Home Again, Home Again

April 5, 2006 at 10:17 AM

Jiggedy jig.

Between the violin shopping, the music, and the coffee, I decided that if ever I were to live in a city, I would pick Seattle. What an enjoyable trip!

So, long story made short, I brought home a new violin. I made my decision after sampling over sixty violins and taking four out on trial. I’d already made my mind up by Thursday, but an interesting turn of events led me to fellow violinist.com member Gennady Filimonov, member of the Seattle symphony. He got my friend and I into their concert that weekend, and we met for drinks afterward.

He had a beautiful new Italian violin by Gianluca Zanetti that he urged me to try, so we met the next day at his home. He played the Zanetti along with my favorite pick that I’d brought with me, and the difference was pronounced. My former favorite lost most of its tone just a few feet from it, while the Zanetti filled the room with its robust, vibrant voice. I wasn’t as fond of it under my ear, but I considered the fact that most violinists end up with a new instrument that is similar to the old one because they are unwilling to branch out when listening for quality sound. It would be unwise to listen narrow-mindedly.

My ears made an important discovery this weekend. Rather than keep the sound to myself, I needed to better understand how to “share” it with the room, listening to the sound that came back to me instead of the immediate production happening under my ear. When I focused on this, I could then hear the workings of a good violin. I could tell that this violin not only sounds great in the room, but has potential to mature and grow with me as I spend more time with it. After playing both for my friend, I saw that she also agreed that the Zanetti was the best she’d heard on this trip.

I bought it. I brought it home and proceeded to deafen all my students today as we played together in my little studio. I’m staying up late, now, thinking about it, and when I close my eyes, I dream about violins, just like I used to dream about ponies when I was a girl. I’m in love.

From Neil Cameron
Posted on April 5, 2006 at 5:56 PM

Congratulations Emily!

Neil

From Sydney Menees
Posted on April 5, 2006 at 7:23 PM

Sounds like a perfect match! What's the pig from?

From Laurie Niles
Posted on April 5, 2006 at 7:25 PM

Congratulations! Wow, 60 fiddles. I really ought to do the same. Is your head just spinning? I'm so glad you found your perfect match!

From Rita Livs
Posted on April 5, 2006 at 7:53 PM

Congratulations, Emily! It seems that you've made a right choice. Enjoy it, have fun and... have lots of standing ovations!
Rita.

From Emily Grossman
Posted on April 5, 2006 at 8:53 PM

Sydney, the pig is at the Pike Place Market. You'll have to go and find it if ever you're there.

Laurie, it wasn't so complicated, trying out all the violins. With 90% of them, I knew with one bow stroke that I didn't want them. I just had a lot of weeding to do.

Much like the romances in my life, I fell in love with two others, each of which I was certain was "the one", but the third proved to be the best fit.

From Clare Chu
Posted on April 6, 2006 at 4:26 AM

Wow Emily, congratulations on your violin. I know the feeling. Believe me, it'll only get better with age. For me, it was more like love at first bow stroke. Then I went all over town trying to find a less expensive violin that beat it, until I came back and bought the one I first fell for. Mine is also modern Cremonese, 2003 Luca Salvadori and it just gets better and better every year. Have fun and enjoy your new violin.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on April 6, 2006 at 6:37 AM

Trying 60 violins -- wow! I'm glad you found the right one for you, recognized it, and bought it. I hope the two of you have many happy years together.

From Jasmine Lewis
Posted on April 8, 2006 at 12:04 AM

Have fun with your new violin!
By the way, that pig is cute!!!

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