The fact that this violin was already an antique when Paganini played on it is mind blowing

@DanielVodenitcharov

2 жыл бұрын

It’s like how the pyramids were already ancient to the romans

@billshiff2060

Жыл бұрын

@@DanielVodenitcharov Or how Cleopatra is closer to us in time than she was to the pyramids.

@patriciajrs46

Жыл бұрын

Yes, so cool.

Now we need Hilary Hahn and a hula hoop.

@mahakala

4 жыл бұрын

NO

@orewachinchindaisukinandayo

4 жыл бұрын

No we need Heifetz

@mahakala

4 жыл бұрын

@@orewachinchindaisukinandayo no we need high tec

@AuliaSekar

4 жыл бұрын

NO WE NEED ZIYU HE

@orewachinchindaisukinandayo

4 жыл бұрын

@@AuliaSekar and Ray Chen

Twoset and lingling have managed to hijack every violin comment section on youtube

@tazhiag.5760

4 жыл бұрын

Holum this is sooo true😂😂😂

@189Blake

4 жыл бұрын

Shamefully there are a lot of unrelated and useless comments because of that.

@tazhiag.5760

4 жыл бұрын

Adrián Buenfil yeah I bet you use your platform to introduce and educate people about violins and classical music

@189Blake

4 жыл бұрын

@@tazhiag.5760 Why do you get so butthurt? Is every weabo like you? I don't have a problem with Twoset's content, but rather with the childish fans like you that get triggered when I say the truth. Nobody wants to read "she practices 40 hours" and other useless comments when discussing antique violin making. If I wanted to watch stupid memes instead of actually learning I would watch their channel rather than this one.

@tazhiag.5760

4 жыл бұрын

Adrián Buenfil i was actually waiting for this kind of reply 😂. Im not “butthurt”. You know how comments sections are nowadays, you’ll see the good and the bad according to your preference of course. It’s just surprising how you just wanted to see the things you only want to see. Oh well. Do you.

She practices 40 hours a day

@millky3634

4 жыл бұрын

Bruh

@rafaelrandom500

4 жыл бұрын

Twoset gang

@kouseiarima4285

4 жыл бұрын

Ling Ling 40 hours

@siyuren7723

4 жыл бұрын

Violin world has been completely taken over by twosets lol

@jebes909090

4 жыл бұрын

I'm not sure if they've helped or destroyed the classical world 😂

You have no idea how overwhelmed I am listening that violin. You make it come to life. Amazing, thank you very much.

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

Aw, thank you! You made my day :)

It’s a beautifully rich bass. Thank you for demonstrating it.

I wonder if Paganini would even recognise this violin in this current state: new neck (or at least set at a larger angle), metal strings, sound dampened by a chin rest and a shoulder rest-big heavy modern bow. It's a wonderful instrument in this state, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't tell us much at all about Paganini's sound world.

@aTonalHits

3 жыл бұрын

Well put, I think that's pretty spot on! I should probably do a video on what Paganini's world was like.

@user-mk4nr9te7p

11 ай бұрын

Условия для создания современного звука волновали Паганини.Ему очень нужен был мощный звук. И есть много фактов, что скрипки Гварнери и Страдивари несмотря на свою барочность в силе звука современным скрипкам не уступали.

Italians are so clever..Present day Italians carry on with such brilliance in the Form of FERRARI, LAMBORGHINI, MASERATI just a few Italian brand names..there are countless amazing designers and brands in all fields..too many to list them all.

I realize she has it covered, but it makes me nervous to see it held by chin, only.

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

HAH, I promise I've got it covered!! Everyone gets nervous seeing that- but for a violinist it's a super normal thing. Never dropped a violin in my life, so we're good, I swear! :)

@30indrayudhdas28

4 жыл бұрын

@@aTonalHits I can hold my violin in my chin even without chin rest or shoulder rest. But paganini's violin I will surely freak out and drop. 😵😵

@ayoutubechannul

4 жыл бұрын

Same lol

@thescriptwriter824

4 жыл бұрын

@@aTonalHits Yeah, but, that's not "a violin"....That's PAGANINI'S VIOLIN. I swear I heard his ghost crying "o.k lets get some hands on that beast right now young lady!" Phew.....

@kofthebaskervilles

4 жыл бұрын

no shit

I have such admiration for people who can play an instrument, because I can barely walk and chew gum at the same time.

Excellent video. Even from the laptop speakers, you can hear the richness of sound from this instrument. Beautiful! And how lucky you are to be able to play these violins!

That depth is why I like a Guarneri violin.

So lovely to hear Arvo Part played on such a beautiful instrument.

@oicfas4523

Жыл бұрын

Does that refer to the piece at 0:44? What is name?

Beautiful presentation & explanations. Your playing is glorious.

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you!! Honestly, this was our first video like this and I was SUPER uncomfortable talking in front of the camera (playing is so much easier!!)- so glad this has worked out! :)

You see things in this world and you just have no idea the level of depth discipline and passion that goes on beneath the surface. Thank you.

I love her descriptions of the sound produced by the violin

I love its sound. It is rich and deep. It's beautiful! You always play very well. Thank you for sharing part of the history of Paganini.

David Garrett needed this for the movie.

@marcosuluaga8358

4 жыл бұрын

No. Need to Vengerov, Perlman, Sarah Chang, Mintz, no to Garret

@specialperson335

4 жыл бұрын

@@marcosuluaga8358 no you dimwit, he said that they had it as a prop in the movie.

@soundninja99

4 жыл бұрын

@@marcosuluaga8358 Show the man some respect. He's an amazingly talented vilolinist who managed to bridge the gap between classical and mainstream, introducing many people to classical music

A big part peoppe don't mention about high end violins, particularly strads is how strong the sound is. They were meant for virtuoso soloists that had to be heard over the whole orchestra behind them. They sound great playing loud

It sounds like a dream

That violin is absolutely beautiful

The sound is so amazing

Guarneri is my ancestor. My Grandma’s madden name was Guarneri and she talked about how our family were violin makers.

When she talked about how she can stretch her hand I also compared my hands and they were the same. And then I remember that I also play the piano from when I was five and started playing all the way to the highest interval (8).

what a beautiful instrument, thank you so much -- and lovely playing too

Terrific. And beautiful playing, as always.

Sensory overload alert!!!....A beauty playing a beautiful instrument beautifully.

Twoset needs to see this!!!

@jimmyshrimbe9361

4 жыл бұрын

Ugh....

Beautiful

Is it me or does the violin look ever so slightly longer/wider and flatter than other violins? That would subtly change the sound it makes. You sounded fantastic playing it by the way!!! It is so so incredible that Paganini played this violin. It connects you with him over hundreds of years of history.

Paganini was a good composer and Violonist, the accesories have improved and lots of techniques were developed.

what a pretty video! Can't believe Paganini's hands lay on that instrument.

I'm so glad you played Päart on this violin!

Amazing violin and terrific playing!

My sister almost died from Marfan Syndrome, and I think I have the gene also (but somehow not with the same degree of symptoms). The long fingers do help when playing cello.

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

I'm so sorry to hear that, but very glad she is ok!! They must be such a help on the cello though, it's hard enough to reach some of those chords on the violin!

@AntonLFG

4 жыл бұрын

I've gotten mixed opinions from doctors whether or not I have Marfan's. Got an ultrasound once from my cardiologist and even though I do have long limbs, overlapping thumb+pinky nail around the wrist, thumb reaches decently beyond the palm, rib cage bowed inwards, but the ultrasound showed that my heart was fine and there was nothing to worry about. Fingers crossed I remain that way.

@donnewmeyer3133

4 жыл бұрын

GolldenFalcon Does it run in your family? There’s a lot of variability in the effects. Even though my sister had it, and I’m sure I have the gene (which is dominant), I only have some skeletal manifestations and have not had aortic signs in my 67 years of life. So don’t worry, but you may want to get follow-up echocardiogram later on, to see if there is any hint of widening of the aorta.

@catherinemccallen7982

4 жыл бұрын

I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome which shares characteristics with Marfan. I am a violinist and teacher and believe me- it’s a curse not a blessing. My joints are coming undone and I’m slowly dying from the accompanying comorbid conditions. It’s very painful but possible to keep playing with determination and learning to manage the symptoms as best as possible. I’m betting Paganini had EDS not Marfan which is much much worse and would probably have not allowed such a performance career.

@leeyanxing2495

4 жыл бұрын

@@catherinemccallen7982 Hi Catherine, so sorry to hear about that. I play the violin and was considering music as a career when I was diagnosed with hyperlaxity last year. Althought it's definitely not as serious as EDS, my condition is more towards that end of the spectrum compared to normal degrees of hyperlaxity. My limbs and fingers hyperextend and my tendons on my knuckles tend to glide around my knuckles and fall into the space between my fingers (subluxation), which makes intonation and bow control especially difficult. I could not imagine what you've gone through - wish you the best of health.

Very deep versatile, colorful. i almost prefer this to strad

@artartful854

4 жыл бұрын

The del Jesu violins of Guarneri are the most sought after for recording. More decibels and caused by slightly higher ribs for a slightly larger 'box.'

Wow, great video! The sound is beautiful!

Very great video, thank you!

So beautiful

You are fortunate having in your hands and playing this worderful instrument!

her: *explains syndrome* me: *wraps pinky and thumb around wrist* >>

@deashunboi

4 жыл бұрын

Dammit! Don't have the syndrome 😆

@jetzbeshort83

4 жыл бұрын

I have found my b r o t h e r

@hrishikeshjuvale

4 жыл бұрын

I tried. I can do it too! :)

@allyj.3523

4 жыл бұрын

@@hrishikeshjuvale Lucky bastard

@travis5125

4 жыл бұрын

I can have them touch, but not overlap.

Holy shit I didn't realize Paganini had a Guarneri 😱🔥

Wow, she's so great.

Beautiful tone.

Very beautiful tone!

I also prefer Guarneri over Stradivari. My favorite violin maker is now Gasparo Da Salo. It is surprising how sweet that Guarneri sounds. Paganini's music would have sounded different than it does on modern instruments.

Incredible violin incredible violinist

Thank you for playing Frates! It sounds wonderful on the paganini

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

Best piece ever, no? Here's an old video we did for that piece- kzread.info/dash/bejne/X2aOrclxpJm_dJs.html Should do it again though!

@cool-jg2050

2 жыл бұрын

I kind of like this Guaneri better than the Stradivarious violin

love this

Very informative.

Playing Arvo Pärt there, that's amazing.

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

Hah, glad you like it! That's one of my favorite pieces to perform :)

@henriaunin

4 жыл бұрын

@@aTonalHits Since I'm from Estonia, I have a bias towards Arvo Pärt. I love his work and saw him once walking down the street lol. He's quite an underrated modern composer.

@sfd373

4 жыл бұрын

Henrijoh Underrated? He’s the most performed living composer in the world, (apart from John Williams). That’s so cool you saw him in the street though.

@henriaunin

4 жыл бұрын

Aravind Aravind Not a lot know him though and talk about him in the mainstream world. Maybe I’ve just been out of touch, though he has won a lot of awards.

Bravo...

Awesome no other words

You have got wonderful hands. Oh wow, Sonata #3!

Thanks

The other (lesser spoken thing) about Paganini's violin playing ..he spent more time with his favourite musical instrument (since his teenage years) the GeeTar!! When he wasn't onstage with a violin, he had his closest 'friend' always in hand. I think this relationship was more than just as a 'conquest' tool (as some have remarked). The guitar gave him all the left hand stretch, strength and stamina for his exploits on the violin scale. Interesting to note (as a classical guitar player) I can easily wrap my fretting hand pinky and index finger around my right wrist (but not so easily when attempting with the right hand). And can flatten the thumb across the hand (more easily with the fretting hand). And, I don't have Marfan syndrome ;) When I have picked up friends violins, they remark of the silly stretches I can do ..because to me the violin is a pleasure to fret around on (and gain some intonation skills with) as it feels so small due to my experiences playing guitar. I'm sure Paganini found a similar symbiotic connection between the instruments (the guitar is 'kind of' a scaled up violin). As for the Marfan syndrome idea: I'm not sold on it, as I don't believe any science has been done. Firstly, his family would need to be checked to see if this syndrome is even in their DNA :) Secondly, I don't think there are other cases of Marfan syndrome among musicians. If it was a benefit, you would think we would see more incidences of it. However, of the cases I've seen: 'True' Marfan syndrome would be a hindrance not a benefit. The continual dislocations (and the pain associated with relocation), the arthritis like symptoms ..heck all the symptoms don't seem to help playing ..only the idea that the fingers are stretched (longer) and the tendons are like rubber bands (which causes dislocations all over the body, continually). Just a heavy juddering motion (from say, an aggressive bow technique) could cause dislocations ..or a strong fretting hand pull-off etc etc etc. imho - I think he played heavily from childhood, as his body grew (especially at times like puberty) his hands physically grew and stretched to match his technical requirements (and he was continually stressing his hands by playing for long hours every day). Add guitar playing to this training mix and I think you are on to something. Add to that a mastery that meant he had no issue retuning the violin as he choose, shaping the bridge to different angles (depending on the requirements of a song), he was not 'bound' to the instruments shortcomings ..he adapted it to fit his technique (a true master quality). However, his actual musical creativity ..that is an impossible thing to really quantify. But, you get an idea from the reviews of those who witnessed him (especially musicians :) Oh ..and a search of KZread for ' Leonid Kogan - Paganini (HD) ' will also give you some idea. ;-)

@oicfas4523

Жыл бұрын

Fretting on a violin 🤣. Is this one of those sacrilegious fretted electric violins?

oh my.. what a fine tone.. with all of our "science" today why is it that no one can make something sound as beautiful as this did.. My dear you made the violin sing and I was shattered when it stop so suddenly and abruptly at the end. I could have listened to you play for hours.. magnificent.. I must hear more.. I am in..

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you! And there are a ton of other videos where we just play, with no explanations or talking. So, there you go! Hours more to listen :)

@tinkmarshino

4 жыл бұрын

@@aTonalHits I have found many already.. thank you..

Wow, that's a very nice instrument!

....... it's an old violin and been worked on and " improved" upon during the last few hundred years . I once had an axe ,, I changed the handle for it five times and I changed the blade twice ; it's the best axe I ever had.

@bari_thom

4 жыл бұрын

Charles Dickens A Guarneri is a little more complicated to build than an axe 😉

@sourishw.5865

4 жыл бұрын

Hah! philosophy nerd I see! Is it the same violin?? Hmmmm...

@srinitaaigaura

3 жыл бұрын

The plates and neck are still the same, but the bridge, strings, fingerboard, maybe even the soundpost have all been changee. And then there's the chin and shoulder rests. And the bow.

Love the history

Magnificent

Congratulation for you job dear.

Richness ,depth, warmth. Despcription of a big hole covered in velvet.

It’s fucking hauntingly beautiful after 300+ years

The Cannon of violins!

The trick to a good violin sound are the low notes Since it's a small instrument, that's the real trick. You want low notes that don't sound boxy or nasal. The way you achieve this is by making the plates thinner and more flexible.. But there's a catch. As you remove wood and thin the plates, some notes will appear in the middle register louder than others. You get these resonant areas known as Wolf notes. Without an even response, the player has to work around these louder areas while playing. Add to all this the complication of having to predict how the wood will age and change over time...which is sometimes pure luck. A violin that wasn't spectacular when new can improve....and another violin that sounds great new fades over time. Fortunately over centuries the wood becomes stable...and luthier over time can address flaws and changes during repair and maintenance. Suffice it to say, when you are judging the sound quality of a violin...listen to the low notes. That's what separates the great from the cheap. The high end is all about player technique. A good player can make a cheap violin sound good high up with a quality bow. Oh ....did I mention that the bow matters?

@johngeddes7894

2 жыл бұрын

del Gesu back plates run thicker than Strads, Amatis, most other builders. The wood graduation is not by luck. It is a skill one gets from thorough training. I have a 2010 del Gesu model, and it tolk 10 years to develop its whole voice. The maker was fastidiously aware of its age vs its tone development, and some concerns were addressed by telling me just how young the violin was. Playing this violin is like having a car with a high performance big block; say a Dodge 426 hemi with 2 four barrel carbs. Or the SR-71 Blackbird.

Sounds so much nicer than a strad

maravilloso

Just curious. What can you say about playing such a work of art? What is the experience like?

Yes the body has deep resonances, hence the rich tone. Flexible but dense wood offers deeper resonant signature... even low frequency peaks in the response combined with various damping effects that are part of the art of making violins.

What a cool channel, even for a cellist like myself! :) Subscribed.

I wish I was able to play such an old violin

So, how does it compare to the later Guarneri (BY a later Guarneri, the del Gesù) that Paganini also owned? The "Il Cannone" Guarneri, of 1743 I read, surprised me once at a live concert. It really didn't exhibit the rich dark "Guarneri sound" I expected! To be frank though, it was played by a lesser violinist. On the other hand, I heard the Komitas String Quartet of Armenia live in a small, intimate venue. THEY had the Guarneri sound! In spades, possibly all of them played some Guarneri instrument (owned by the Armenian state). Later, in a small church, they still showed the rich tight dark sound. Usually I'm unhappy about strings in churches, something essential is lost (or something nasty added) I feel, but that was a Tchaikovsky 3rd as fat as I could wish for.

2:06 wow, Pärt!!!

@brianmessemer2973

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah nice call 👍👍

I like these better than stradivarius violins, the strads kind of hurt to listen to sometimes

@alexv3357

4 жыл бұрын

I've always loved the rich low end and gentle high end of Guarneri. Strads are too harsh on both ends but decent in the middle

@muhammadsteinberg

4 жыл бұрын

Agreed....I could make them both sound like crap though.

@charlesdickens6706

4 жыл бұрын

......and I like good resonance on G and D and an E that will readily whistle when called to. So the best fiddle I've ever played was a homemade teardrop shaped violin. I wouldn't mind the violin constructed by Yehudi Menuhin from matchsticks.

@Rylee_G

4 жыл бұрын

(Unpopular opinions I don't agree with)

@philippusviljoen172

4 жыл бұрын

The strads is extremely delicate and can only be played by the especially talented

I looooove this violin! Can you please tell me which piece is at the end of this video? It’s so lovely and sweet!! 😁🧸🎻💕

Both Ole Bull and Louis Spohr wrote about Paganini in their respective autobiographies & really, every "aspiring violinist" should read them. It's not just their "opinion" either. The most telling & damning criticism comes from Paganini himself as he weighs in on his "virtuosity" and "notoriety". Audience hasn't changed much. Back then it was the imitation of Barnyard Animals that were all the "rage", now it's Hula Hoops and "Ling Ling". The fact that the "greatest violin ever made" has never been in the hands of a "Greatest Living Violinist" is deplorable.

never know Paganini played a filius.

There are exercises called finger fitness if you want to stretch more with the right hand for playing the piano. Great video btw, cheers.

@nocturnallsnake4228

4 жыл бұрын

I need those.

Wow

This makes me think that once I have this violin, I will become the best violinist.

Why does this channel have so few subscribers. It's amazing!

@aTonalHits

2 жыл бұрын

Hell, I'm surprised we have as many as we do! Thanks for watching! :)

@TravelAddictGuy

2 жыл бұрын

@@aTonalHits You get to play and share with us these one of a kind pieces of art. That just happen to make beautiful music. I think it's superb.

Great video but may I give a helpful suggestion..... 1:38 that graphic is painful on the eyes. Why not download "parchment", then do the same tree on the parchment. It makes it look old/historical and is pleasing on the eye.

Dear aTonalHits: You don't say who you are. I can't find your name, anywhere. Where do you play? You're a wonderful violinist, and I'd love to know more about you. Also, where is the CHIMEI Museum?

@aTonalHits

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! My name is Katha, and Illya is behind the camera in most of these violin videos. You can find other videos with our names on them on our channel- there are a lot of performance videos! The Chimei Museum is in Tainan, Taiwan.

@nadinemclean1671

2 жыл бұрын

@@aTonalHits Thank you for your answer, Katha. I will definitely check out your other performance videos.

so i play piano and viola. i did the hand thing and i found my right hand can stretch farther in general but my left pinky can stretch farther.

I have had the wonderful luck/privilege of playing alongside a masterful violinist playing an Amati, and another time a different great artist playing a Guarneri del Gesù. These were highlight experiences for me, of course. This, however, raises the musical question: having listened to quite a few of your own very fine recorded performances lately, what sort of violin does Ms Katha Zinn play professionally? It also sounds amazing, as do of course the various instruments you demonstrate in this series.

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for listening! And- hah! I would so love to tell you what instrument I play on but, as some other people have pointed out on this channel, I can't really post that publicly for security reasons. I'm so sorry! But it's a beast of an instrument, a total diva, and I completely love it. I hope that satisfies some tiny inkling of your question! :)

@pgm3

4 жыл бұрын

@@aTonalHits Well, thank you Ms Zinn. I understand (I just produced a college concert featuring 200-year-old guitars, with provenances. We weren't allowed to identify the owners!). It's evident that you have a real and amazing affinity for that wonderfiddle. Please keep making these videos and play somewhere in Cambridge! Meanwhile, while i have your attention, let me state for the record that Mr Filshtinskiy is quite clearly a truly gifted pianist, and somebody (himself?) is one amazing videographer as well (the Bach Chaconne video was stunning on so many levels...) Thanks again for the heart and soul (and fingers!) you two display with such elegance.

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

@@pgm3 Yes, Illya is the videographer! He has such a knack for all things visual, I'm always amazed too. I keep on trying to get him to get on the channel and talk as well as play, so maybe one of these days we'll get to hear him a little more too. Thank you very, very much for tuning in- we are so glad you enjoy our videos! :)

My fingers are crooked as well from over 20 years of playing along with wrists and can you imagine rest of the body

What are the top 3 violins you have ever played? What 3 violins would you look forward to trying out if you could?

@aTonalHits

3 жыл бұрын

Top 3? 1913 Strad, the da Salo... and a toss up between the Elman Strad and the Maggini. 3 that I'm looking forward to trying out? Hmm.... well, I try to approach every instrument with zero expectation, because the name of the instrument can really create quite an assumption. I can't wait to try out the Met's collection, and of course, I would LOVE to try the Cannone someday!

I wish I could play to see how much i s technique and how much the room and how much the instrument

Does anyone know what the font is on the graph? Thanks! Great video btw, the violin sounds superb.

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

We use Didot! Hope that helps. Thanks for watching! :)

the pärt sounds great on that instrument

3:05 I was just doing the things the she did out of pure curiosity and I got genuinely concerned because I was able to it all

@aTonalHits

4 жыл бұрын

Don't be concerned, I know I'm already envious cos you can reach things I can't!! :)

Its tuned up or down a half step

Katha would it be possible could you make some violin instructional videos?

@aTonalHits

2 жыл бұрын

That’s something I’ve been thinking about! Anything specific?

@cool-jg2050

2 жыл бұрын

Violin bowing techniques and intonation.

I definitely prefer these over the Strads.

Old wood is drier. Much more resonant.

@bobsmoot5106

4 жыл бұрын

Chris Dragotta Not necessarily. If it gets too dry, it cracks, potentially rendering the instrument useless. Balanced moisture content is key for any wooden instrument.

@artartful854

4 жыл бұрын

Both Stradivarius and Guarneri started making the bodies violins thinner and the body shorter. That and their drying made them easier to 'start.' When the player draws the bow against the string, it is described as 'starting' the string. (vibration) This gives rise to the term when a player depresses the string being called a 'stop' because at that point is where the player stops the string. That gave rise to the term describing when a player plays two strings at once being called...a double stop.

@steveb9325

4 жыл бұрын

@Mycel which is why you keep wood instruments between 45 and 55 percent humidity and around 72 degrees temperature. I have several old Classical guitars. I use humidifiers and dehumidifiers as needed with correct temperature and out of sunlight when not being played.

@FlandraLabs

4 жыл бұрын

@@artartful854 Mind. Blown.

@MultiFuckme22

4 жыл бұрын

@@artartful854 Except, most of that is purely placebo. Just like wine testing, pros have been shown to be compleatly unable to hear or feel the difference in blind tests between stradivari and other famous makers vs good modern replicas. Personally ive heard both originals and replicas and they are so close that you cant tell the difference consistently Their real value is really the history they carry.

without Nicola Amati experience and top teacher in violin making none of these people would have been able to make a violin as no experience without sound advice from Nicola Amati

🤩🤩

Does any one know the song that is played at the very beginning 18 seconds in? thanks in advance

What violin brand strings are those?