I don't know what it is about the Amati family violins, but they have so much personality and I have always personally considered them the most beautiful violins made. There was 0% copying involved. All ingenuity and personality.

Its incredibly difficult to get a super warm sound but also an open clear tone to that warmness with presence.....Amati does that....it creates the emotion and character almost as a living voice singing.....

Wo.....The sound of this Violin is so sweet...... really love it.

I love these beautiful old violins, they look like amazing art, which you can actually do something with.

The Amati violins are distinguished for their sweetness of tone....

Oh my god that violin's voice is heart-stopping

Es ist unglaublich, daß solche fine Instrumente nach so vielen Jahrhunderten immer noch existieren. Ihre leichte Ansprache, sanfter Umriß und süßer Ton, machen sie hoch Begehrenswert.

beautifully mellow resonance

You and this instrument make a wonderful team. I for one would really love to hear you play on it a lot more. Thanks for your video.

the warmth🌻

So beautiful..... and the violin too

Mindboggling that the same instrument was being played by so many people during centuries

Magnificent-sounding instrument! Thanks for sharing.

I really enjoy these videos with their no nonsense narration that is full of real content, Then there is the sound of these very special instruments. All the best.

Ravishing sound!! What a treasure...thanks so much for providing this sonic "dessert". Much in need of BEAUTY at this time!

Very beautiful looking and sounding violin! Thank you for all the information on this wonderful instrument 😊

I liked this video so much, that I had to watch it again. Please don't apologize for the length of the video. I could listen to you play for an hour easily. The music and the information were both great. Thank you again.

I love you videos. Thank you so much for sharing the history, and for you insights into some of that history. Fascinating.

@aTonalHits

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching, and for taking the time to comment! There will be more videos coming! :)

Thanks a million for this information . The sound is a thousand times more beautiful than all the others i have heard ...Thanks

Grazie maestra. Love your series....Brava!

Bach called for it in his Brandenburg concerto. There was also a 4' harpsichord which had very little music written for it. Spinetto.

I love LOVE the sound of this violin. It is so warm and rich. Lot's of depth and colour. A tribute to your amazing manner of drawing out the best in all of the violins that you play in these videos. I may have mentioned about my recent purchase of a Bellosio. It is slightly under full size and such a comfortable instrument to play. I must admit I have to adjust a bit from playing my full size, Roth from 1924, based on a Strad from 1724. Keep up with this wonderful work.

That violin sounds great.....

The sound of that one was vibrant n had it's tones bringing u down with an uprising effect that ur whole body could feel what a Master of the world & his violins! 😊🎶🎶🤗

Lovely review, Happy New Year!

The sound quality of the instrument and player were quite impressive. Fun to watch and listen to. Brava.

Wonderful sound!

Hi Katha I totally agree with you (2nd argument...) What a beautiful instrument. The tone wood is beautiful. Thank you so much for this video. Loved the playing, sound, tone.❤

I have quickly become a fan of your videos. Thank you for the history on all of these important violins! Though they all have distinctive personalities, you do a wonderful job of playing all of them, adapting and finding their unique qualities and individual merits.

@aTonalHits

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for watching! It is always great fun to get to know these instruments, and I'm even happier that we can share our thoughts with all of you! :)

Your videos are fantastic. Keep up the great work!

this is absolutely fascinating and delightful. liked, subbed, binging, & sharing with my kids. thank you so much!

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for taking the time to watch! Filming a new one tomorrow- should be out by Sunday (fingers crossed)! :)

There is much more about female violinists also during the baroque era. Look per example at Antonio Vivaldi, who was a priest and violin teacher at the Ospedale de la Pieta, one of four homes for female orphans. There was an female string orchestra he composed his concertos for. Even so he had famous female pupils, per example Anna Maria. She performed about 30 violinconcertos from Vivaldi, which were dedicated to her. Later she herself became violinteacher at the Ospedale de la pieta.

Amazing 🤩 it sounds beautiful ❤️ 🎻👍

Very interesting violin story - thank you!

Thanks for a great video.

Beautiful tone

I have had violin in my life for two weeks now. I search the sounds to know what I am aming at. Yeah, I lack the skills, but the ame is there still. These videos are great!

Fascinating!

Bless you!

I love the tone of the Amati. Thank you. I agree they should all be played.

@craigrandall1915

3 жыл бұрын

My felix mori Costa is slightly small. Maybe piccolo. It sounds like this Amati. Enjoy this video

@patriciajrs46

2 жыл бұрын

I am listening again in Feb. 2022. This is sweet, melodic, and well heard. Great sound and resonance.

wonderful

Hope to see your report about the Salo cello and the Chi Mei's cello collection and perhaps the Alberti violin!

Sweet sound

Omg she is an amazing speaker and musician 🤗 love the content!

@aTonalHits

3 жыл бұрын

You're so sweet!! Thank you! :)

Wow I love your playing! And that adorable little violin! It sounds really wonderful and unlike mine it’s actually my size! Mine is actually slightly larger than a long-pattern Strad!

I believeBach called for piccolo violin in his Brandenburg Concerto in the original scoring even though a regular violin is now. (Tuned a 3rd higher) I saw one instrument which was made in 1760 on a dealer's site a few year's back.

Great review 👍

This instrument suits you perfectly Katha!!

Super excited! Ma'm! you're so gorgeous! I'm newbie from land of practice! But thank you so much for showing, to me, such a Legeng of music!..Have been always to dream, to see an actual enstrument of Amati, nor Vivaldi...!

@peterrenner7468

4 жыл бұрын

you're so gerogeous? do you mean YOU, the violin?

it has a much more pure tone powerful projection and far more accurate sound with to the ear it stirs the ear at the same time it projects the sound evenly throughout any passage and has penetrating sound throughout any work of music really a beautiful violin

Beautiful sounding instrument. Are there copies of the piccolo violin made today? I love the sound

I’d be curious to hear about the great contemporary violins. Do any of them compete with the old masters?

What's it like to play a 430+ year old violin?

@uraverageteen396

3 жыл бұрын

@@ChiefHerzensCoach Christian plays an Amati? I was able to borrow a 1682 Amati violin and holy it’s amazing!

Very warm ,

The Amati violin is fantastic. It astounds me how these quality instruments hold their tone over hundreds of years. But also have to say the woodworking on the wall behind you in the studio is just as amazing! Thank you.

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

Isn't it such a pretty one? I really love this little instrument. And yes, the woodwork behind you is, I think, either lifted from an old church, or a replica..? Anyway, it really is as lovely as it looks! :)

A Thir violin would be nice to see and presented! :) Enjoying your series, the 1713 Strad is the best so far! So easy to play and so rich in sound! ;) Dream to play one

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! I don't have any Thir violin footage at the moment, but next time I'm in the vault I'll definitely have a look round! And I know, the 1713 Strad, right?? I wish I could play it all the time! :)

maravilloso violin

Thanks for your knowledgeable presentations! There were two things with this one which sprang to my mind when watching: Bach used the Violino piccolo in his first Brandenburg concerto, and as far as we know, it was an all-male orchestra he thought of. And secondly, it is not quite true that audiences would not accept female violinists until the late 1800s. E. g., Mozart wrote his Sonata in B K454 for himself and Regina Strinasacchi, who then was a star performer and travelled Europe. In his letters, Mozart writes about her as about an absolute equal. They performed the Sonata in an "Akademie" together on 29 April, 1784, both prima vista, Mozart with nothing more than a sketch in front of him. What is true is that many (not all) female performers stopped performing once they were married.

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

Good to know! I’m always picking up new bits of info from these comments. Thanks! :)

please check your info,a piccolo violin is around 266mm in length,this violin is a standard mostly for the time small violin measuring 352/53 but string length is 126 ,thats why you can mostly play it without much adjustment.a piccolo violin came later. this a small full sized violin,thats all

I'd love to see a comparison of a Amati violin and a Maggini violin.

This Amati instrument has a wonderfully sweet tone. I own a 100yo German replica of the 1731Guiseppi Guarneri instrument. So I have an interest in the Guarneri family of luthiers. If you ever have access to any of these, I would enjoy hearing them. I think you have already demonstrated one of the most illustrious of the Guarneri instruments. Thanks!

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

Ok, Guarneri- I'm on it! I think I may have one or two in the backlog, so hopefully I will be able to get to it soon (sometime in the next year, hah!) Thanks for watching!

Perfect for baroque and classical period music.

Katha - Thank you for you very informative historic violin video! Can you please make a video about how some historic violins have been "modernized" to make them more suitable to be played in modern concert halls, etc.? Things like different string materials, replaced tuning pegs and bridges, can all make very big changes on how an instrument plays and sounds. I recently saw a video demonstrating how different bows can make a violin sound mediocre or fantastic! I think many people would be very interested in the different types of wood used, and how that affects playability. One violin maker I saw had a strong preference for Mongolian horse hair for the bow. I'd be very interested in learning more about what makes good bow hair as well.

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

This is a great idea, making a video on modernizing instruments! Maybe I can pair up with my luthier, or with Juilliard, to make a video on that- I unfortunately don't have much access to good period instruments to show for examples. But a great idea! I will try to make that happen! The same goes for the bows- that one might be easier to do a little more quickly! The bow is, I feel, what really makes the playing, even more than the instrument! But when we are educated to play these instruments, sadly we don't actually learn much about it's history, or how the instruments are made. It's been interesting for us to put these videos up, because we're also learning a lot along the way! But I will definitely try to get a bow video up soon- thank you again for watching and commenting! :)

@robotnik77

Жыл бұрын

I agree; and I would like to know how they 'stretched' the fingerboard when they modernized the old violins. Did they put on a completely different neck, or did they do something else?

When that instrument was made, the violin repertoire was somewhat smaller than now!! It would be another 130 years before Bach wrote his solo sonatas or Vivaldi the 4 seasons, so I guess it was an antique by then. We saw a similar (full size) violin in the Tully House museum in Carlisle.

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

Isn't that wild to think about? It always boggles my mind! And it would be one lucky kid to play this instrument! I would have drooled over this at that age! :)

Fun fact: the first violin part in Brandenburg concerto no. 1 is written for the piccolo violin. (Or at least I’ve heard that)

@danielphendarko2651

3 жыл бұрын

that is true

@danielphendarko2651

3 жыл бұрын

It is in the third movement

BTW In the recording below Cecilia Bernardini plays a Baroque bow made by my son Marcus van den Munckhof. A perfect match for the small instrument.

the sound is amazingly focused and clear. is that the instrument or just good recording?

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

I would say that's the instrument! We had our good mics in there, but this was such a lovely little violin, and exactly that: focused and clear!

@luborkloda8903

4 жыл бұрын

never thought that 3/4 violin can have such pure and mellow projecting sound

@InfoArtistJK

4 жыл бұрын

@@aTonalHits Thanks! Here is my humble cover of "Over Here" inspired by the amazing Dimash's band rehearsal: kzread.info/dash/bejne/q2qY3K-PiLbNZMo.html

Nice! Thanks

Would like a showcase on the Guarnieri instruments if possible. Thank you entirely!😅

Hello, that was a great film thanks. What an amazing beautiful instrument which was made at a time when Queen Elizabeth I was in her mid fifties! Incredible living history linking today to the past. As a casual observer please forgive me as I have no idea who you are, the lovely lady violinist! I can't understand why you do not give your name in the clip description or as far as I can see in the channel information?! You are as large a reason for watching as the wonderful instrument and you should be more upfront and outgoing for your viewers. If you are a professional performing violinist why seemingly hide your identity? Thanks for posting.

Cheers to the next 500 years. 🥂 🎻

Awesome!! I really want to play a violin like that, How many million should it cost?

It's interesting how the bow looks proportionally much longer given it's a full sized bow with a very small violin.

I would like to find Thomas Jefferson's Amati violin. Does anyone know where it went, or where it might be?

Wonderful range of colours for a smaller instrument. I'm thinking of the uses... Pitch is an interesting idea, but as you (and Min Kym) noted, it fits the smaller hand nicely. Even if it wsn't suppose to be a "ladies" instrument, couldn't it be intended for those with smaller hands? Like the 7/8 strads? Since it is still just in the beginning of the standardized period of violin size (the Cello needed an other 100-150 years and the viola is still not standardized) wouldn't be quite easy to make a smaller violin for smaller hands?

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

This is a really valid question! I'm not going to pretend I'm an expert (because I'm not,) but my instrument when I was growing up, a 1755 Gabrielli, and the instrument I play on currently, a 1700 Rogeri, are both 'small hands' instruments- 7/8ths. What this video doesn't show is the first two times I tried the instrument and nobody actually told me it was a piccolo violin, so I was just getting super frustrated and angry at it trying to play it like a normal full size instrument! It might not look it, but it really is much smaller- which is also why I keep hitting the D string when I'm playing- and I had to come down a full shoulder rest size to keep it on at all. But yes, smaller hands instruments were much more popular in that time period and into the 1700's- and then there were people like Guadagnini, who just made consistently monster (and awesome/powerhouse) instruments. Hope that gives a bit more background! :)

@Samlaren

4 жыл бұрын

@@aTonalHits Interesting, thanks!

When was the violin converted to modern set up? I would imagine it does not has it original neck? Or maybe not? Only few Amati's and Strad's surived in their original form. Great sound though! I once saw one by an obscure English maker from 1760.

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

I wish I could tell you more particulars! I will ask the curator next time I see him- though I can't imagine it has the original neck, etc. Such an old instrument usually has a lot of repairs- though there are exceptions!

How many mm long is the back? BTW, I've listened to several of your videos & it's the first violin I've heard from that far back in time, so I was not expecting a wonderful sound, thinking violins had 'improved' since then, but this fiddle sounds exceptional !!

@aTonalHits

Жыл бұрын

I'm not sure of the exact dimensions, I'm sorry! But it definitely is smaller than a normal instrument. If you liked this instrument, check out my video on the 1560 da Salo- that one'll knock your socks off!! It's amazing how these instruments stand the test of time- glad you're enjoying the videos! :)

The hostess violinist is amaziing.

@gabebabe1

4 жыл бұрын

Not really

@matthewv789

4 жыл бұрын

gabebabe1 He probably didn’t mean exactly that she’s the best violinist in the world. I would guess more that she’s an amazing presenter and narrator (and, apparently, person).

@gabebabe1

4 жыл бұрын

@@matthewv789 I guess so.

@glennericksenmusic

4 жыл бұрын

Yes.....she is a great violinist.

I wish I could hear it tuned 1/3 higher as its maker intended ....

The violin does have a great tone, but the host did a great job making that tone come out. So even though the violin has a great tone it was the narrator’s fingers that pulled the tone out.

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for listening, and thank you for such a kind note! It's so appreciated :)

@heavenlyguitar5913

4 жыл бұрын

aTonalHits Anytime. You guys are great. 😊

could you play on a grand Amati violin and discuss the difference between the smaller Amati models and the Grand pattern violin made by Niclo Amati the best of the Amati and the teacher of antonia Stradavarious who made the strad violin

I'm interested in seeing you guys play an Vuillaume violin

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

We'll definitely keep that in mind! Such a backlog of instruments- and now we're all stuck indoors. Hah! One of these days, promise!

@rlilac643

4 жыл бұрын

@@aTonalHits Can't wait to see what is to come!

@MilsteinRulez

4 жыл бұрын

Yes, please! I second that strongly!

This is a serious question: What is used to polish these beautiful and delicate instruments?

@aTonalHits

3 жыл бұрын

Varnish is made up of oils like walnut or linseed, that have been thickened, historically, in the sunlight. Also different resins, and different components to add coloring!

Please explain the protocol of the museum. How could you be handling a rare instrument that's over 400 years old without wearing gloves or having a pile of pillows on the floor in case you drop it. Just curious.

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

Lol. A very solid question. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that musical instruments are meant to be played, and not just looked at- they honestly crave a human touch! (I think that at any rate, there are scores of people who will disagree with me!) so the trust of instrument to musician is just such a time honored thing: the musician will NOT drop it, if they respect their trade enough. And I guess I’m saying this based completely off of growing up into the world of music. I wish I could articulate it a little more coherently! 😅

@Amarikita

4 жыл бұрын

@@aTonalHits There's no lack of coherency in your response. I get it. It's one of those non verbal conventions among your peers. Still, for the museum to let your play it is quite a rare honor I'm sure.

Please do Hopfs violins!!!

I like the tone and I like the way you introduce the instruments. Here is a question: when comparing violins, how much of a difference does the bow make? IMO. -- its almost 20% of the tone, -- It sounds a world different when using my nicolas remy Marie bow ca. 1855 to a contemporary sartori copy, or a Pfretchner in the same price range.--

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

Great question! And I have to say, for me the bow is SO much of the sound. As in, if I don't have my bow with me (I use a Lupot), I feel like an idiot trying to find my way around an instrument- no matter how nice the instrument is. It's incredibly frustrating! For me, I love that my bow is quite heavy. I like to feel the weight of it in my hand, and it encourages my arm to always feel gravity's effect, and to let the bow do the work. That being said, the bow is such an incredibly nuanced thing, and deserves so much more credit! Essentially it is a wood stick, and yet it is responsible for tone, articulation, dynamics- a violin is nothing without it's bow. So I probably just gave a completely overdone answer, but I feel very strongly about good bows! :)

@hansweitbrecht1957

4 жыл бұрын

@@aTonalHits I share your views and experience, -- mine is 62 grams, with another 3 packed under the wrapping, -- it's an in between viola - violin bow. -- and it does not wobble, --, rock solid. the previous owner is a professional solo viola player, who moved onto something even better, -- and of course, exponentially more expensive. (heheh-- its an open money scale-) would you do a video, comparing a good 19th century bow with a late 20th century bow on the same violin? this is an area, where almost nothing is on youtube, -- cheers, Hans

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

@@hansweitbrecht1957 That's a great idea! Next time I'm in the vault, I'll definitely try to get some footage on bow comparison. I didn't realize there's not much about bows out there, I will try to remedy that! :)

I tried to find a good biography of the Amati family, can you recommend rescources on this family?

did anyone ever drop one of these things?

Where was the wood harvested to make these? I understand that for example Stradivariuses were made in the 17th and 18th centuries from wood harvested from northern Italy, which may have grown during the mini ice age (Maunder mInimum) which gave the wood its unique qualities, yet "comparisons" by expert musicians reportedly failed to distinguish Stradivarius from other high-end instruments. So, out of curiosity, assuming you have played a wide variety of different makers, and with the caveat that tonal quality is in the ear of the beholder, what is your impression?

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

I don't know exactly where Amati's wood was from, but a lot of the early Italians took wood from the same general area- Northern Italy. It's such a tricky subject, how much the wood influences the sound- and as a player and not a luthier, my honest answer is: I don't know! There are some instruments that I respond to on a gut level, and some that just don't resonate (no pun intended). And usually you can tell within a single bow stroke which ones will really sing; although there are plenty of them that you have to work with, and mold, and live with before they give you their voice. So for me, it's all just whatever is in my hands. I wish I could be more specific about the science of the wood, but I frankly think I just wouldn't understand it!

as there were only twenty four Grand Amati violins ever made it perhaps would be really difficult for you to find one you could play on known as the Mozart violins they are really special with special carrying power W. E. Ernest played the Spor violin concerto's on his one in the biggest concert halls in the world with great ease

A very nice violin, I have heard Amati violins that sounded a bit squarky, this one is a lot more gracious and has a very smooth sound. It may have some to do with it being played well as well.

@patriciajrs46

3 жыл бұрын

I have never heard of that term, 'squarky'. It is interesting. Chuckles. Thanks.

@stevehutchesson1321

3 жыл бұрын

@@ChiefHerzensCoach I had a listen to a couple of his tracks and he seems to be talented. It will be interesting to see how he plays when he is a bit more mature and has an older head and a better choice of music. He plays in a style that I associate with some of the violin music coming out of China, very "sweet" sounding and a little more frilled than I personally like.

@stevehutchesson1321

3 жыл бұрын

I just had a look down the comments and it appears you have spammed a number of comments. The boy has the talent to make it on his own without you making a mess of someone else's channel.

Has a pretty nice depth and darkness for being called a Piccolo. With a Baroque bow and playing Bach’s Andante bwv 1003 would be nice. How about grabbing a Violin from the Vault and playing the same excerpt of a piece with different period bows? Would be interested in hearing the strengths and weaknesses of each period of bows. It would also be great if time permits to grab multiple violins and play the same excerpt of a passage to get a feeling for the tonal differences. Very entertaining content. I quit Violin and just starting again, so these videos are great to get back and immersed in Violin again. Thanks.

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

I know, I was amazed at the richness of tone it could produce, even as a piccolo! I would LOVE to play and show off some Baroque bows for you but- unfortunately, I am utter crap at Baroque bows. Probably because I haven't spent much time with them, but I do love the style and hope one day to have enough time to really dig more into it! I did actually make a video way back when that we didn't put up, since the mics weren't good enough- but I pulled a bunch of instruments from the vault and then just went through the Bach Chaconne fully. Not quite the same phrase, but that's also something very interesting! I will try to do that next time I'm there!

There is a mistake here. Vivaldi had a band of female string players long before the date it is stated here that female violin players were acceptable "on the stage."

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

You're absolutely right! However, the vein in which I'm talking about is more traveling concert artist, instead of a chamber group. And by accepted, I mean more 'socially acceptable' as compared to just accepting a woman onstage. Hope that clears things up!

it does make sense actually

Bach wrote higher notes for the "regular" violin than for the piccolo violin. Nicolaus Harnoncourt says the reason for the existence of the piccolo is completely different, check his video explaining more about it and the 1st Brandenburg concerto

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

I absolutely will, thanks for the tip! Keep hearing about the connection to the Brandenburg 1. Thanks for listening! :)

Omg no word's

The C bouts of a Del Gesu seem to look a lot like the Amati bouts. Like master like student?

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

Hah, I think, clearly! Good catch there, I hadn't noticed it! :)

@TheHappynot

4 жыл бұрын

Bad Dinosaur yes all Guarneri family members followed the outline of Amati I believe. Andrea Guarneri pretty much made Amati copies.

Interesting how a smaller instrument can accept modern pitch and still display a degree of power. This has been true of certain violas, e.g., about 15 3/4 inch or even less. Makes you wonder what the original makers were really thinking when they built them. Perhaps you could discuss actual dimensions, strings used, vibrating string length in future videos? It may be a bit dry for some viewers, but others eat up that sort of information. I would like to know whether luthiers or players decide what strings are used on these 'collection' instruments. This certainly affects where you find the harmonics on the fingerboard, for example. I believe you found them to be spot-on on the Elman, a comment that seems to mean they are not so easily found on other violins...?

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

I will dig into this as much as I can in the future! I had planned to do a video with a luthier friend of mine in the near future, but of course that all got shot to hell recently. To tell you the truth, I’m not positive why it seems so difficult to find harmonics on some violins, and some others it seems near impossible, but I always strongly feel it has everything to do with dimensions of the instrument. With the Elman strad, it was like all I had to do was trust my gut and reac and the harmonic fell into place. With the guadagnini, and paganini’s Guarneri for instance, you have to feel around for it to get an idea for the ratios in shifting. If that makes any sense...? :)

Amati - the best.

I own the same violin and really enjoy it very much over 40 years my violin is a hand made copy of a grand Nicolaus Amati 1800 love it very much that one you just played is a grand pattern Nicolaus Amati violin not his fathers as only Nicolaus Amati made the Grand pattern Amati and was the teacher of so many great makers including Stradivari who actually was his God son whom he left all his tools to