors - they all seem to hang on a certain name, if you don't know it, that ain't it. But it is like that in everything for us in this lifetime, we seek better quality, which means we hear about certain brands of certain products that entice us for the belief that it has to be good.
no, A, she looked more tense holding that. A careless move would cost her a fotune.
You always know how to make your own instrument sound good.
The hardness, strength, and rigidity of the NUT & BRIDGE depicts the sound output a lot & is never considered.
Just a steel nut, changes everything.
Fascinating look into a world most of us will never see (or play).
Pedigree.... Provenance... History.... Documentation.
One of my Luthier friends called me many years ago (circa 1980) and said he had a early 18th-century violin someone wanted to sell for $150,000, with papers documenting the various owners from its original maker on. He also had a copy that had been made by one of its owners for display purposes to fool any potential thief. The copy faithfully reproduced the appearance, including scuffs, repairs, color, proportions, in great detail.
I played both. The Copy had as beautiful a voice as any fiddle I'd ever heard in person. The original was dull, harsh, nasty. But it had all its paperwork!
Investors want the history, not mystery. Almost like investing in a fine piece of furniture.
Violin A definitely had a bit of a more open/resonant sound imo so I was able to guess it, but it's definitely not that big of a difference to justify the price from a player's perspective.
Congrats on the launch, Dynamo.
I prefer the sound of your violin but they both sound beautiful in your skilled hands
I'm just waiting for when they claim to discover Paganini's violin so it'll go for $837.913 billion at auction.
I really salute your parents for purchasing an expensive for a little girl... and why not? Together with the instrument came a lot of insistence, love, coaching, lessons, and it shows in the way you "integrate" into the instrument. Frankly in the end I really was anxious to hear you play your violin and although the Strat might have a creamier & richer range & sound... you and your violin sound beautiful.
This is so kind!! 😊
Apparently a $6,000 is very bit as good, even better !
A guy I used to work with was a part time violin player for the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and also was a violin collector. He brought several violin players from the BSO to his house and played three violins behind a curtain and had them judge which was the best violin. The Stradivarius came in last. One of the violins was made less than 5 years earlier.
Im shocked the channel has so few subscribers. So glad i stumbled across it. Keep it up
This girl plays beautifully,wonderful touch.
yeah, trying playing that vibrato like she does. It's an incredibly difficult hand movement.
The name Stradivarius is very resonant and memorable. Once I heard it, it stayed in my memory forever.
In the general public's mind, Stradivari is like Neil Armstrong who first walked on the moon, and Guarneri is like,.... what's the name of the other guy who came out after Armstrong?
An absolutely brilliant piece! Thanks so much for making this insight. I will cherish the knowledge.
This journalist is so talented and her passion for the topic really elevated a topic I normally have no interest in.
That was a lot of fun!
While I do not play, I truly appreciate the art, science, and passion in many things and how each complements the other.
I know exactly what you mean about someone wanting to say they have the finest of something, but value is not gauged by only performance even though I feel it should be weighted that way.
Nora Ali, along with being pretty, your reactions and inquisitiveness were quite adorable! The search for truth is not as simple as right or wrong, so enjoy the journey.
Cheers, Tony
Wow super intriguing video. I’ve never paid any attention to violins but I really enjoyed this.
I thought her personal violin had a sweeter sound, whereas the Strad was brighter and more piercing sounding in the higher register. I work on violins for local musicians doing repairs like new bridges, pegs etcetera. I am no master luthier at all, and I wouldn’t dream of touching fine vintage instruments like those in this video. I do have a good ear for instruments that sound excellent and have worked on a few from the mid 1800’s. I mostly work on guitars, banjos, mandolins and other instruments. I build acoustic guitars, ukuleles and banjos. I have had an excellent mentor to teach me many fine points of acoustic instruments and the people who commission me to make them seem pleased. I have been a performer for over 50 years and am well versed in what sounds good, at least to me.
I guess you hit the nail.
The Strad apparently is able to play "sharp" when required, while her personal violin gives a "warm" touch (what I liked best).
For this the Strad is better able to produce the sound as required.
LMAO!
Nice Presentation
Awesome video! This was wicked cool to learn about it. I didn't know much about the Stradivarius violines before.
how, this quality for such a small channel? chapeau
Why would the size of the channel matter? It's the vision and competency of the producer that matters.
This channel is part of a larger network called Dynamo.
These two guys have every motivation to make strads even more prestigious and increase the hype. The bias is real
I am soo glad that you can break down the history down to a science. You would think who would buy the violin(s) for such a price and then play them at home?
As a fan of early music, I could tell immediately that violin A was older (so clearly the Strad), and violin B was more modern. I like A more than B but, superficially, I agree that they are not dramatically different to each other in terms of sound. However I don't understand why people find it so surprising that A is more expensive. A is a historical relic, has a special significance and is unique. B is a very decent violin, and there are hundred of thousands of those. Price is not just about the sound, it's about many people wanting the same rare thing.
I was able to tell the difference. I've listened to many comparisons, even the blind tests where professionals supposedly couldn't tell the difference, but I was always able to pick out the Strad. What I hear in a Strad is a consistent maturity to the tone quality, no matter what string is played, loud or soft, or where it's played. There are new violins that can sound similar in certain areas, and brighter at different volumes, but all of them change the maturity of their sound as they're played, which is what I think some people today consider to sound 'better'. A new violin would favor a younger, more dynamic type of player, while a Strad would favor someone who is more refined and reserved in their playing. A young prodigy like Chloe Chua would bring a lot of dynamic energy to a newer violin, which would sound very exciting, while an older, seasoned player like Hilary Hahn who is a master at refined emotions and subtlety would bring the sound signature of a Strad to life.
For me, it's basically this: if you want to put on a performance, choose a newer violin. If you want to tell the story of the music or song, choose the Strad.
besides how it makes an artist feel, i think it's also because the antiques are more likely have had the effort put in to find the best setup. in a way, it's reassuring that such a strong brand still has quality backing it where a lot of other brands are just a feeling.
Great piece of art demo
16:29 even on my bad speakers. You can hear it has more "volume", more "depth". It's like when a quiet, whispy person speaks vs someone who speaks from their chest. The resonance stands out. If you listen carefully, you can hear it. A violinist can put energy into their strokes to sound better, but if the instrument is already amazing, the person doesn't have to work so hard
LOL
The transformation when you played on a Strad is magical very apparent: Placebo effect.
But you perform better on violin that practice more on.
i can play a $14M violin and make it sound like a $1 violin.
When she hit the first few notes
A stood out just something about the way the notes travelled
That was some beautiful playing
great content! Loved hearing your perspective and definitely not sure I could’ve heard the difference 😅
Antonio Stradivari was buried in Basilica of San Domenico, implying he was a Devout practicing Roman Catholic man.
Roman Catholic Church teaches what about Morality & Immorality?
Your playing is a Gift to the rest of us, raising us up to somewhat higher level.
Great video! But now you need to do an episode on bows, because their value has also been heavily skewed by collectors. I know they touched on the cost of bows briefly, but I think people would be absolutely shocked to know how much bows run.
Anyone else suprised how this new channel just uploaded 2 epite tier videos back to back . I thought they had like millions of subs and not just 12k 😂
I hope none of that paint and cosmetics falls on these beautiful violins.
I enjoyed this video SO MUCH!!!!
I thought her violin that her parents bought her at age 12, was like a few hundred dollar, maybe a few thousand.. but 50k.. damn.
Beautifully done, thank you for answering many of my questions 👍
In the future could you do a similar video on original Stainer violins, which were also held in high esteem at the time of Stradivarius. How do they compare?
Your violin was responding better on the fast passages. On the other hand you have more experience with it and you're used to playing a Guarneri-type not Strad-type anyway, so it wasn't really a fair test of the violins.
Fascinating video. Loved it!
Many thanks!
The same effect goes for the Selmer´s Mark VI alto and tenor saxophones. They really were innovative instruments at the time. So Selmer´s became saxophones of choice for the best musicians and by none other than the great John Coltrane. It´s a self-reinforcing fame. Nowadays, Yanagisawa saxophones are considered the technical perfect woodwinds.
If you have a longer version of you playing both violins please upload it and tag me.
It can be snob appeal, marketing, rareness, feeling, etc. At some point absurdly priced items demand absurd prices due to something other than the quality of craftsmanship.
Dynamo coming in hot!!!!
And feat. Nora!?!? Love it
Oh hi James!!
@@norakhorshedaali 👋
Stradivarius was the apple inc. of its time.
Thank you for Sharing your quest. It was a pleasure hearing a bit of your music, even with just the speakers on my iMac... You did a fine job of researching and assembling a thoughtful review of the history and various factors that figure into the complex equation.
In some ways the question is very much like "How do we decide who is the most beautiful woman in history?"
This video make me realize all the collector guitar is pennies compared to all this
Also Strad is basically Counter Strike Weapon skin. Owned by collector to pro player borrow to use them to play in major tournament
Watching this, at the 17:35 mark, I have tears streaming down my face!
I found that some violins and mandolins produce a sound from inside the instrument. Great instruments produce a sound that appears to be coming from in front of the instrument. The sound that appears to be coming from in front of the instrument is purer and richer. I have talked to many makers and they just can't understand what I am talking about.
You might be hearing through your nose.
@@maplebones No it is real. Just be aware of this when you watch other people play.
simply amazing wow
I think the key point here is that while there are many of these tier-one violins that are very good, there are a tiny number that are unbelievably good and that drive the values up across the board. I'm a vintage guitar collector and the same dynamic is at work. There are a tiny number of 1959 sunburst Les Pauls that are incredible beyond belief, and many that are meh. But the magical ones keep the craze going. I remember reading Itzak Perlman played 3 notes on his Strad, put it down and said, "how much?" It was that good.
was Slash playing one of those on November rain?
Paganini should have been mentioned in the section about 19th century violinists. He started the virtuoso craze, coming before Joachim, Sarasate, etc. and influencing many piano virtuosos as well, such as Liszt. Paganini was the original rock start.
Yep, Paganini was the world's first rock star. He made about 1.5 million French francs in one summer there performing in Paris and other cities as well. For the violinist, there was before Paganini and ...after Paganini.
...and a brilliant guitarist!
There’s a big difference in the sound, even through my phone speakers. Violin A (turned out to be my guess, the Stradivarius) was alot more resonant than her violin, right off the bat.
Great content!
Well produced and informative documentary. You also have wonderful musical skills, good on you. ❤
Too bad this kind of "tests" do not really bring clarity in anything. The A is more open and resonant, still it could be that the B is the "most expensive".... whatever that means. A Strad or another top tier violin does not equal a better sound in every cirumstance. Second of all, the violinist has to know the instrument and no, a professional does not always know how to play it in the first seconds. Third, the bow is essential. Fourth (relevant to this video): what's the other instrument, what is the difference supposed to be? Fifth of all, how did they record it? Sixth: the result in a given room is not the same as in another room. Seventh: If you give the vioilnist time to get to know both instruments, it means, you cannot compare two recordings, because they cannot be made in the exact moment. And first of all: a true, immensely beautiful instrument carries the sound of all violinists who played it during the centuries. Which means it can virtually give back any sound and the downside of it is, it has almost no "self voice", resulting poorly, when compared with lesser instruments played by poor players -> which brings us back to the "second of all".
With you on that about the hype with any musical instrument but many want to believe! It is about the musician not the instrument.
The same with guitars, I have played well engineered copies of old Martins that sound as great or “better” that cost a fraction…We value rarity as well as perceived tonal improvements due to age.
I thought that this might be the best against a Walmart Special. Instead, the best against an excellent second-tier instrument. I couldn't tell the difference between the two, and you probably couldn't either. In addition, I was paying too much attention to the violinist and not to the playing. If I had to do it again, I would still watch her. She is not only beautiful but also very talented, and she has a lovely voice that is not too high and not too fast. We men have difficulty understanding a high, shrill, and quick voice. We generally only use about 6000 words a day, while women can easily use 20,000 words as they think while talking. As do all of you, I wish her the very best!
Interesting topic. I think your violin sounded better than the Strad, however, an additional factor could simply be that you are more familiar, and therefore more comfortable, with your own instrument.
Great video. I wish TH-cam had more videos of this quality ❤❤❤❤❤. Thanks for sharing!!
They both sound like my $15 headphones.
I remember the day I went to but a French Horn. I am trumpet player but wanted to "play" a bit with other brass instruments. My trumpet is a very old and dreamy sound Yamaha 6310. The shop sold on sale Chinese trumpets on half price sale, for about $170 (after 50% discount). My Yamaha 6310 costs around $2800. The Chinese trumpet sounded fantastic. I didn't have my Yamaha with me, so I drove 40 Km home and back 40 Km to bring my Yamaha to compare. No one in the store couldn't tell the difference. I asked the sales man and another musician to tell, without looking, which one I am playing. they couldn't say either. I bought the Chinese just for a spare one on the shelf in case I need an extra trumpet on travels or whenever I don't want to take my Yamaha. You do the math.
Double blind trials at the Violin Society of America (players and listeners blindfolded) determined that even trained musicians couldn't tell the difference between Strads and high-quality modern instruments. Sound-wise there is nothing magical about a Strad -- it's just a very good violin, comparable to scores of other excellent European makers or to very good violins being produced today by makers all around the world.
The value of the Strad isn't about the sound, it's about the history of the instrument, who's played it, its condition. Like a painting, a Strad is worth what collectors will pay to own it. Strads are routinely loaned to famous musicians because the association with someone famous will enhance its value for the owners.
Forget the market value of sales and auctions. There is an inherent value that an instrument possesses. That would be in the quality of tone and timbre, its playability and ease thereof, its endurance, and to some degree how elegant it looks. An expensive violin will not help a beginner very much. And a very good player can probably deliver a convincing performance on a cheap violin. The qualities of an expensive instrument will become apparent in an acoustic environment where upper partials outside of hearing range will add resonance to lower fundamental frequencies and the timbre that resembles the human voice has the space to sound out.
I can't tell them apart by ear; it feels like the grandfather of all "you're paying for the name" sales pitches.
An average player can't make the difference obvious. It doesn't mean is not there.
Try this experiment again with violins $5000 and under, please.