That's Why Stradivarius Violins Are So Expensive
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ต.ค. 2018
- How much do Stradivarius violins cost? They are said to be among the best violins in the world. Even if you’re not a musician, chances are you’ve heard the name Stradivarius. Many violinists dream of getting a chance to play an instrument made by the greatest violin maker of all time. But why are they so expensive?
Researchers have tried to learn the secret that makes Strads the best violins in the world, and the theories are many. Some say that Stradivarius violins are so superior because of the wood used, the size of the “f-holes” in the design, or the varnish. Some theories claim that the secret is in the uniform density of the 2 wooden panels that form the body of the violin. Others say that the secret is a chemical treatment that’s designed to kill woodworm and fungi.
TIMESTAMPS:
Who Antonio Stradivari was 0:56
How many instruments he made 2:14
What’s so special about Stradivarius violins? 3:10
How much the most expensive Stradivarius was sold for 6:00
The “Messiah” violin 7:46
#stradivarius #violinsecret
Music by Epidemic Sound www.epidemicsound.com/
SUMMARY:
- Stradivarius violins were created by Antonio Stradivari. He was born in 1644 and opened up his violin shop in his hometown of Cremona, Italy.
- In the 1700s, Stradivari decided to improve his style yet again and had what is referred to as his “golden period,” a time when he created the best work of his life.
- Stradivari also produced other stringed instruments: cellos, harps, guitars, and violas. But it was his method of making violins that others would try to replicate for centuries.
- Stradivarius violins produce powerful and penetrating tones. They are said to have “brightness,” “expressiveness,” and “brilliance” (terms that describe sound quality).
- Scientists have tried to figure out if all the hype and myth around Strads is valid. The violins have been run through CT scans and X-rays and been the subjects of multiple studies.
- The most expensive Stradivarius was sold for more than $15 million. But not all Stradivarius violins are so expensive - some are valued at around $2 million.
- With the instruments being so highly prized, there are a lot of instances of people who claimed to be selling genuine Stradivarius instruments that turned out to be fakes.
- The “Messiah” violin, which Stradivari built during his “golden period” in 1716, is believed to be the most immaculate Strad left. It has never been played and has an estimated value of $20 million.
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Hi, Bright Siders! Do you play any musical instruments? 😊
I started off as a violinist when I was 11, but I didn't like it too much, so I switched to double bass at 13 years old. I immediately feel in love with it and I still love it to this day! :-)
Yes I play the Piano!!!!!!
BTW YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT :)
Piano ;)
I play violin for a living. It’s the only occupation I’ve ever had. I’ve been playing for 43 years.
I have a feeling twoset is gonna criticize this video
I hope they do!!!
ssme goes here 😂
bruh bright side should start citing their information. i bet more than half is wikipedia.
Ling ling does not approve.
Yi Song Ding and? There’s no problem with that
Ling ling doesn’t need this violin to make a beautiful sound
That's because Ling Ling practices instead of watching click bait videos on youtube
@@Kwaalt haha true and you aren't practicing u need the 40hrs
HAHAHAHHAHAHA TRUE
LING LINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!
Ling ling can make viola sounds as good as violin
The only really important characteristic about his good violins are that the trees were grown in a very cold area without much growth per year. This made the individual layers of the tree very thin, so there were multiple thin layers very close to each other. This made the wood very dense, which proved well for the sound. The f-holes don't really matter that much. It's probably just the antiqueness and the fact it was made by a famous violin maker that makes them so famous.
Also, the wood for the Strads was pre-industrial age, so no pollutant absorption compared to anything made today unless grown in a biosphere or something. Hmmm...
A very (like days ago) study shows that the chemical treatment of the wood might also have made a difference. Antonio Stradivari and Guarneri del gesu both seem to have used the same treatment
We have cold weather areas today.
Standard joke: of 1100 Stradivarius instruments, only 3000 have survived 😄
BAHAAHA
655
I played a Strad once, and it sounded terrible. But then again, I had never played a violin before, so that might have had something to do with it.
PointyTailofSatan v
Sure you did
Yeah, violins are really hard to make sound good if you don’t know what you’re doing. It awesome that you got to play one though.
You are more than lucky that someone let you touch a Stradivarius without being a violinist.
@@marffvmarffv5438 exactly
I am the proud owner of a Stradivarius and a Picasso. Unfortunately Stradivarius couldn't paint and Picasso made terrible violins!
Wow u r ritch and wow but what about a viola tgo?
Very funny!
Sounds like a Jack Benny joke.
JohnCurry, Stradivarius painted with sound and Picasso played with paint!
Very good. That joke made it into our Christmas Panto.
Why do you have the smiling Nepalese man at 5:08 when you remark about sound projection being tested in a lab? What is this absurd use of stock video footage?
Probably because it projected into Nepal, seems self evident to me 🤣
You aint got nothing on Ben Lee's 24K gold violin with 5 strings
inTRESting
@@willhunt2456 AMAZING!!!!
@@willhunt2456 *B natural to B flat*
@@user-yr5yl6zt5l LING LING 40 HOUR
Its not a violin if it has 5 strings lol
The Stradivarius is expensive because 1: They are old, 2: There are very few of them, 3: There is a market.
@Martin Turner Indeed. (Included in ”The Market”.)
5. The sound is sooooo great
@@HCBMD Not true. High-quality newer violins consistently get rated as better than Strads in all blind tests that have ever been done. Stradivarius violins simply don't sound better than newer instruments, according to science.
@@kylehart8829 They sound great, it's true. He didn't say "they sound better than every violins ever created".
@@Alexilbello1993 If you buy a multi-million dollar instrument for the sound of it, you're delusional. High-quality modern instruments are just as good and cost a tiny fraction of the price of a Stradivarius. He was a good violin maker, obviously, but there are better violins around so buying one for its supposed "richness of tone" or whatever is ridiculous.
When I was young, I told my violin teacher (the legendary George Bornoff) that I was unhappy with my instrument and wanted to get something else. He handed me his instrument and said to try it. It was the best instrument I had ever played. I said, "Yeah, I want one like this." He laughed. I looked inside. The label said Antonio Stradivari 1704.
Years later, after he died, I was told that it wasn't in fact a Strad but a Vuillaume, a famous violin repairman and builder in 19th century France who built exquisite replicas of Strads. So, it might have "just" been a copy but it was still pretty amazing.
Your experience seems to lightly support my suspicions that the methods used to make the violin was what gave Stradivarius its distinctive sound. I think the issue is how they put the parts together, not just the kind of wood and varnish.
AnTonio SsTradivari was born
in The CiTy of Cremona ITaLy
How Strads are expensive.
Thumbnail: *the corners of the f-holes*
Me: *[visible confusion]*
When a video says "keep watching to find out blah blah blah" you can tell the whole thing is clickbait!
you can tell it's clickbait when you see it's brightside
You know instead of getting money from clicks on TH-cam videos it’s watch time
And ads
Keeping à Stradivarius in a museum or library is a crime! They should be loaned out to orchestras or solo artists and played!
Amen to that! And they shouldn't be so expensive so musicians could afford them. It is auction houses and the rich elite who have driven the price out reach of even the best violinists.
Most of them are Loaned out or rented out.......it's quite rare for an owner to be some dude in an orchestra someware,it's reasons are self explanatory really.....I 100% agree with you though that ALL Stradivarius's should be played and enjoyed by as many people as possible rather than sitting in some rich persons glass cabinet as some " Party piece" or some way of them saying "That's Rare,Its mine! and Nobody else can touch it!".....Sadly that happens all to often with historical instruments but luckily when it comes to Stradivarius's people have realised that doing just that won't win you ANY friends or respect rather the opposite!.......I think that if you really do your research you will find that most of the "Virtuosic" players using a Stradivarius are playing somone else's because the odds of being born into a family rich enough to buy you one is more remote than winning the lottery!.....As a few people have stated though when these instruments were actually "New" there really wasn't much fuss about them at all.Having said that though there MUST be somthing about them for them to have survived for over 200 years!......In such quantities,(not that there's that many left but there's really no other examples of exquisite workmanship in instruments of similar age and prestige as a Stradivarius).....We lost so many great church organs in WW2 and other conflicts......war is an enemy of Music as much as it is humanity!......very sad indeed!
+@korrespondenz lübeck There is no scientific evidence for this, at all.
@@NeverTalkToCops1 Well to be clear old violin sounds better than a freshly made unused one since the wood is old and dry and can vibrate much better to exert a force of clear eco type of sound .
That s why if u are a musician u will know that old instruments are more expensive than new made ones . Just a heads up , have a good day !
@korrespondenz lübeck true
Strads are expensive because of the history. The sounds and playabilty are subjective.
True, just like the music that is played on them. It is literally impossible to quantify artistic expression, and everyone has at least slightly different ears, for some it is a drastic difference. But, if there are that many of them still around, it is testament at the very least to the quality of their building, and the materials they were made from. And if they hadn't been at least very good sounding instruments, the company would most likely never have been a company, let alone stayed in business. But the fact they are made from woods that were cut in _The Little Ice Age,_ (the grain of the wood is denser during colder years, this increases the woods resonance) and that the wood has aged for so long (woods that have aged are almost always far more stable and harder still), they are made from better materials than we have access to today. Other than the odd stash of lumber one _might_ come across.
@@aylbdrmadison1051 ~ Scientifically speaking, all things in the material world are quantifiable if you know the rules of the game, which we often do not.
The reason why a Strad is so expensive is plain and simple because of the name. There is only about 300 of them in the world, and there will NEVER be new strads because Mr. Stradivarius is dead. Honestly, there is no reason to be paying $1.6 million for a violin. Even the bad Strads command such prices! (yes, there are bad strads also). You want a good quality hand-made violin with a good sound? Anywhere from $5000 to $10,000 can get you one. Cheaper if you look into the Chinese market for the same quality intrument. Obviously, this involves buying from relatively unknown, but good, makers. But if you go in the $10,000-$50,000 range, it's because the makers are famous (like Mr. Burgess and other contemporaries), so a big part of that price range goes into the name.
Gucci. The Waldorf. Hamptons. Park Avenue. However ... Aristotle was a giant intellect. Rembrandt was without a shadow of doubt the greatest artist who has ever lived. Michelangelo is head and shoulders above any sculptor. J.S. Bach resonates to Heaven. Levi Strauss does make better jeans. A Ferrari ...? They have some little quirks to them (like you can't really drive them anywhere much, especially not over speed bumps). I like the story of the investor who asked Picasso for a $30,000 painting. Picasso dipped a round into black paint, put a dot on a blank canvas, signed his name, and collected $30,000. "Strads" seem to have become a collector's item, and like a man above here hinted, they won't necessarily improve your playing. I'm off to find a $15,000 handbag for my mistress. Jeeves, the Phantom today, please.
Its probably like any musical instruments. Its up to the player to decide what kind of sound they like. I've been a guitar player most of my life and have played guitars worth thousands that I didn't care for the sound and or feel of.. and I've played some lower priced instruments that I would have rather owned.
I have played on at least 6 Stradivari that were in the Library of Congress, American Museum of the Smithsonian, and several owned privately. Not only did they all sound better than my Johannes Gagliano made in 1781 which I always loved, they were beautifully made. In the American Museum I played on the Hellier which is a decorated violin. I was playing softly towards the back of their hall and my 2 friends who were sitting at a table near the front stopped me and told me that they could not hear each other even though they are sitting right next to one another.
The sound of an instrument makes is highly dependent on the quality of the bow being used and on the way the violinist plays. Strads do not like being playing harshly with the violinist pressing with the bow.
I have a strad copy which i believe was built in Germany around 1890. My aunt played violin all her life with this one instrument. She absolutely loved it and I look after it now. I've had a go with it but I can only make it scream! I'll stick to the guitar!
BRIGHT SIDE is the reason youtube needs a "block channel" button.
You got that right. I HATE these BRIGHT SIDE videos... pure trash.
ikr
@New Vines 2019 I clicked just to hate on it, TBH
There is a chrome extension that do this, it is called "Video Blocker" and I'm gonna add this channel right away.
@@crispycat7230 lol they used the same emoji bright side did in their comment
Because they are old, rare and extremely well made.
Your welcome.
Same as burying a 20 dollar pocket watch and digging it up 200 years later and is now worth 20 dollars.
I played the violin for 10 years and I knew it was only modeled after a Stradivarius because of the interior labeling. My parents bought it for me in the late 1960's as a new violin. It had lovely tone quality! To this day, I am sorry I sold it in the late 1970's in favor of pursuing professional voice training. I hope whoever may own it now is enjoying it even more than I did!
My violin was a Johannes Gagliano made around 1780. His grandfather was one of the last students of Nicolo Amati but overlapped Stradivarius. My bow, which makes a huge difference in sound quality, was a François Tourte, probably made in the 1790s, and considered by a large percentage of players to have been the greatest bow maker. I got the chance to play on at least 8 or 9 Stradivarius violins, mostly at the Library of Congress and the American Museum of the Smithsonian including the Hellier Stradivarius. It not only sounded fantastic, it is a decorated instrument. Look it up, it is quite beautiful. It also has the largest inside volume of any Stradivarius. . I was also able to play on a number of Guarneri del gesus, which some violinists consider to be as good or better than the Stradivarius. Every aspect of the great violins and bows are important. The quality of the wood, the treatment, the outline, the arches, the thicknessing of the wood, even the scroll. There is no "secret" to the Stradivarius, there were many aspects that added up to their greatness.
Yes- the quality of Bows being hugely responsible for the quality of your Violin's tone is an entirely other Subject adding to the complexity of this Instrument.
And if I may add with the exception of antique Collectibles the bow often cost more than the violin.
I play too. But I'm not worthy to even gaze at a Stradivarius directly or to look it up on the net, let alone playing one or even holding it in my hands. You are lucky,,, favored by the gods.
My life has been blessed in many ways but I am certainly not favored by the gods. In 2000, I had a bicycle accident that left me a quadriplegic. This summer I broke my hip. I was not doing as well as 2 to 5 years after my accident and now I am not doing that well. I have lots of good support which makes up for a lot.@@humanbeing1429
Salt water (brine) heat treated maple added to the shaping, preserving, and bending. Does it have "gills?" I can't play violin, but ... when I turn 90, I will play. Thank you for your reply.
What I find disturbing about the (b)rightside "video" is the TOTALLY inane inclusion of the random clips and stills that have no connection to the subject at hand nor respect deserved to the viewers.
Probably assembled by staffers who have never actually been to any concert featuring the violin.
Too Campy.
Too campy ..........?
"Disturbing?" Isn't that a bit strong? It makes you sound like a snob!
When the content of the "video" purports to be a authoritative source of information and is addressing the viewer who, not knowing that field, may rightly assume that information accurate until presented with apparently more credible facts.
If not disturbing, at least misleading and irresponsible.
AND stating better information has nothing to do with snobbery. It's incumbent the one making their point be willing to be able to defend that position.
As a violin maker who have seen and played on several stardivarius violins i have to say that they are NOT the best instruments in the world. They are reaching the high prices only because he was a famous worker and one student of Amati who was the father of the violin making.
He has NOT set the standard on how an instrument should sound. When he first introduced his instruments musician did not like them at all, because they were too penetrant, loud and too harsh for the musician of that time. They were used to viola da gamba, who was a warm instrument with less projection.
Also the f holes do NOT decide if a sound will be loud or not. The top plate decides how a violin will sound like and not even the back of the violin plays a big role.
Most of his instruments stradivari did not make by himself. He had a big workshop with many violinmaker. Also his sons were making under his name. When he died there were 90 unvarnished violins in his workshop.
For the last. The strads I have played did not sound special.They did not sound well. The playability was terrible also the projection of the sound.
Thank you for a refreshing slice of logical reality Daniel!!!
I have played violin now for 55 years. Even had an opportunity to play the Wanamaker Strad here in Philadelphia PA at Adolph Primavera's shop at 18th & Walnut about 1980. I didn't think the tonal quality was superb by any stretch of the ear!!! It was selling then for a paltry $250,000.
My life experience in performance has taught me it's not the instrument, it's the players ability to play said instrument!!!
Yea, so, I'm a cellist. If f holes are big or not doesn't affect the sound, but their position does. Was the position in Stradivarius violins different or something?
the position is always the same. the measurement has to be the same. The wood around the f holes affects the sound. If it is thin or thick, how stiff or flexible. that decides how the wood will vibrate.
@@daniellipkanov4424 Interesting, thanks. And the size of the wood piece that holds the strings ("cavalete" in portuguese, idk how is called in english) matters for the quality of the sound?
yes. the bridge plays a big role for the sound. if the bridge is thin or thick, light or heavy wood, high or low. everything could change the sound more or less.
I had the honor of testing out a Strad (courtesy of my teacher who had one on loan) and it was definitely quite a unique sound and feel, at least compared to other (read: plebeian) violins I have played. In some aspects I felt other violins were better but overall I was very pleased, even after accounting for the starstruck emotions. The bow and strings make almost as big a difference as the violin itself so that makes it quite hard to judge which pairing would really strike its chord.
Trivia: My own is a 1901 modeled after Amati.
Excuse me but the term "Strad" is reserved only for people that own one.
Ling Ling can make a $20 violin sound even more beautiful than a $2M Strad
My understanding of the awesome sound quality of the Strads is because of the closeness of the wood grains in the instruments due to the Little Ice Age of Antonio's time period. Trees grew slower because of the colder temperatures, and with the close wood grains, sound was able to pass through the instrument more efficiently.
LOL!!!!!
A chemistry professor attributes the superior sound due to age, due to the wood being dragged in the canals of Venice and wood varnishes placed on the instruments at the time of construction. The professor tested his theory and makes violins that have been rated superior to Stradivarius.
They are expensive because an item is worth what a person will pay for it. And we have people who have so much money that collecting such items is more about them saying look what I can pay for this, rather than what the item is actually worth to most people with common sense.
No violinist who owns a Strad does so for boasting purposes. Violinists who play a Strad more often than not use one given to them on long-term loan because of their talents, or go into deep debt to acquire one.
Saying that buying an expensive item is "more about them saying 'look what I can pay for this', rather than what the item is actually worth to most people with common sense [i.e., people who can't afford the item]…" , it's pretty clear you don't know any serious collectors.
@Paul Zink. But there are also collectors who buy expensive paintings and then hang them upside down. Many, who are really rich, doesn't know about arts, they buy things because they can. If it is expensive, it must be good, right? I don't think many violinists who play a Strad owns their instrument. Most are a loan from a museum or investor who have bought the instrument so they can let musicians play it. Same as horses, not many riders own the horse they ride.
People paid thousands for Benny Goodman's clarinet(one of them) it was a stock Selmer
All musicians are cringing before viewing the video to see how much is just basic knowledge that many go WOOOOOOOWWWW!
And the length of the quote 'f' holes doesn't just make more 'sound', But changes its strength and many more factors in its texture. The main reason wasn't just quantity of volume released but many other factors that make creating violins an extremely respected art form.
Also the reason for the preference to the new violins is likely to any type of instrument. The ergonomics can really be the dominant factor in making the musician prefer it as it is mostly more comfortable which mentally affects many things. This sounds like s**t but for musicians in anything ever the weight ratio of a drumstick can affect EVERYTHING!
How the instrument is played affects the sound quality as much as the craftsmanship of the manufacturing. A pianist I met could make an average piano sound like a concert grand in spite of the fact the piano hadn't been tuned in over two years. Technique and style count.
Thomas Ewing I’ve been playing guitar for almost 50 years and I can make a cheap junker sound pretty good because I know how. You’re right.
Yes the musician playing it makes a huge difference, after all the musician uses the instrument to channel one's soul.
Thomas Ewing, VERY true that. The same even applies to sports cars. I've seen people buy a Ferrari and moan that they were unimpressed with the performance. Then they take it to Maranello (the home of Ferrari) and pay a test driver to get the fastest lap possible from it. They were shocked to see him drive with their cars almost 3-4 mph quicker per lap. It's all about skill and technique. Another interesting example was Ferrari's greatest driver Michael Schumacher. He left his old team Benetton to drive for them. The man given his old car was Gerhard Berger, who certainly had more than enough experience to perform well with the car. Berger tried setting up the car suspension, transmission and steering to his preferences and hit the track. He crashed after only a few laps! It took him all winter to understand how the car functioned some of the engineers couldn't believe Schumacher won 9 races and a world title with that same car. But he did. Berger nearly won a race with it but the mechanics lacked the magic touch of those that Schumacher took with him to Ferrari including Ross Brawn. As a result, it was horribly unreliable and it broke down when he was headed for a surefire win in Germany in 1996. The team improved the following year and at the same track where he had that heartbreaking failure, Berger crushed his rivals in majestic style and swept home to one of the most amazing wins I've ever seen in my lifetime. I was very honored to witness it on TV. I still consider it among the 10 greatest races in the last 50 years.
As one of my day gigs between teaching jobs, I co-managed a Music store. If you want a thumbnail for the perceptual acuity of the consumer, count how many people come in with a yard sale Violin (only $20.00!) that says "Stradivarius Cremona", made in Czechoslovakia, Korea (before N. or S.), China, Taiwan or Hong Kong, with all those things on white paper labels, written in ENGLISH inside the F-holes. We were always polite, because (in addition to being an Educator in the retail business) I believed we are/were an extension of the Education Profession ourselves. Some of them took the news really hard. I HOPE their kids went on to play and use the Violins because it was still very likely that at THAT price they were a bargain. But I did see more than one wind up in the parking lot recycle bin. Even if you have to put $50.00 into a violin that cost you $20.00 (bridge, strings, microtuners, peg/bow rosin) you made out like a bandit. Forget the labels...make some Music...
a 20 dollar violin, if it holds up is perfect for a beginger or even a kid. if they break it no biggy. my first violin came to around $600 that was like back in 2002 i want to say.
The subject test says it all. A great deal of magical sound quality hype has been affixed to the Stradiuarius throughout the last century, which mostly has to do with the way humans twist quality with high price, ie. "It has a million dollar price tag, therefore it is the best in the world". No. The summary of the subject is as follows; It's a quality violin with the highest antiquity value in the world. That is all.
I would prefer a new violin. Not because it's better or worst, since the difference is small, but because of the pressure of having that much of a responsibility. I believe it would cripple my playing and enjoyment. These violins belong in museums as part of history, and for the study of violin perfection.
No, friend: they belong on the concert stage.
Stradivarius also produced baseball bats for the old Italian League in Italy. Joe DiMaggio had a collection of Strad bats but was unable to use any of them in MLB games because of the pressure from American bat manufacturers. Tests showed that the Strad bats could make a baseball go almost 1.25 times farther when hit with the same amount of power.
The violin in my profile pic was appraised by two different luthiers as being about 250 years old. One said it was german, the other said it was Italian. It was a wonderful violin to play.....very rainbowy and I had a professional violinist whisper in my ear, after having played the instrument....that I should sell everything I owned to buy it. Unfortunately, it didn't belong to me but to a friend who allowed me to play it for about 14 years....but sadly I had to give it back. I keep waiting for Antique's Roadshow to come around so we can bring it and get it appraised by folks who know for sure. It has no label so ..who knows ! It would be fun to get some info on it.
"Yo Yo Ma" .. the most gangsta Asian name ever..
My violin is about US$ 70 and comes with case and bow. Stradivarius model. Mass produced. I'm satisfied with it. The musician is what makes the difference.
Yes. You are correct. The musician is what makes the difference. But think about it, if the musician is really good and professional Ray Chen for example. They do kind of need a better violin and bow. They wouldn't be as good with a 80 dollar violin than a 5k - 10k violin. Like you said the musician is what actually makes the difference but in the long run you will need a better violin. That does not mean you need to buy a Stradivarius or some other expensive violin. You will just need to buy a good quality violin.
I'd say you're right. I saw Chet Atkins play a cheap guitar once. Didn't sound cheap at all.
An instrument will never will never make beautiful sounds on its own.
The musician is the transmission.
I played a game of billiards with a cue i purchased. With all the bells and whistles, 600.00 investment.
Got beat with a broom handle. Lol
I play B flat clarinet, played it in high school, just recently started playing again at my church. I came across this video because I am very interested in learning to play the violin. Thanks for this very informative video. I do have some friends who play, violin - 2 of them, one mandolin, one cello - I shared the stage with them a few years back in something we had going at the local community college called, "Country Music Showcase", check out The Hall Sisters! But right now, I am just checking things out, trying to learn, hoping to get a good violin to start with soon.
My great-grandfather was played violin for over 100 years ago, so...
I GOT A VIOLIN!!! I'M SOOO HAPPY NOW! and yes i have to practice every time!
A violin and a radio antenna have one thing in common: they are insanely effective at turning one type of vibration into another.
Vibrating strings lead to vibrations in the air we call music, alternating current in the transmitter circuits lead to electromagnetic vibrations in the air we call radio waves.
But while the radio antenna is fantastically sensitive to a narrow range of frequencies, a violin broadcasts over a very wide range.
A well balanced instrument doesn't favor or diminish any frequency in a bad way but rather closely matches the human ear and its 'built in' pitch distortions.
Many violins are made that have good voices, the master-class machines project their sound loudly without distortion.
I have heard a side-by-side demonstration...hard to believe they were both violins!
Strads and others command such high prices for their voice, yes, but when you factor in how few instruments from the 1700's still exist, the price-tag seems more reasonable.
Indy would say "this belongs in a museum", but these things were made to be played!
One sad day the last few examples of the truly great instruments will be museum pieces, but for now they sing!
The most interesting statement falls at 5:40. Someone who was concerned about the subject would take those three players and test them further to see if they could consistently differentiate. If so, that would establish that there is a difference, whether or not the others were competent enough to recognize it. Using the Fritz method I can prove that humans cannot run a 4-minute mile by taking 50 people off the street and having them try. I pretty much guarantee that they will fail, proving my point.
What the average violinist, violin maker, or audience member thinks he hears is as irrelevant as my ability to run a 4-minute mile.
I have a very old violin. So old it has often been mistaken for a Stradivarius. Every time I took it to have a glue job, or get some new pegs, some one would always cut little snips off of it. To own a real Stradivarius would require, finding someone to maintain it, without harming it, have it under lock and key with alarm systems over the whole house, and paying huge insurance premiums. Too much for me. Mine is Old and plays well, I always said that it was enchanted, as the first time I picked it up it just started to play beautifully almost on its own. The reason for that is the previous owner played it often and well before dieing. Which allowed the cells in the wood to remain open. At least that's what I was told. When I was 12 or 13, I met Isaac Stern. He let me play a little song on his. It was a great treat. And his encouragement on my playing has lasted me all the rest of my life.
Thanks for the video. Wish a larger channel would make a video going into the technical aspects of violin making and the differences between styling and construction of famous makers. There's no standard styling to violins. Every maker had their own little differences that make instruments a piece of art by themselves.
Name a better feeling than waking up in the middle of the night and thinking to yourself “please don’t be 6 am” and then when you look at the clock you realize that it’s only 234 am and you still have like 4 hours to SLEEP
Legend Vlogs oh i luv that
Ikr
@legend....best day ever.
yes yes
Yeah buddy, I wake up at 4:15.
Strads are extremely expensive because of the value of the name that is placed on the instrument. Are they absolutely amazing? Some of them, yes, others not really. You can find Amatis, Guarneries, and others old-school makers that are better than some Strads. Nowadays you can also find modern instruments that compete with Strads and are much more affordable, with some as low as $20,000 (which is definitely on the affordable side for professional-quality violins). You just have to look in the right places for them.
Thank you for a slice of logical reality Jennifer!!!
Jennifer...with your last name being 'Ahn' I perceive you are a violinist.
Yes, absolutely. Work with your luthier and work together to see what your instrument is capable of doing. It is amazing to do that, but it takes time and an investment in strings and luthier fees for bridge and sound post work, but you can get the best out of your instrument, without resorting to buying a much more expensive one..
i prefer the sound of an Amati. Sounds much better than Strad.
Great Great video, thank you very much! Question... Could you please tell me where is that place at 5:53 do you have the name?
It truly amazed me to discover some history about the Stradivarius. My question is, who conceived the idea of using a bow to play the violin?
What is it made of, who was the inventor, and how was the length determined for its use? I'd prefer the answers from someone who knows, such as, a professional violinist. Or if they are too busy, anyone else.
To the 1% of viewers who are actually going to read this,
I hope you have an amazing day!
Thank you
Same to you 💚
Thanks
1percent isn't very acurarate but... Sure👍.
Thank you, I wish you the same, with blessings!
Some sound good some don't. Some sound poorly because they are rarely played. But, basically they are expensive because they are old and rare and have been hyped for the last 200 years or so. Plenty of great sounding violins have been made since 1700.
"Some sound poorly because they are rarely played. " Myth.
Thanks! One feature of Strads you didn't mention is that they can be more difficult to play well than a modern fiddle. Each fiddle requires a different touch.
I once broke my arm and asked by doctor if I would be able to play the violin after I healed up. He said, "I don't see why not." So I said, "That's funny, I never could before."
I am a violinist. I would love to own one of these. You wouldn't understand about playing music unless you know how to play an instrument! For all you people who think this is boring until you get a hobby you won't understand this!!
Can you play bluegrass fiddle too?
I play violin, a little bit. Isn't there something about the wood used, that it has a unique hollow-cell structure. I remember a story about a luthier that got dozens of hardwood logs that were found in the muck of a drained lake, the wood was almost petrified. But it was still wood. He used this wood to make violins and it produced amazing sounding instruments. An electron-scanning microscope verified that the found wood was unique, -and very closely matched the unique qualities of Strats...
Not many body can hear the différence beetwen two violins ! even reconizing viola over violin !
I think most of the viewers aren't musicians. Yet here they are.
I play piano, cello, and violin
All hype, BUT i have to say that the first (and only) time i saw a Strad in person it gave me the goosebumps! But you know...its like the electric guitars from the 50s and 60s...they are good, but 90% of it is hype...ive played a 56 Telecaster and a newer Tele, and as nice as the 56 "feels" (emotionally) to play, it wasnt any better than the new Tele..
I have a simple student violin that I bought from a local shop that specializes in violin sales construction and repair. It has a mellow sweet tone and serves my needs. Buying an instrument because of the name is empty and rather egotistical. Buying it because you like its quality of sound has more meaning. I don’t think that I’d ever need a Strad.
If I have the money, I'd NEVER hesitate to buy such gems !
The feeling of holding such a beauty is simply indescribable....
TIMESTAMPS:
Who Antonio Stradivari was 0:56
How many instruments he made 2:14
What’s so special about Stradivarius violins? 3:10
How much the most expensive Stradivarius was sold for 6:00
The “Messiah” violin 7:46
Background music??
There are violins (We call them fiddles.) that are made in the hills of Kentucky that can go up against a Stradivarius any day.
Prove it.
Nice video. I once saw a video of how a violin is made, and it's pretty impressive. For example, it needs 16 coats of varnish to achieve a certain sound and echo.
Hi!
Can somebody tell me where is that place in the video on 6:00 ?
Accidentally I saw this place in this video what I must know where it is.
Thank you.
This is like the difference between a MOSFET amplifier against the valve amplifier.
Too much hype over traditional items over perfectly great modern designs.
A friend of mine, a violonist, lately bought a 20.000 euros violin. I don't say the brand because i think it would not be fair. The fact is that, my friend directly came to my home with a bottle of very good champagne. This was a great day for him. However, i felt some shade in his voice as he was opening the case of his new instrument...He was not totaly convinced he had made a good deal in buying the violin. That i could feel in his voice. As a former cello student, i timidly asked him if i could play some notes out of the ( disppointing) marvel...
He said : I don't know why, but i can hardly " trigger it". That is certainly because of the weather, the room, the fact is i don't yet have it in hands and so on... I was sorry for him, according to the sacrifice he had made to get the marvel. I took the violin and put it on my shoulder ; then I tried some shy and slow notes, playing with a vibrato. The sound seemed to come from everywhere in the room. My friend said " you trigger it ! " How do you do that ? I don't know, I said. I dared not add a word but I said to myself " There is something of magic with an instrument. You are the one that fits or not...I often noticed the same case with other musicians. Can science explain that ? Maybe some day...
it is like a wand from harry potter the wand chooses the wizard. the instrument choose the musician. and when you find your match you never let it go. you name it and it becomes a part of you.
My Father had a Stradivarius. A wonderful instrument that he played till he had open heart surgery in 1980. The scar from the surgery never healed right, and was so painful that he wasn't ever able to play again. I don't play the violin, but I am very good keyboardist Even though my keyboard does do a fairly good on imitation of a violin being able to approximate 20 sounds of the violin, a good violinist is able to create 47 tones from it. I really miss hearing Dad play. He was a remarkable artist.
I inherited a true baroque period cello a few years ago. Some small workshop job with an illegible signature engraved on the underside of the neck right before the scroll. It's styled like French, but it's too beat up to read it properly. Oh, and the neck is mounted with triangular iron nails, which were fairly common among French workshops of the period. Hardly a storied cello by any account, but an interesting look at how they were traditionally manufactured.
It also sounds wonderful. I'm no expert, but I reckon the resists used when treating it soaked into the grains pretty thoroughly. It has some ply that dampens the projection, but as a cellist I'm looking for an effortless dulcet, and my cello delivers.
Now the most important part of my cello is my bow. I've manufactured my own ever since learning the hard way what happens to expensive bows when you leave them taut. Unlike typical mass produced bows, I prefer to use Tasmanian Oak and... ahem... "borrow" my brumby's hair. The thicker strands work beautifully with this cello's natural character.
A Stradivarius is cool, but the best instruments are those you feel comfortable with. Only then can you take full advantage of their potential.
6:24 the most expensive one is 15 millon dollars
6:33 some are valued to 2 millon dollars
Its still expensive
The Stradivarius used wood aged in Volcanic ash and the varnish had crushed jem stones , possibly diamond.
Where is the proof of your comment, To write that there should be documentation. Do not worry I get the humor.
@@ohwell2790 I read an article a long time ago that said the varnish had powdered gemstones in it. It attributed the wood quality to being soaked in the water as they floated it down the river from the forest after cutting.
@@jeffragar3493 Stradivarius had a wife with an incurable skin disease. The flakes of dry skin wafted onto the wood and underwent a unique chemical reaction with the chewing tobacco that Stradivarius spat onto the wood to enhance the color. Apparently, this is responsible for the remarkable sonorous quality of the typical violin that Stradivarius produced.
i have a strad and it has such a rich tone and bright sound. it resonates in my room beautifully and has well as the looks. its from 1716
It's my understanding that part of the quality of the sound is the due to the desnsity of the wood, which was cut from the Swiss Alps and sent to Stadavari. These trees had grown during the mini-ice age of the middle ages, which was brought on by the eruption of Krakatoa, which cooled the planet with thick ash in the atmosphere that lingered for many years, making tree rings tight and thus the wood denser than normal. His varnish was important to the sound as well. He included in the mixture ground up fragments of precious stones.
I was hoping to see a good commentary on Strads. Instead, I got a puerile, Millennial video on violins.
..Joe
Joe mama HahHahaHhahaHaAahahabaHaha
Correction: The video says the Messiah violin has never been played. That's simply not true. It has been played but not often at all. And of course we aren't really sure if the Messiah violin is a Strad or if it is a copy by the French violinmaker Jean Baptiste Vuillaume.
I want a strad but I am happy with my Clifton Strassus and it actually sounds pretty well! 😊
So just a friendly reminder that even if you don't own a strad, if you just practise playing and playing no matter what violin you play, it will sound amazing! 😉😊
It's called 'mystique'.
As time goes on, those who own them or have played them only want the mystique to continue and increase, thereby benefiting those owners and players.
As this video points out, very few can tell the difference, and even those who could may have merely been lucky guesses.
That being said, any violin that can survive for 300 years must be well made, and of quality materials!
meanwhile Andre Rieu is waltzing around with his strad ;p
There's an interesting story about a Stradivarius Violin that belonged to UCLA, it's called the Alcantara. The lead violinist lost it - apparently he drove off with it still sitting on the trunk of his car. Then an older lady found it and eventually gave it to her middle aged son. His wife started taking violin lessons with it but because there are so many copies her instructor didn't think much of it. Eventually the instructor played it and suggested that an expert should take a look at it, and the expert discovered that it was the missing Srad from UCLA. Long story short, there was a lawsuit where UCLA ended up settling out of court and the Strad was returned. UCLA had a special concert featuring the Alcantara Strad but eventually sold the violin considering that one instrument could pay for several new instruments for their music department... I read this story in the news paper about 30 years ago and that's the best I can remember it.
I used to visit Master Stradivarius at his workshop in Cremona back in the early eighteenth century. One day he surprised me by taking me fully into his confidence about his favourite choice of wine. For truth’s sake I had to declare an entire lack of interest in the subject - but he was jesting at my expense! It turned out that he poured the wine into pans which he left on a cill to evaporate in the strong Italian sun. When all was reduced to a viscous paste he would then rub the stuff into the wood forming the inside back of a new violin. This he would do several times not quite letting the first application dry before applying the second and thus building up layers to an integral effect. The wood so treated he also would let dry though not in direct sunlight and the end result was that the ‘wine-paste’ set like iron and doing so reflected sound waves with greater precision and vivacity. But he didn’t stop there. Before assembling individual pieces he would rub on top of the surface so treated a preparation of copper sulphate further to increase the responsive élan of the Cremona pine-wood to sound waves.
Unfortunately I was not particularly interested in violins either but we generally had a nice chat and he didn’t mind charging my glass a few times with the selfsame wine!
Nice chap - I remember him well.
Who else doesn't care why these strange violins are expensive but still watches these types of video anyways?
Me
This Channel makes learning fun
Me.
Me!
I care.
There is no way anyone would pick a new violin over a strad. But most will never know what it feels like to play one, just like me...
Tsk tsk....poor thing
If they know which one is the Strad, yes. If they don't, flip a coin.
Actually, a blind study was done, and the professionals and the average players both preferred the newer violins versus the Stradivarius (not "strad").
The sound difference is hardly noticeable to most people, which was also done in the study.
I knew a guy that built violins for the Gibson Showcase. They sold for thousands. He passed away a few years back. But his legacy lives on.
It isn't just a matter of the instrument on its own, or its maker... not all instruments by the same maker will necessarily sound great.A friend of mine had a Bergonzi that sold for £250,000 at auction and she said it was very difficult to play and she didn't like it, but she had inherited it. I also played a Thomas Kennedy cello and it was less that nice. Another one I played was beautiful! It has been shown that the quality of wood that was used in Strads and the closeness of the grain from cold winters have enabled the instruments to produce their sound, but then it has to have the right set-up on top, bridge, sound post, etc and strings and a bow that will draw the sound out. The bow is really important and can make or break a decision to buy an instrument. I am looking at it from a cellists viewpoint, but it is the same- If the bow isn't right, or the set-up is wrong, then that instrument won't sound great, regardless of its maker. Endless string combinations, gut, different metal combinations, high tension, low tension, different gauges, shaving wood to thin down bridges, new sound posts, moving sound posts, changing tailpieces, changing the wood on tailpieces, opening the instrument up and shaving down the thickness of wood etc, etc will affect the sound and will open the sound or tighten it up. The finest instruments are often very difficult to play because each note has to be played with a different arm weight or bow speed, etc. It is amazing what you can get out of affordable fine old cellos, like mine, an English 1780 Hill school, and if the set-up is right and you work with your luthier, you can create your own sound canvas- yes it takes time and is expensive. I must have got through £1000 of cello strings in the last year, but I know now that it responds best to lower tension gut core strings to release the sound and loosen it up. Remember that we only ever hear Strads played by very fine players and with the ultimate set-up that has cost thousands of pounds, We don't hear them played by Fred Bloggs with a set of beginner strings and a basic bow. :) when Fred's cello would sound good if he got his own ultimate set -up and had his cello played by a pro, which is why you aren't comparing like with like!
A placebo effect....
Just like your favorite food from a specific region.
I recently went violin shopping and settled for a cheaper instrument because it played much better and had similar sound quality than the others I was trying. Violins are not always worth their price and many instrument dealers are ready to up sell someone. Get to know all of your local stores and find people you like dealing with! If you find all of the things you are looking for in a violin, that is what's really important (and PRACTICE...lots of it.)
as a guitar player I agree. It doesn't matter how much the instrument cost, the brand, etc but how it sounds and how it feels to you is most important. I acquired an old student violin at a school and gave it to my Uncle- he told me that the violin was way better than the one he owned lol
What did you wind up buying, Flanowa? Am looking for a violin right now . . . the one I inherited from my piano teacher gave up the ghost . . .
In the 70s, I went to buy my lifelong guitar. I chose an Ovation Glen Campbell (a buddy had one). Dude at the guitar store talked me into a Martin for half the price. I've never regretted that decision.
Rarity and collectability always affect the pricing. I submit that "Stradivarius" is also a much cooler and memorable name then Guarnerius or Amati. You hear it once and remember it forever. So many subjective elements at play. You see other comments on here about vintage guitars & such - same thing.
@@buckosoft Oh gosh, wise choice. I can't say I've ever played a Glen Campbell model, but every Ovation I've heard live (especially acoustic/electric when plugged in) has sounded horrible. The rounded back also makes them slip off your lap if you're playing sitting down w/no strap. Constantly annoying. They were loud, that was about it.
Once when I was at school I was invited to hear a Stradivarius violin being played. Honestly, it sounded to me like any typical high end violin with the exception being that it seemed to project its voice more upward & linearly. It was almost like it was producing a cone of directional fidelity, like cone speakers or a megaphone. Anyways, I prefer to play the Viola over the Violin so what do I know. Would love to hear a Strad Viola tho...
Years ago I worked in a music store and it always humored me how many people I met that were convinced they had a Strad tucked away at home. Upon examination it turned out to be one of the many Strad copies!
A another fine example of emotion defying reason.
if the strad can behave like a placebo and cause via its mystique better all around playing including intonation, then ultimately your comment is invalid. if the strad caused a violinist to play better in the same way medical placebos can cause wellness, then the strad is still the better violin, just obviously not only 4 the structural reasons.
I can't really comment on violins but I can tell you that with classical guitars there is a lot of B.S. circulating around famous instruments. Many, many modern luthiers produce instruments every bit as good (or better) than Hauser, Ramirez, Tatay, Smallman, Romanillos Estesso etc.
Agree....same with violins and violas.
Technique used by Strad - bottom of the bridge should be slightly rounded at contact with the instrument.
This allows for maximum string vibration into the body of the instrument.
This works for all moveable bridge instruments.
the Stradivarius violins have a constructive quality and a sound that can never be achieved even by the most expensive modern. In addition to perfection, they have centuries of wood seasoning on their part.
Brite Side--- You barely even tried to answer the question you posed. "Because the F-holes are bigger" according to one laboratory is hardly an answer. And since the assessment "best sound in the world" is completely subjective, making it unanswerable, why not just title this basic info for what it is: "Beginner's Info about Stradivarius Violins".
If you are unaware, Bright side is one of the many scumbags on TH-cam who are only after money. They know NOTHING about the topic they talk about. Just pure reworded plagarism from other websites
It’s all about what’s inside, and to find out you’ll have to stick your fingers in your F hole.
Mr. Indie *rat-a-tat*
What makes them so valuable is that there so rare and that’s it . They sound the same as all violins but it is amazing that they have lasted so long in this crazy world of war and idiots.
I agree, also there are publicity about them.
One reason that they are expensive is: they are piece of history themselves and still working.
I am wood worker and retired Mechanical engineer. I have been experimenting with thick veneers for reliability.
When i build one of these violins , i will come here and let you know, Calvin.
Sincerely; A'ra'm from north California.
You do you and I'll do me...but as a lifetime of music study has proven to me, tone and appreciation of tone in music is very subjective to the listener
Agree if when public have no interest in it. All of the strads value dropped and sent back to museums
I bet Nicola Benedetti could make the CHEAPEST violin sound brilliant, even a plastic one!
Of course all violins have E-A-D-G strings giving them all the same frequency. But when it comes to quality of sound there is a vast difference.
My clever grandad told me that the reason why strads have such a unique sound is because when he was making the violins the summers were not very warm so when a tree grows if the weather isn’t good the rings of the tree get small and tight so that is why it sounds unique because the wood is tight I think...
Very good instruments right from the beginning, and therefore played by the best musicians for hundreds of years, which really evolves the sound of the instruments...
Who’s a violinist here?
Your mom 😂🤣😅
Me
I am
love thisss
Nicoelle Tara yes 😊 #Jatinkataria
My friend's violin teacher has one!!! I played it once and It was legendary
angel ohhhh. How was it? I'm curious. 😯🤔
I don't play violin and can't tell the difference. What I know is that the man was an innovater who stressed quality and detail to the extreme.
This man has earned my respect. Modern society needs people like him.
I want one. I’m a beginner, but even as a beginner... I want one. There’s just something magical about the tone. Scientists may never figure it out, but it’s there. You have to hear one played. It’s truly a unique quality of sound.
Sorry to burst your dream bubble but as someone who has been playing 55 years now, it's not the instrument but the player. There is NO exception to hours and hours of practice and years of experience in playing any instrument and if you are truly a good player, you should be able to play a student model violin and make it sing like a Strad.
"There’s just something magical about the .....name." There. Corrected it for you. You thanks me later.
@@yohootylofitz I agree
yohootylofitz Why are modern master instruments 25-75,000 USD if a student level instrument is good enough?
@@notthatperson8179 you cant advance with a student violin
Violins😍🎻
Often it is not about sound quality alone. Issues of touch, balance, playability, feeling and expression form the basis of enjoying a fine instrument. I am a pianist. Once I was allowed to try several of the world's great grand pianos at a prestigious music store. One of the Yamaha grands had a tremendous base and wonderful tone. I played a Bosendorfer but found it less comparable to the Yamaha. But then I tried an old 9' Steinway. I will never forget the delightful touch and uniformity of regulation, the softness of expression, the wonderful reasoneance of the sound board of that lovely piano. That Steinway piano actually magnified and enhanced my abilities many fold. I wish I could have afforded it's $38,000 price tag (early 1980's) but it was impossible. I am sure that fine violins have similar qualities!
Personally, I have heard many people say how hard it was to play on Strads or how the sound was not deep enough which makes sense for it being made in the light Classical era, but I would want an instrument that could play music from any musical period including music from the last 100 years. I would have to test the Strads to make a definite decision. I think people like Strads because of their history in shaping everything about the violin as many things that have a lasting influence in history are deemed great (composers, scientists, etc.) while there were many other greats all around that just didn't get the same recognition. I think it's funny how "the greats" were named. Anyway, if I had the money to purchase a Strad or was good enough to play on one or be sponsored one I would take interest but treat it just as I would with any other violin and not be biased about it from its biased price.
Stradivarius violin was created by Antonio Stradivarius. He was born in 1644. The size of the violin is larger and longer than any other violins and today's modern violins. The first great violin was made in 1700, and the others are betts was made in 1704 and Alard 1715 and this violins are very expensive due to its unique manufacturing so its sounds better than other violins and no one knows how it was made and everyone said different things about Stradivarius. This violin costs about 2 million US dollar to 15 million US dollar. Antonio Stradivarius made about 1100 different types of musical instruments before his death at 93 & only half of instruments are existed today sorry I forgot the numbers haha....and the Stradivarius violin market are very small but it is competitive against other markets because of its cost by its value etc, etc
Who knew a heavy metal headbanger could be so knowledge filled?
@@johnpossum556 Hahaha.... You're right by the way I'm not talking about me but headbangers are actually very discipline and calm in nature and for your information study says people who listen to metal, rock, classic, blues, etc etc are very knowledgeable and creative in their own way specially in the case of metal and classics :p haha....
Stradivari
Whoa...dude...IMPRESSIVE!
Do you play heavy metal violin?
Yes of course!!! The f holes are why stradivarious violins are so expensive!!
yeah, another junk content vomiter ... not worth busting electrons for.
I know nothing about violins or much of anything about classical music but someone could play the violin sonata composed/created by Cesar Franck on a Walmart toy isle violin and I would melt. I heard it on some NPR thing while I was on hard times living in embarrassing conditions when a little dollar tree FM radio was all that I had and it will forever speak to me. Amazing.
The only true test of greatness is time, the Stradivarius remains unequaled not because of its history but in the hands of a grand master the violin is that revered generation after generation. Acoustically one note is about the same as another but no one musician can't play the same instrument/notes twice and they know the difference unlike public. Indeed had the Stradivarius been equaled/surpassed during their creators lifetime or soon after no one would know the violin today beyond a list of makers in an archive.