Professional Violinists Guess the Price of Violins

Big thank you to the Rin Collection and the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music for making this video possible!

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[fristlsat]

I would be fascinated to see Brett and Eddy learn a piece that neither of them had performed, practicing individually so they were not influenced by each others approach to the piece, then both of them play the piece on the channel and let us untrained masses see if we can hear the differences, then Brett and Eddy could actually explain the differences, and maybe why they chose those ways of playing.

[bsdpw]

I remember their old video with Benny. Benny once mentioned that Eddy suits more playing Guarneri because he tends to press (?) more. And Brett suits more playing Strad with his faster bow speed. But both of them are really good violinist 😍😍

[Arcenmh]

1:27 Beethoven string quartet in c minor
1:39 Mendelssohn violin concerto 1st mvt
1:56 Tchaikovsky 1st
2:17 Mendelssohn 1st
2:57 Brahms 2nd
4:42 Prokofiev 2 1st
5:55 Tchaikovsky 1st
8:54 Sibelius 1st
10:36 Ravel tzigane
11:19 Massenet meditation
12:21 Fauré berceuse
13:00 Sibelius 1st
14:29 Barber 1st
15:10 Mozart 5 1st
15:30 Sibelius 2nd
16:08 Mozart 3 1st
16:52 Mendelssohn 2nd
18:02 Bach adagio from 1st sonata
19:25 Tchaikovsky 3rd
19:59 Saint Saens introduction and rondo capriccioso

*1st/2nd/3rd refers to the movement of the piece

*The ones I didn't name are all violin concertos

[moonwatcher]

Okay, I had to laugh when, at first, Eddy suggested saving time by only doing one person per round. Because, honestly? I could seriously just spend an hour or more just listening to both of you playing for pure enjoyment. Like, seriously, if you guys ever want to just post a long video of nothing but just playing whatever comes to mind, I'd be fine with that, thanks. 🥰 It's really enjoyable to watch both of you get absorbed in the emotion of what you're playing, because it's obvious that there is a great deal of love for what you are doing. It's very emotionally warming, and I want to say that you for providing us with this kind of content. (I think we could all use more positive emotions right now!)

[jocax]

I'm abruptly realizing how much knowledge I've inadvertently absorbed from Twoset. Two years ago I, a person with no musical talent, understood a Strad is a very expensive good violin. Now, I sort of understand why Guarneri's are sometimes better, who Amati is, and why Stradivari's varnish is so precious.
Thanks, Twoset - for making me a more educated and appreciative audience member.

[MoahGentle]

That Guarneri sounded amazing. After 1-2 notes they could both tell immediately that it’s a special instrument.

[kristinam]

This reminds me a lot of the $1000 vs $10, 000, 000 Violin video, especially where Benny said Brett would do better playing Strads and Eddy would do better playing Guarniris for precisely the reason that that Brett moves faster and Eddy presses more. It's cool to see the consistent feedback.

[loshisad]

Paganini used a Guarneri: the famous cannone with his sound full of power (that’s why Paganini called it like that). We don’t actually know how he received it but it is believed that he received it from a fan because he lost his violin because of gambling. He golfed the bow differently that other violinists, a bit further for the frog, and he also kept the violin lower, not respecting the 90° formula, but giving him an advantage: he could go from string to string just moving the hand and not the whole arm. Lastly Paganini didn’t use positions: people who watches his fingerings sated through they are useless and without any sense, but in reality he used a technique called _Smanicamento a mano ferma_ which it consist in putting the the hand in the middle of the finger board keeping the thumb in the same spot while the rest of the hand went down and up the fingerboard, in fact we can see that Paganini’s violin has a depression on the 3rd position where the thumb is located.

[Ana-fqto]

Quite surprised I could tell. But of course not by blind~ The more expensive ones seem more responsive/easier to make sound, the dynamic is clearer and when they played double stop, can hear both notes clearly. That guarneri sounds so good on them btw
Can 4M sub gig use that guarneri?

[luoyirui]

I love how at 5:30 Eddy gradually transitioned from a half-joking manner into serious immersion and utter enjoyment paying an amazing instrument. It's the genuine joy unique to the musician, similar to that of any expert meeting a top-notch tool of her trade. My gratitude to TwoSet for enabling us to appreciate along with them the beauty of great instruments, and I like it that they savored the musical subtleties more than anyone else.

[simplytwosetter]

Just the video I need since I'm thinking of upgrading my violin these days! But I was talking to my friend yesterday and was like, even if you gave me a Strad, it will still sound like a $2500 violin in my hand lol So, the instrument is important, but PRACTICE is always the answer.

[ashzhu]

I’m quite amazed that even with crappy phone speaker I can hear a difference when they’re played side by side

[AspiringToFailure]

Bretts flourish as he picks up each violin is such a pro move, yet heartstopping when its worth fricking 10 mil dude!

[AspiringToFailure]

Brett, like a true gent, not missing an oppertunity to practice his 4 mil Mendelssohn for us!

[nickcoulter]

Holy cow! The Guarneri absolutely blew me away, through my speakers. The Strads were a lot more difficult comparisons.

[markzhao]

You guys should do another video, but with bows. The importance of bows is usually underappreciated by non-musicans.

[bunnybird]

For comparison:
Violin 1 / Wunderlich ($$$)- 1:39 & 3:18
Violin 2 / Guadagnini 2:17 & 2:57
Violin 3 / Guarneri 5:22 & 5:55
Violin 4 / Lupot ($$$)- 4:41 & 6:33
Violin 5 / Konya ($$$)- 8:45 & 10:35 & 11:18
Violin 6 / Amati 9:39 & 10:46 & 11:28
Violin 7 / Thibout ($$$)- 13:56 & 14:48 & 15:22 & 15:42 & 16:13 & 17:23
Violin 8 / Stradivari 13:00 & 14:28 & 15:10 & 15:30 & 16:08 & 16:52
Violin 9 / Stradivari 18:42 & 19:31 & 19:59
Violin 10 / Muncher ($$$)- 18:01 & 19:25

[alliu]

The difference is so great that it’s possible to hear it over video, and I find that incredible too. The more expensive violins usually have a much more resonant sound. They almost sound edited with an echo. Of course, the other violins also sound really incredible.

Eddy really hit the nail on the head: “after that (the better instrument) the other one sounds like a cardboard box.”

[rizkyramadhan]

Even though youtube sound quality doesn't do justice in videos like this, I can still hear a little bit of difference between them. Oh, I really want to hear it played live

[yoclark]

what an incredible privilege to play Strads and Guarneris and some of the other high end violins! Most musicians would faint at the opportunity. You are so generous to let us listen to those sweet instruments. Loved this!