Another one bites the dust!
I had another potential future work partner cross my path this last week... It is a pretty nice instrument by one of the Cuypers family, a Dutch violin making family from around the late 18th century. I was allowed to take the instrument on loan to try it out in different acoustics and restringing it with the gut strings that are more normal in my own specialisation of music.
However, after a decent first impression... more time on the instrument revealed some weaknesses that I wasn't really wanting to compromise with. The violin had a really solid lower G string, and a very beautiful and sweet E string... however, the middle registers were a touch nasal and lacked the roundness and solidity of tone that I would be looking for in a partner in crime..... It was a very easy instrument to play... and incredibly powerful... plus, it had long term investment potential as a "named" violin with distinct provenance...
This is where players and investors/collectors differ on what is valuable to them... as a collector (or an investor), people are looking for things that will appreciate or at least hold their value over time. So, named violins with a certain pedigree are incredibly valuable to them... as is the craftmanship and the "look" of the instrument. As a player of the instrument, I am looking for a instrument as a tool to act as my voice... so, these things are low down on the order of importance... I am looking for the way the instrument plays, if it matches my playing style, certain tonal qualities and any quirks of sound and response.
So, we are sets of people who are competing for instruments with completely different ideas of "quality" and "worth" in mind! In many ways this is quite lucky, as the investors have much more financial power than musicians... and so, it is nice that we aren't competing in the same space.
However, sometimes there are violins that contain all the good qualities for both sets of buyers... and for a moment, I had though that this was one of them... however, in the end, for the price that the seller was asking for... it wasn't the violin that I was looking for!
After all, when I had a chance to match up the violin directly with the two violins that I play most often (my beloved workhorses!)... I would have to say that it was soundly beaten by one of them, and narrowly beaten by the other... so, back to the hunt! It is a long and slow process... but for the two violins that I currently use in most concert, they were instant and unqualified partners! However, the dark one has recently sounded a bit harsh on the top... I have an appointment with a luthier to check up on it's internal health... possibly something has moved on the inside or there is a seam loose....
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I feel your pain and I must say that I had never thought in those terms, but, yes! How fortunate for you that you, that at times you and the collectors can run along the same route, but use different tracks at some point.
Now, if that had been a great deal and sounded good...well, it probably would be reflected in the price. One of my friends is a concert cellist and I will admit right up front that her life has been amazing, but, the sacrifices have been many. Especially when playing across the world in a Christmas engagement. But, back to the buying. She has several she loves playing with, but, there is one that is her favorite, the sound, the feel, the way she can make it dance.
Oh, beauty. That is all I can think of when I hear her play.
I know you will find what you are looking for. Probably once you stop searching for it. That is what usually happens. A truly splendid post!
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A lovely post indeed! I love the idea of being proficient at such a great level in music. It's so romantic to consider such beauty & art. Thanks for sharing! I love your style 🎵🌸💜🎶
Thank you. Hopefully I will be able to find the right partner, I love the one that I currently use the most... But it can never be mine!
C'est la vie 🤷♀️ What will be will be! Enjoy every single sweet lovely note while you can 🌹🌲🌺
Oh, I am sure you meant this for Bengy, but, it showed up under my comment. xo
Thanks! It is a difficult thing.. When you look, it can be more elusive... But if you stop looking, you have very little recent comparisons to make a good decision.... That said, the instruments that I use most often were instant loves...,
I love how you explained the importance of what you are looking for in a partner and why. It makes sense that the investor would be looking for different things than the player of the instrument.
That’s great that you were able to give it a test run to see if it was a good fit before purchasing it . I hope you find your new partner in crime soon :)
Yes... It will come hopefully! It is such a big decision, so it is quite normal to have some trial before coming to an answer! Hopefully, I can find that special one where the violin is overlooked by investors...
I hope so too :)
You sound like a wine connoisseur looking for that perfect vintage. On the other hand, I was reminded of a time decades back when my first husband and I were looking for a new house in California -- one of the most upscale, expensive places in the country to try that stunt.
We got talked into looking at one that was a fair bit beyond our comfortable price range. The owner was motivated and supposedly "flexible" on terms -- but still it would have been a breath-holding stretch to afford it at least for a few years. (And yet the investment potential back then was superb. Another of those factors one has to consider!)
In the end, I could honestly say I just didn't like the house. It had all the right features the contemporary home-owner would want. It was in a good location. It had horse facilities. The owner did indeed seem interested in coming to terms. But it simply wasn't "home" -- and I've known with every house we bought the instant I walked in that "this is it!!" So I sympathize with all your subjective criteria.
When we finally got back in the car, I gave a sigh of relief and told my husband, "God, I am so glad we don't have to try to buy that house."
Keep looking. What you want is out there. If you "settle," you'll always regret it.
It is very much like the house analogy! When we were looking for a house, I remember the advice our real estate agent gave us... if you don't like it immediately, or it doesn't have the two or three CRITICAL things that you are looking for... then step straight out... if you keep looking, you'll start making excuses and start confusing yourself.
Same for the violin.... this time, I got caught by the... it is a great investment line.... I should have focussed more on what I'm after,... eventually I came to the right choice, but I was blinded a bit for a day or two, trying to see a different side of the violin! If I had the ability to buy ten or more, then sure, this would be up there... but I'm only looking for one at the moment!
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I always wanted to learn how to play a violin @bengy. I love the sound from these instruments, unfortunately I can barely play a radio. 😺
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Sometimes the sound from these instruments can be just like a scratchy screeching radio as well!
😁
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Ahhh thwarted! One day you will find your unicorn 🦄. 🎻
Violin... Unicorns are no use to me!
This is something I have never thought of before. I guess it is because the only instrument I play is the remote control. I guess if I had to choose I would choose the bottom one that has the light color. It just has a look of charm.
Haha... the light one is very beautifully made as well... It has lovely wide flames in the wood on the back... in concerts, sometimes I sit there mesmerised by them, as they catch the light as you move the violin and it appears like they are moving!
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