My dad has an maggini Violin. It is in our family for about 5th generations, i mean it! It was from his grandgrandgrandgrand father that came from italy to brazil and passes through generations of men of our family. It is dated from 1663 on the label. I hope someday it'll be mine.
One particular low note you struck I could feel it in my stomach. Very enthralling these old Maginnis! Personally I think they have more guts than Stradivari. Your playing young lady is impeccable! Thank you this is probably 6th or 7th time I've listened to this I never get tired of listening to you play these beautiful unobtaniums!❤
Forgive me for maybe appearing as a mutt dog crashing Westminster but I am absolutely enthralled by your series. Please do not, if only for my sake, attenuate your presentation of the of the history and lineages of the instuments, makers and context. Your comments on your experience with each instrument are golden. Your talent and skill as a musician are extremely admirable. Thank you Katha.
That Maggini was my absolute favorite that you have graciously shared with us. What you played on that violin was absolutely perfect. It brought tears to my eyes.
Bravo!! Your passion for releasing the distinctive voice of these great instruments is such a gift to the ears....these instruments (esp. the Maggini) open up for you!
I always think its a horrible shame and waste that these instruments are in museums and not playing the music they were designed for. I’d love to hear them turn out some baroque and pre baroque pieces as appropriate. Even so just seeing and hearing them is a delight.
How is it no one has approached you to make a feature length documentary about these violins, their history and their music? Perhaps in creating it you would have a great deal more than 5 minutes with each! Seriously, there must be someone out there who could fund this, and multiple producers who would love to make such a film. And, if you can't find anyone else, I'd love to! You have a great gift, not just for music, but for storytelling!
Wow, we never thought about this... till now! Thanks for bringing it up! It's a really intriguing idea- get in touch with us through our website, maybe we can talk more :)
The things you find on Netflix or Amazon videos - there’s stuff out there for almost everyone. I’m not a violin player, but I would LOVE to see and listen to this proposed documentary! The Strads I’ve heard live in concert have been magical experiences.
Greetings from Wisconsin; I love listening to all of these instruments. This one, however; seems deeper with more layers to the tone. I'm no expert mind you, but I really like it's tone. You, however; make all of them sound great. Thank you so much for giving life to these instruments for a little while so we can hear them. Nothing fills the soul with joy like music, especially violin music.
I like it that you keep quoting from Brahms’ Sonatas. Three of my all-time favorite pieces which made me fall in love with the Violin after a career playing Trumpet!
Those three have been in our repertoire the last few years, so we can put out the Brahms Sonatas album! I adore these pieces- glad to see they are so appreciated elsewhere too :)
Once I had a desk job that allowed me to listen to music while mindlessly shuffling papers. I came across the Sonatas and especially the Josef Suk-Julius Katchen collaboration. What a wonderful collaboration it was too! From that I got a “two-fer,” one being these three musical masterpieces, the other being the brilliant, almost perfect technique and musicianship of Dvorak’s great grandson! In addition, the violin I have is a very good Maggini copy, and has that same very dark and rich sound like this authentic one has! And now I am blessed by your presentation here!
In fact, the purfling on a violin actually does have an effect on the instrument’s tone. For example, the inner purfling on a Maggini violin limits the vibrating plate to that ring, away from the outer edge. The usual single ring of purfling on a violin keeps the top vibration from reaching the outer edge, which transfers the sound to the ribs, if the location is correct. Tone of the violin is hopefully a balance of string vibration reflected away from the bridge to the audience, and down into the sound chamber, or box, developing the low end and sweet character, and out through the f holes to the audience. A ratio that varies, but hovers at around 50/50.
Oh my goodness, hearing this instrument begin to open up and blossom is incredible! From the warm depth of the bottom registers to the pure, fanciful sweetness at the top, it deserves to be played regularly and publicly. I think this and the Paganini Guarnerius are my favorites so far: the Paganini is gorgeous, complex and powerful, but this one hides something almost wild.
I love this video in your series! I believe some of the original Maggini violins are much larger than normal - and therefore not easy to adjust to - so you did a fantastic job bringing this one to life in the short window you had to try it! Bravo!
Hi Violist, Some dealer in the past has taken viola and cut them down by decease the width and sell them as violin. This the reason why some old maggini has a very long body length of 40cm. There no market for viola but lots of demand for Maggini violin. I think there Maggini viola/violin on sale.
I am deeply greatful to you. In the 1980s I traveled to Lorence and Rome. I was interested in art and visited the Uffuzi museum etc. I missed my calling! I should have visited Cremona and picked up a violin there. Wow what an oversight! I thought I wanted to be an artist. All along I overlooked the violin and violin making. Wow I could have had a V-8! THANK YOU KATH!😅
That violin in your hands is hauntingly evocative, even in such a brief compass. I love the appearance too. I hope you get more time on it. I became fascinated with Maggini violins some years ago when Rafael Todes of the Schidlof Quartet acquired a mysterious black-painted Maggini and released photographs of it on the web. A Swiss restorer unmasked its true beauty and potential. As far as I know he's still playing it. Thanks for another great video.
I’m so glad this helped you- we’re all in this together, and I feel for you! We haven’t gone outside for two weeks, and you all are helping us through this as much as we are you! Thank you! 🙏
Well this one did it! I just had to subscribe. I love this series but was afraid it wasn't going to continue beyond the violins you have already done. I would love to see these continue indefinitely. I have done violin repair for decades and studied briefly under Hans Nebel and though I love my two German Strad copies it is just a joy to listen to the sound and watch the playing of instruments that are centuries old by notable makers. Thank you for this series! I love your playing and your vibrato. (I'm still working on it.)
Many "Maggini's" are actually forgeries made by Giovanni Battista Rogeri, who had trained under Nicolo Amati in Cremona and then moved to Brescia by 1664. These are also outstanding violins.
@@aTonalHits Hi from vancouver , canada , Maggini did not died of the black death, because plague ended in 1345 over two year hundred before Paolo was born. As for what Joseph has said all the later Maggini was by G.B. Rogeri . You can tell by two things. There a lack the deep dark G string, but his violin has powerful sound projection which he learned from Nicolo Amati. Too bad with Amati name he could have been a contender up there with Del Gesu. I guess the money was too good. One dealer has a copy G.B. Rogeri's Maggini. Maybe you can get for a song as everyone want deep dark tone which it lacks
I like this series of different violins, some very interesting differences in different instruments. This Maggini has the depth that some of the others do not have, nice edge to it. A similarity to Flamenco guitars, the more they are played, the better they get but if someone heavy hands them, they have to be played back into shape.
I'm a Bassist, l've heard the Maggini Bass now hearing the Maggini violin l realize that the Maggini magic transcends range your playing is superb have you done any recitals and or recordings ?
The Perfling does help keep cracks from propagating from the edge of the instrument too. But it seems mostly decorative. Certainly the double one is decorative.
Hi Katha, I am restoring a beautiful Maggini violin right now. It might be the real deal but if not at a minimum looks to be a very beautiful very old copy. When the restoration is completed I'd be interested in your opinion. I hope it sounds as great as the one you play in this video (it hasn't been played in many, many years). I can send pics to you if you're interested. It's very beautiful very old fiddle. The scroll/neck was missing so we had to find a suitable old neck/scroll to make a violin out of it. best wishes Bernie Tamosaitis
That sounds beautiful! I'd be happy to see it- my e mail address is on my website, www.atonalhits.com. Feel free to send pics! I do love a good Maggini, or at least a copy :)
Absolutely! That's why I was talking about spending some time with it- you can see in the video I'm struggling a bit, but it's so worth the effort to get an instrument like this to open up!
Katha, can't say how much I appreciate this series, especially giving attention to non Strads/ Del Gesus! Also, i've been loving Early Light and you other performances. I also enjoy these sweet, dark instruments, like the Da Salo. I'm wondering if you have a video on what fiddles and bows you've played on and currently play? If not, I'd really love to learn more! The instrument in many (all?) of your performances sounds great from top to bottom.
So glad you've been enjoying the series! I love some of these Strads, but I have an especially soft spot for the da Salo and the Maggini too. What magical sound! Honestly, I've been debating doing a video on what instrument I play- I'd love to share, but I haven't yet purely for security reasons. Maybe this will change! Needless to say, I love my instrument, but it's a total diva :) Thank you for watching! Always more to come!
I’m learning a lot from your videos. When I visited the Chi Mei museum in 2012, I was fortunate to try out some of their instruments including the de Salo, which I liked more than the Strad and Guarneri I also tried. Wish I had tried the Maggini as well!
Hey Gene, thanks for tuning in the last few years!! :) yeah, they love to put the Strads and Guarneris out- the pride of the collection! If you go again, ask for the ‘other’ Italians, haha- there’s one I can’t wait to do a video on, by Gaetano Pasta. I thought the name was hilarious, but the violin was amazing!
wow, a mixture of resonance and huge projection, full hue of tone, a good example of aged spruce and maple, and what it does with good chambering, thanks for sharing this majestically toned violin, ciao, Maggini from my part of Italia
I hear it as dark, but shiny and sorta brassy in its attack and I mean that in the coolest possible way. And freakin' gorgeous. Oh... and the violin is, too. Grins!!!
Wouldn't it be wonderful to know the complete history of these amazing instruments? I can't get over how fantastic it looks despite being 410 years old! Would it have had multiple restoration works done over the years? How old is the varnish? It looks so good, I don't suppose it can be original. Thanks for posting.
To John Gedesse, thank you I did not know the part about the second ring limiting vibrations and directing to the ribs. That was fastenating! Keep the tide bits coming I need to know this stuff! Thanks and bye!😅
Thanks for watching, glad you're enjoying it! And don't worry about the downvotes- I think you must have to be a pretty sour person to go out of your way to downvote anything at all! :)
Thanks for watching! No, you're completely right- I didn't learn that fact until after making this video, and I'm always kicking myself for the fact! In fact, I've been working on a new violin video for a Lupot, and will be talking about the perfling more in depth, also because I messed up so badly on this video. Thank you for bringing my attention to it!
@@aTonalHits Hi Katha, Sorry ..you are both wrong. As a violin making I can tell what it is use for. Perfing is use to stop the wood from open up a crack on the edge of a violin plate when someone drop a violin. Its very important function to keep the violin safe. cheers
I do have a Maggini copy... it is a bit bigger than regular violins...as oppose to Amati violin is a bit smaller. The G sound is very very deep like a viola. Maybe it is just my copy and not sure if the real one also has that deep G sound. Among all different copies my least favorite is Jacob Steiner - It sounds nasal...
I realize these wonderful instruments are rare but why only 5 minutes per instrument. I would think that just getting them out of their storage area would take longer than that and also to have a world class musician give the instrument a much needed workout would be a deciding factor as to how long she would have to play each one. Its not like she's going out on the street and playing for money, this is a controlled environment and I am sure there is security as well. Love all the videos. Please keep 'em coming!!
Beautiful. Would like to see the neck graft in a close up, also close-ups of the scroll and box and frontal shot of the top to include bouts and both f holes in better light. I worked in New York in a very good shop directly across the street from Carnegie Hall in the mid 1970's and was surrounded by wonderful instruments and was able to handle violins of all sorts but by far my favorites were early Breschian violins. Their dark tonal qualities gave them tremendous power. The Strads and Bregonzis are prefired because of their highs and their ability to "cut through" and be better heard, so to speak but in Maggini's time the orchestras were smaller and that wasn't as important a factor then. Though Magginis don't seem to have the volume and don't project as later Cremonese violins I prefer the soulful sound of his works. It is a shame more is not known about him. He is my favorite maker. Thank you for the opportunity to view and hear that most magnificent violin.
I also think Maggini is underrated! He is one of my favorite makers. I will dig around in our old footage and see if we can dig up an up close of the neck graft!
Playing Bach on older instruments makes sense and is a great idea! I agree with all the old world players (Heifetz, Milstein, Menuhin, Ricci...) who use vibrato when they play Bach - as a sidenote. My reasoning: had Bach been born a little later he would not have objected
I do not get to differentiate the sound from different violins. Could you explain a little more what a "rich tone" or "dark tone" or whatever means? I am a little lost.
Check it out at Bergen, Norway. Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu Cremona. I would like to see you play with all four strings at the same time. You have to play with a extra long bow. It's not easy to read and play with note. Cool.
❤️ She mentioned my comment! Shoutouts from the Philippines 😂 Timely that Milan was hit by the black death and we're stuck in quarantine during the time of a pandemic where Milan was hit particularly hard too. It'd be nice to have the names of pieces whose excerpts you're playing so we can look them up :)
That was you! Haha, thanks for that, it made me laugh! I will put the names of the pieces in the description... hopefully soon. Shout out right back at you, from NYC to the Philippines! :)
Thanks for Sharing the video..You play very well....I have a Maggini Violin copy.. Repaired in US....needs a new bridge and some adjustments. Curious... What strings this Maggini had on?
I can hear the influence of da Salo in the singing of the treble strings, and slight growling on the G and D strings which helps those strings "speak." It was hard to clearly see the double binding in the video. It looked like the binding was twice as wide as usual. Is the binding one wide piece of wood or multiple strips of wood? It's too bad that you couldn't get a bit more time to play and get to know each violin you present. Despite that, I think that you still manage to reveal the character of each. Thanks
Yeah, we didn't realize we didn't get a clear image of the purfling till.... yesterday :/ But basically, it's a purfling like normal, and then an extra one lining the first one. I always feel like it gives the illusion of the instrument being a bit smaller. The purfling is like an inlay, very delicately done. On some instruments you can see where the purfling's been damaged and a little chunk set back in- the first one was done by Amati in the 1560's!
I'm Indonesian, and I have Giovanni Paolo Maggini's violin which says 1600s or 1700s, because the writing on the violin is a bit blurry. This violin was repainted in the 1990s, and I'm now looking to sell it. can anyone help me? how much will my violin cost?
Not a strange question at all, and in fact there's probably a good deal of history on the subject that I'm not aware of. I do have some footage of a violin built in a Taiwanese prison camp that is very interesting, which I'll definitely do a video on at some point. But I will definitely look into the subject and see if we can make a video on it. Thank you for your thoughtful question!
I really love the dark tones. On a side note, can you sometime tell us a little about your bow? If you’ve covered this already apologies. I just joined up.
No worries! I hope to do a video just about bows sometime soon, although given the circumstances.... it might be awhile! This bow is a Lupot, and it's also from the same collection. Wonderfully heavy!
You said that “Perfling does nothing for the sound’, ...?! I beg to differ. My three luthier friends, two of whom learned in Cremona & Parma, explained to me, that purfling acts as a car’s ‘shock-absorbers’; taking in and releasing the sizable stress & tension on the ‘table’ of the violin while being played. Thus, while it may not enhance, per se, the tone production of the instrument, without it, the instrument and it’s sound would be rigid and ‘closed’, or, G-d forbid, sound 🙉 like a factory-made violin [-shaped box]-! 🥰
Exactly right on the mark. Purfling holds the wood from splintering apart also. Bimbow highly proficient Violinest know nill why all there is going on from construction of the instrument in their hands.
Were all Maggini, Amati, Stradivarius etc. great sounding instruments? Wood varies a lot in it's tonal quality, so there must be some "not so good ones" among the thousands or so instruments the master violin makers made. Are any known to be a bit of a dud but still revered because of the maker?
Oh, absolutely! Im sure it’s a combination of wood, craftsmanship, and every other tiny thing- but for instance there are two more Strads in the collection that I’m not particularly fond of- they just didn’t do it for me. But they are Strads, so the price will definitely be there!
There are many periphery events that take a lifetime to gather when studying the violin...mostly Beethoven, Mozart, Hayden and Bach. Makers of all k8nds of luthiery happening in the field of competition of instruments for partons on the new era of Baroque 1600-1750@!!! I will indulge you Dear@!!!!
Fantastic instrument. It's an interesting point that a lot of these older instruments, especially pre-Stradivari, have such different tonal qualities. I imagine a lot of it has to do with the experimentation and unknown territory of what makes a "good" violin at the time. It's also what makes them so unique now-a-days, too, as we've gotten so used to the more standardized Strad sound. Out of curiosity, what kind of instrument do you play on? It has a magnificent tone and it seems to suit your playing style very well. PS. Love the random Tengu mask in the background. 👺
Hey! I'll e mail you more about what instrument I play- trying to keep it off youtube for security reasons, as I'm sure you'll understand it. And glad you like my Tengu!! He's been with me since I was a kid :)
What is *YOUR* personal violin? that one sitting on the table? Maker and year? I'd love to know more about it, specially if it's by a modern maker, often overlooked talent.
Ahhhh so many people ask me that, and I just can't answer so publicly, I'm so sorry! But it's not a modern maker, I borrow from the same collection we're reviewing. I'd really love to dig into modern makers though, they get terribly overlooked!
@@aTonalHits Aww shame, it's like a government secret eh? Haha Well we'd love to see your take on it, they really are overlooked. I remember few people mentioning them, Ray Chen if I recall correctly uses(and prefers) a modern one he has, not sure who's the maker, he says they don't have that sweet old masterpiece sound ofc but are a powerhouse and he thinks it fits his play style and necessities of a soloist.
aTonalHits I read about a recent blind study where both performers and audience preferred modern instruments over Strads. (I don’t remember any details but I’m guessing you would have seen it too?)
@@matthewv789 the blind test was done with violinists themselves, and it was a really bad test scientific wise - not to mention the epistemological problems with blind tests themselves - sound, and specially violin sounds and feels, as well as knowledge about it, is so vast and varied, that would you know what to look for in a five min. Blind test with each instrument?
@@matthewv789 Would our great host Katha here guess correctly that the 17th century Steiner she played in an earlier video was a valuable antique? That video is great cause she goes into a bit of the of details over the miriad of things that make a violin great, and how they're not easy to spot at first sight(nevermind blind!)
Yes! I use the 1825 Lupot bow, the same I demonstrate with in the bow comparison video. I tried to keep at least the bow the same, as a control against all those instruments! Although they vary so much, there's not much of a scientific method I could do with them!
My dad has an maggini Violin. It is in our family for about 5th generations, i mean it! It was from his grandgrandgrandgrand father that came from italy to brazil and passes through generations of men of our family. It is dated from 1663 on the label. I hope someday it'll be mine.
sorry to say it, but Maggini died in 1630
@@ajmaltaujoo4277oops
One particular low note you struck I could feel it in my stomach. Very enthralling these old Maginnis! Personally I think they have more guts than Stradivari. Your playing young lady is impeccable! Thank you this is probably 6th or 7th time I've listened to this I never get tired of listening to you play these beautiful unobtaniums!❤
Forgive me for maybe appearing as a mutt dog crashing Westminster but I am absolutely enthralled by your series. Please do not, if only for my sake, attenuate your presentation of the of the history and lineages of the instuments, makers and context. Your comments on your experience with each instrument are golden. Your talent and skill as a musician are extremely admirable. Thank you Katha.
That Maggini was my absolute favorite that you have graciously shared with us. What you played on that violin was absolutely perfect. It brought tears to my eyes.
Bravo!! Your passion for releasing the distinctive voice of these great instruments is such a gift to the ears....these instruments (esp. the Maggini) open up for you!
I always think its a horrible shame and waste that these instruments are in museums and not playing the music they were designed for. I’d love to hear them turn out some baroque and pre baroque pieces as appropriate. Even so just seeing and hearing them is a delight.
How is it no one has approached you to make a feature length documentary about these violins, their history and their music? Perhaps in creating it you would have a great deal more than 5 minutes with each! Seriously, there must be someone out there who could fund this, and multiple producers who would love to make such a film. And, if you can't find anyone else, I'd love to! You have a great gift, not just for music, but for storytelling!
Wow, we never thought about this... till now! Thanks for bringing it up! It's a really intriguing idea- get in touch with us through our website, maybe we can talk more :)
Awesome idea. I enjoy these videos and would be very interested in a deeper documentary. Thank you for producing and posting.
The things you find on Netflix or Amazon videos - there’s stuff out there for almost everyone. I’m not a violin player, but I would LOVE to see and listen to this proposed documentary! The Strads I’ve heard live in concert have been magical experiences.
@@aTonalHits Or even a mini-series on say PBS or Netflix/Hulu. I would 100% watch!!
That would be amazing!
Greetings from Wisconsin;
I love listening to all of these instruments. This one, however; seems deeper with more layers to the tone. I'm no expert mind you, but I really like it's tone. You, however; make all of them sound great. Thank you so much for giving life to these instruments for a little while so we can hear them. Nothing fills the soul with joy like music, especially violin music.
I like it that you keep quoting from Brahms’ Sonatas. Three of my all-time favorite pieces which made me fall in love with the Violin after a career playing Trumpet!
Those three have been in our repertoire the last few years, so we can put out the Brahms Sonatas album! I adore these pieces- glad to see they are so appreciated elsewhere too :)
Once I had a desk job that allowed me to listen to music while mindlessly shuffling papers. I came across the Sonatas and especially the Josef Suk-Julius Katchen collaboration. What a wonderful collaboration it was too! From that I got a “two-fer,” one being these three musical masterpieces, the other being the brilliant, almost perfect technique and musicianship of Dvorak’s great grandson! In addition, the violin I have is a very good Maggini copy, and has that same very dark and rich sound like this authentic one has! And now I am blessed by your presentation here!
In fact, the purfling on a violin actually does have an effect on the instrument’s tone. For example, the inner purfling on a Maggini violin limits the vibrating plate to that ring, away from the outer edge. The usual single ring of purfling on a violin keeps the top vibration from reaching the outer edge, which transfers the sound to the ribs, if the location is correct. Tone of the violin is hopefully a balance of string vibration reflected away from the bridge to the audience, and down into the sound chamber, or box, developing the low end and sweet character, and out through the f holes to the audience. A ratio that varies, but hovers at around 50/50.
Interesting! It makes a ton of sense- glad you brought this up!
Just details. Concerns to violin makers- not so much for players. I’m just too dang curious.
Purfling helps to keep the wood of the soft top plate form forming a crack at the edge, as well a s looking very decorative. I love your videos.
I had a Fernando Solar almost 70 80 yrs violin..I miss it :) thanks for all these vids.. informative
Oh my goodness, hearing this instrument begin to open up and blossom is incredible! From the warm depth of the bottom registers to the pure, fanciful sweetness at the top, it deserves to be played regularly and publicly. I think this and the Paganini Guarnerius are my favorites so far: the Paganini is gorgeous, complex and powerful, but this one hides something almost wild.
woah, despite the setting up this might be one of the my favorites, the tone is just....moving!
It's heavy and sad, I love it.
What a fantastic experience to be able to "hear" these works of art....Big Thanks for this whole enterprise! More More More!!
There will definitely be more! :) Thanks for watching!
I love this video in your series! I believe some of the original Maggini violins are much larger than normal - and therefore not easy to adjust to - so you did a fantastic job bringing this one to life in the short window you had to try it! Bravo!
Hi Violist, Some dealer in the past has taken viola and cut them down by decease the width and sell them as violin. This the reason why some old maggini has a very long body length of 40cm. There no market for viola but lots of demand for Maggini violin. I think there Maggini viola/violin on sale.
Thank you as always-as someone who also plays guitar and loves gear, these videos are the closest to scratching that itch for the violin.
Wow beautiful instrument with rich tone! Beautiful singing E and luxurious G; love it!
I am really liking your channel, I am so impressed by your play. From violent and quick to soft and subtle. Quite amazing.
I am deeply greatful to you. In the 1980s I traveled to Lorence and Rome. I was interested in art and visited the Uffuzi museum etc. I missed my calling! I should have visited Cremona and picked up a violin there. Wow what an oversight! I thought I wanted to be an artist. All along I overlooked the violin and violin making. Wow I could have had a V-8! THANK YOU KATH!😅
I would love to be in the same room to hear you play. It is amazing how you can make these instruments speak so beautifully.
That violin in your hands is hauntingly evocative, even in such a brief compass. I love the appearance too. I hope you get more time on it. I became fascinated with Maggini violins some years ago when Rafael Todes of the Schidlof Quartet acquired a mysterious black-painted Maggini and released photographs of it on the web. A Swiss restorer unmasked its true beauty and potential. As far as I know he's still playing it.
Thanks for another great video.
he absolutely is! he used to be my teacher. he's now playing in the allegri quartet.
Thank you for another video from this series. It lifted me up in this difficult time. The sound is gorgeous. You two definitely are a match :)
I’m so glad this helped you- we’re all in this together, and I feel for you! We haven’t gone outside for two weeks, and you all are helping us through this as much as we are you! Thank you! 🙏
I’m really enjoying your videos and learning about these beautiful old instruments! I love this one too.
Well this one did it! I just had to subscribe. I love this series but was afraid it wasn't going to continue beyond the violins you have already done. I would love to see these continue indefinitely. I have done violin repair for decades and studied briefly under Hans Nebel and though I love my two German Strad copies it is just a joy to listen to the sound and watch the playing of instruments that are centuries old by notable makers. Thank you for this series! I love your playing and your vibrato. (I'm still working on it.)
Thanks for listening! There will definitely be more to come :)
@aTonalHits Thank you for bringing this instrument out! Amazing timbre! Never heard anything like it.
Many "Maggini's" are actually forgeries made by Giovanni Battista Rogeri, who had trained under Nicolo Amati in Cremona and then moved to Brescia by 1664. These are also outstanding violins.
Rogeri is one of my hands down favorite luthiers. I can understand why he would be one of the Maggini forgers!
@@aTonalHits Even back then, old violins by excellent makers sold for higher prices than new violins by excellent makers. Rogeri wanted the money.
My Maggini is made by fidderman bench, and my Amati is a Chinese copy it's sounds good.
@@stevemoy6063 I love their service, they have great violins!!
@@aTonalHits Hi from vancouver , canada , Maggini did not died of the black death, because plague ended in 1345 over two year hundred before Paolo was born.
As for what Joseph has said all the later Maggini was by G.B. Rogeri . You can tell by two things. There a lack the deep dark G string, but his violin has powerful sound projection which he learned from Nicolo Amati. Too bad with Amati name he could have been a contender up there with Del Gesu. I guess the money was too good. One dealer has a copy G.B. Rogeri's Maggini. Maybe you can get for a song as everyone want deep dark tone which it lacks
Oh my gosh you got her to cry!
I like this series of different violins, some very interesting differences in different instruments. This Maggini has the depth that some of the others do not have, nice edge to it. A similarity to Flamenco guitars, the more they are played, the better they get but if someone heavy hands them, they have to be played back into shape.
Beautiful Maggini violin, double fillets, you play very well and the instrument responds, congratulations!
I'm a Bassist, l've heard the Maggini Bass now hearing the Maggini violin l realize that the Maggini magic transcends range your playing is superb have you done any recitals and or recordings ?
The Perfling does help keep cracks from propagating from the edge of the instrument too. But it seems mostly decorative. Certainly the double one is decorative.
A lot of complex overtones in this one, I like it a lot as well!
You are providing an unimaginable service to the music world. Thank you!
Recently I looking for the type of violin sound that I desire the most and Maggini is one them😊.
Way too cool! I'm binging on all of your videos. It's funny as a 3 chord guitar hack I find this fascinating.
Hi Katha, I am restoring a beautiful Maggini violin right now. It might be the real deal but if not at a minimum looks to be a very beautiful very old copy. When the restoration is completed I'd be interested in your opinion. I hope it sounds as great as the one you play in this video (it hasn't been played in many, many years). I can send pics to you if you're interested. It's very beautiful very old fiddle. The scroll/neck was missing so we had to find a suitable old neck/scroll to make a violin out of it. best wishes Bernie Tamosaitis
That sounds beautiful! I'd be happy to see it- my e mail address is on my website, www.atonalhits.com. Feel free to send pics! I do love a good Maggini, or at least a copy :)
Wonderful Masterpiece !
His basses were awsome! Am I right in the asumption that this violin hadn't been played for a while? It's as if it was opening up...
Absolutely! That's why I was talking about spending some time with it- you can see in the video I'm struggling a bit, but it's so worth the effort to get an instrument like this to open up!
@@aTonalHits Purfling
Do love you videos- such an opportunity to get closer and admire the sound to all these treasurose instruments .Thank you!
Very interesting video-Thank you!
Merci Katha ! Toujours aussi instructif.
de rien mon ami! :)
Wonderful, balanced tone
Wonderfully dark and deep
Sound.....
Wow, this is the one! The sound is beyond beautiful!
Totally unique, yeah? I love this one too!
Katha, can't say how much I appreciate this series, especially giving attention to non Strads/ Del Gesus! Also, i've been loving Early Light and you other performances.
I also enjoy these sweet, dark instruments, like the Da Salo. I'm wondering if you have a video on what fiddles and bows you've played on and currently play? If not, I'd really love to learn more! The instrument in many (all?) of your performances sounds great from top to bottom.
So glad you've been enjoying the series! I love some of these Strads, but I have an especially soft spot for the da Salo and the Maggini too. What magical sound!
Honestly, I've been debating doing a video on what instrument I play- I'd love to share, but I haven't yet purely for security reasons. Maybe this will change! Needless to say, I love my instrument, but it's a total diva :)
Thank you for watching! Always more to come!
@@aTonalHits Well, now my interest is certainly peaked! Must be a very special Diva!
Thanks for all the great content, looking forward to more!
Great Show...thank you
I’m learning a lot from your videos. When I visited the Chi Mei museum in 2012, I was fortunate to try out some of their instruments including the de Salo, which I liked more than the Strad and Guarneri I also tried. Wish I had tried the Maggini as well!
Hey Gene, thanks for tuning in the last few years!! :) yeah, they love to put the Strads and Guarneris out- the pride of the collection! If you go again, ask for the ‘other’ Italians, haha- there’s one I can’t wait to do a video on, by Gaetano Pasta. I thought the name was hilarious, but the violin was amazing!
aTonalHits I look forward to your review on the Gaetano Pasta!
i don’t get it you deserve more attention because you have so many samples off these amazing masterpieces i wish you got more attention
wow, a mixture of resonance and huge projection, full hue of tone, a good example of aged spruce and maple, and what it does with good chambering, thanks for sharing this majestically toned violin, ciao, Maggini from my part of Italia
I hear it as dark, but shiny and sorta brassy in its attack and I mean that in the coolest possible way. And freakin' gorgeous. Oh... and the violin is, too. Grins!!!
I love your videos... Thank you
Wouldn't it be wonderful to know the complete history of these amazing instruments?
I can't get over how fantastic it looks despite being 410 years old!
Would it have had multiple restoration works done over the years?
How old is the varnish? It looks so good, I don't suppose it can be original.
Thanks for posting.
Deep, dark, rich, but hollow... Something that Del Gesu has fixed the hollowness with more thickness in the back and some adjustment in the arching.
Thank you for these violin test drives. Oh how wonderful!😅
I love history, especially music and mathematics histories. Great video. I subscribed. Thanks for sharing.
These videos are da 💣!! Thanks!
To John Gedesse, thank you I did not know the part about the second ring limiting vibrations and directing to the ribs. That was fastenating! Keep the tide bits coming I need to know this stuff! Thanks and bye!😅
This violin reminds me of my bassoon. Darker, woody and lovely.
love these videos. thank you!
Muito bom o conteúdo desses vídeos, principalmente por ficarmos conhecendo os diversos autores de violinos, parabéns
Um, that was amazing. Really enjoyed so many of your videos! And, who downvotes content like this?
Thanks for watching, glad you're enjoying it! And don't worry about the downvotes- I think you must have to be a pretty sour person to go out of your way to downvote anything at all! :)
@@aTonalHits absolutely!
I'm no expert but this violin sounds great! Just what a soloist needs to stand out!
Suggestion: play the beginning of the Bruch Concerto in g with ALL the violins and we will get a real idea of the sound difference.
Really enjoy your videos!! But was disappointed to hear you say that the purfling has no acoustical function, because that is not true.
Thanks for watching! No, you're completely right- I didn't learn that fact until after making this video, and I'm always kicking myself for the fact! In fact, I've been working on a new violin video for a Lupot, and will be talking about the perfling more in depth, also because I messed up so badly on this video. Thank you for bringing my attention to it!
@@aTonalHits Hi Katha, Sorry ..you are both wrong. As a violin making I can tell what it is use for. Perfing is use to stop the wood from open up a crack on the edge of a violin plate when someone drop a violin. Its very important function to keep the violin safe. cheers
This Maggini sounds really good! Pls as many Gasparo, Maggini and Rogeri in the future! Pietro G of Venice too, maybe also Matteo Gofriller. Enjoy!
Isn’t this wonderful?? I think so too :) hopefully a Rogeri up next!
I do have a Maggini copy... it is a bit bigger than regular violins...as oppose to Amati violin is a bit smaller. The G sound is very very deep like a viola. Maybe it is just my copy and not sure if the real one also has that deep G sound. Among all different copies my least favorite is Jacob Steiner - It sounds nasal...
I realize these wonderful instruments are rare but why only 5 minutes per instrument. I would think that just getting them out of their storage area would take longer than that and also to have a world class musician give the instrument a much needed workout would be a deciding factor as to how long she would have to play each one. Its not like she's going out on the street and playing for money, this is a controlled environment and I am sure there is security as well. Love all the videos. Please keep 'em coming!!
Beautiful. Would like to see the neck graft in a close up, also close-ups of the scroll and box and frontal shot of the top to include bouts and both f holes in better light.
I worked in New York in a very good shop directly across the street from Carnegie Hall in the mid 1970's and was surrounded by wonderful instruments and was able to handle violins of all sorts but by far my favorites were early Breschian violins. Their dark tonal qualities gave them tremendous power. The Strads and Bregonzis are prefired because of their highs and their ability to "cut through" and be better heard, so to speak but in Maggini's time the orchestras were smaller and that wasn't as important a factor then. Though Magginis don't seem to have the volume and don't project as later Cremonese violins I prefer the soulful sound of his works. It is a shame more is not known about him. He is my favorite maker. Thank you for the opportunity to view and hear that most magnificent violin.
I also think Maggini is underrated! He is one of my favorite makers. I will dig around in our old footage and see if we can dig up an up close of the neck graft!
@@aTonalHits Thank you so much! Great channel. Stumbled upon it. Now I visit it often.
Playing Bach on older instruments makes sense and is a great idea! I agree with all the old world players (Heifetz, Milstein, Menuhin, Ricci...) who use vibrato when they play Bach - as a sidenote. My reasoning: had Bach been born a little later he would not have objected
I do not get to differentiate the sound from different violins. Could you explain a little more what a "rich tone" or "dark tone" or whatever means? I am a little lost.
excelente video
Not to take away from the violin or the history or the music, but I love your mug.
HAH yes that's my favorite one :) (was wondering if anyone would pick up on that easter egg!)
Wow nice what you do.
I like to hear Ole Bull violin 🎻..
It's coming! :)
Check it out at Bergen, Norway. Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu Cremona. I would like to see you play with all four strings at the same time. You have to play with a extra long bow. It's not easy to read and play with note. Cool.
❤️ She mentioned my comment! Shoutouts from the Philippines 😂
Timely that Milan was hit by the black death and we're stuck in quarantine during the time of a pandemic where Milan was hit particularly hard too.
It'd be nice to have the names of pieces whose excerpts you're playing so we can look them up :)
That was you! Haha, thanks for that, it made me laugh!
I will put the names of the pieces in the description... hopefully soon.
Shout out right back at you, from NYC to the Philippines! :)
Thanks for Sharing the video..You play very well....I have a Maggini Violin copy.. Repaired in US....needs a new bridge and some adjustments. Curious... What strings this Maggini had on?
Has this violin been restored? I am mildly stunned considering it’s age. These violins must feel like people in the room with you.
I can hear the influence of da Salo in the singing of the treble strings, and slight growling on the G and D strings which helps those strings "speak." It was hard to clearly see the double binding in the video. It looked like the binding was twice as wide as usual. Is the binding one wide piece of wood or multiple strips of wood?
It's too bad that you couldn't get a bit more time to play and get to know each violin you present. Despite that, I think that you still manage to reveal the character of each. Thanks
Yeah, we didn't realize we didn't get a clear image of the purfling till.... yesterday :/ But basically, it's a purfling like normal, and then an extra one lining the first one. I always feel like it gives the illusion of the instrument being a bit smaller. The purfling is like an inlay, very delicately done. On some instruments you can see where the purfling's been damaged and a little chunk set back in- the first one was done by Amati in the 1560's!
Yessssss! This seems like a deep instrument but perhaps a bit brighter than da Salo?
I'm Indonesian, and I have Giovanni Paolo Maggini's violin which says 1600s or 1700s, because the writing on the violin is a bit blurry. This violin was repainted in the 1990s, and I'm now looking to sell it. can anyone help me? how much will my violin cost?
I know this is a strange question. Has there been any violins rescue or recovered from the time of the Holocaust and its victims?
Not a strange question at all, and in fact there's probably a good deal of history on the subject that I'm not aware of. I do have some footage of a violin built in a Taiwanese prison camp that is very interesting, which I'll definitely do a video on at some point. But I will definitely look into the subject and see if we can make a video on it. Thank you for your thoughtful question!
I really love the dark tones. On a side note, can you sometime tell us a little about your bow? If you’ve covered this already apologies. I just joined up.
No worries! I hope to do a video just about bows sometime soon, although given the circumstances.... it might be awhile! This bow is a Lupot, and it's also from the same collection. Wonderfully heavy!
@@aTonalHits Thank you!
You said that “Perfling does nothing for the sound’, ...?!
I beg to differ. My three luthier friends, two of whom learned in Cremona & Parma, explained to me, that purfling acts as a car’s ‘shock-absorbers’; taking in and releasing the sizable stress & tension on the ‘table’ of the violin while being played.
Thus, while it may not enhance, per se, the tone production of the instrument, without it, the instrument and it’s sound would be rigid and ‘closed’, or, G-d forbid, sound 🙉 like a factory-made violin [-shaped box]-! 🥰
Ah, I learn new things every day! Thanks for this! It makes perfect sense, I just never knew! :)
Exactly right on the mark. Purfling holds the wood from splintering apart also. Bimbow highly proficient Violinest know nill why all there is going on from construction of the instrument in their hands.
Were all Maggini, Amati, Stradivarius etc. great sounding instruments? Wood varies a lot in it's tonal quality, so there must be some "not so good ones" among the thousands or so instruments the master violin makers made. Are any known to be a bit of a dud but still revered because of the maker?
Oh, absolutely! Im sure it’s a combination of wood, craftsmanship, and every other tiny thing- but for instance there are two more Strads in the collection that I’m not particularly fond of- they just didn’t do it for me. But they are Strads, so the price will definitely be there!
Thanks a lot for your vidéos. What about the size of this instrument, please?
The purfling helps protect the violin from developing cracks.
I figured that out later, and wish I could edit that video! Thanks! :)
There are many periphery events that take a lifetime to gather when studying the violin...mostly Beethoven, Mozart, Hayden and Bach.
Makers of all k8nds of luthiery happening in the field of competition of instruments for partons on the new era of Baroque 1600-1750@!!! I will indulge you Dear@!!!!
Fantastic instrument. It's an interesting point that a lot of these older instruments, especially pre-Stradivari, have such different tonal qualities. I imagine a lot of it has to do with the experimentation and unknown territory of what makes a "good" violin at the time. It's also what makes them so unique now-a-days, too, as we've gotten so used to the more standardized Strad sound.
Out of curiosity, what kind of instrument do you play on? It has a magnificent tone and it seems to suit your playing style very well.
PS. Love the random Tengu mask in the background. 👺
Hey! I'll e mail you more about what instrument I play- trying to keep it off youtube for security reasons, as I'm sure you'll understand it. And glad you like my Tengu!! He's been with me since I was a kid :)
@@aTonalHits Awesome! Looking forward to hearing about it! And Tengus are awesome. I love the mythology behind them as well as their aesthetic. :)
Does anyone have a source for measurements or plans for Maggini fiddles?
So what is the price just sitting in museum for time indefinite!?
What is *YOUR* personal violin? that one sitting on the table? Maker and year?
I'd love to know more about it, specially if it's by a modern maker, often overlooked talent.
Ahhhh so many people ask me that, and I just can't answer so publicly, I'm so sorry! But it's not a modern maker, I borrow from the same collection we're reviewing. I'd really love to dig into modern makers though, they get terribly overlooked!
@@aTonalHits Aww shame, it's like a government secret eh? Haha
Well we'd love to see your take on it, they really are overlooked.
I remember few people mentioning them, Ray Chen if I recall correctly uses(and prefers) a modern one he has, not sure who's the maker, he says they don't have that sweet old masterpiece sound ofc but are a powerhouse and he thinks it fits his play style and necessities of a soloist.
aTonalHits I read about a recent blind study where both performers and audience preferred modern instruments over Strads. (I don’t remember any details but I’m guessing you would have seen it too?)
@@matthewv789 the blind test was done with violinists themselves, and it was a really bad test scientific wise - not to mention the epistemological problems with blind tests themselves - sound, and specially violin sounds and feels, as well as knowledge about it, is so vast and varied, that would you know what to look for in a five min. Blind test with each instrument?
@@matthewv789 Would our great host Katha here guess correctly that the 17th century Steiner she played in an earlier video was a valuable antique? That video is great cause she goes into a bit of the of details over the miriad of things that make a violin great, and how they're not easy to spot at first sight(nevermind blind!)
I'm curious Katha, do you use the same bow with all of these instruments?
Yes! I use the 1825 Lupot bow, the same I demonstrate with in the bow comparison video. I tried to keep at least the bow the same, as a control against all those instruments! Although they vary so much, there's not much of a scientific method I could do with them!
I'd be terrified to just handle such instruments.
Please do Antonio Capela
I thought purfelling was to stop a crack from going all the way to the edge.
You're absolutely correct- I noted this mistake after publishing the video, and addressed it in another!
do a review on cheap violins too please
Absolutely Sasspatorious!!!
I want to listen to Villiaume violine
How can I give a second like to this video??