Ask Augustin 42 - Ask James Ehnes

In late July 2020 I traveled to Seattle to record some chamber music for the Seattle Chamber Music Society virtual festival. While I was there, I sat down with my friend James Ehnes to answer some questions from fans!
James Ehnes is not only one of the best violinists of our time, he is also one of the friendliest, and his chamber music festival in Seattle is one of my favorite places to visit each summer.
I did not bring my own Canon camera equipment on this trip to Seattle, so I borrowed a camera that I wasn't very familiar with, put it on a tripod, put all the settings to "auto" and hoped for the best... That wasn't very smart - it turns out this camera's "autofocus" function is a bit tricky, as it tries to refocus sometimes for no reason, making things blurry. Perhaps this does fit with the theme however, as we talk quite a bit about making recordings at home and all the things that can go wrong!
We also answer questions about the recording equipment that we use (James and I actually use the same microphones for our home recordings!), and even get into some technical talk about double-stop harmonics and our left hand posture.

[@herbertkronzucker8367]

Two of the most well-rounded and exciting violinists of our time! The room has no idea how much talent it contains.

[@glaucoma888]

Thats true, the room doesn't know anything,,, not even its name.

[@eowawrzkiewicz]

Well rounded?

[@Fretfeeler]

Well the room is a construction of inanimate objects, so... 🙄

[@violatione]

The room knows...you see? It's smiling!

[@jimmierustler5607]

To be fair to the Camera i'd probably be stressing out being in that room too

[@mikas2934]

Literally two of the top 5 violinists in the world in the same room 🤩

[@jacc88888]

Intrigued who the other 3 might be... would be an interesting poll! Agree about these 2 though. 😀

[@alexestrella7103]

Not sure who is top 5 today probably Hillary Hahn at one I would imagine. I believe Itzhak Perlman is no longer the best given his age although he is still amazing. So maybe maxim vengrov, Bomsori Kim, Janine Jansen ... I have no clue honestly lol way too many to make a list like that

[@Luguanyu307]

@@alexestrella7103 They should tie at number 1 so no one is offended.

[@urielaguilera5698]

1- Hillary 2. Augustin 3. Vengerov 4. Ray chen 5. Bomsori

[@irisce2799]

@@alexestrella7103 i would say hilary maxim and janine for now or at least in recent years.

[@alexsaldarriaga8318]

We are so fortunate to be living in a time when we can witness this friendly and insightful conversation between two great artists. Thank you for sharing this!

[@dvides89]

Two of the most wonderful sounds in the violin world in the same room :)

[@BH1827]

"The most important thing to remember is not what you doing but is what comes out" Mr Ehnes that was so profound thanks for that comment !!!

[@andreabarone5827]

Yes James is very friendly and a wonderful violinist. I had the opportunity to interview him for an arts newspaper I was writing for many years ago. He was an interesting interview! You guys are good together!

[@chuckcornelius194]

good pieces that nobody knows? - how about the Ysaye sonata for two violins? incredible piece. gee, if only there were two great fiddlers to play it. hey, wait a minute...

[@koopalovetoast2409]

Ray Chen and Noah bendix-bagley are gonna play it on the three concerts they'll do in central europe soon. They'll play some string quartets too with a violist and cellist. I don't know if I'll be able to attend that but you might be. The dates are on Ray's website.

[@koopalovetoast2409]

Though "chuck" doesn't sound that european so you probably can't go either hehe

[@alecrobinson7124]

I went to one of those recitals that James was talking about, in Canada. It was great, it was a whole bunch of pieces that people really like, but think that everyone plays, so nobody plays them. He and Andrew Armstrong did the Spring Sonata, the Handel D major, and the Devil's Trill. I forget what other pieces they did, but it was great to hear those live.

[@andrewroberts8139]

Hadelich's performance of the Brahms sonata I played a while back was streets ahead of anyone else. And it was lovely to hear my friend who is a professional violinist say he was her fav violinist

[@dmcvegan1963]

WOW! Two of the greats together!

[@RedAnimagus]

Love seeing talented people working together and getting along so well

[@iloveyoumom7113]

OMG my two favorite musicians!!!!!!!!

[@haotongliu3043]

two wonderful violinists！

[@TheTucsonJeff]

Thanks Augustin! It was great seeing two of my most favorite fiddlers talking with each other! I always look forward to watching your videos, and I appreciate the hard work you go through in making them!

[@dianal.1279]

Your content is amazing! Fantastic channel! Thank you so much for sharing all these wonderful videos!🌻🌻🌻

[@greenviolist34]

Oh wow! This is awesome. These guys are such amazing violinists

[@MishaSkripach]

We are going to James' concert!!!

[@alias3549]

Augustin! Che piacere averti scoperto. Finalmente posso emozionarmi un'altra volta sui miei concerti preferiti con il suono nuovo della tua bella anima.

[@nickele]

Actually, that autofocus incident also makes a great point about learning an instrument (or learning anything, really): It's ok, important even, that we make mistakes, that we don't beat ourselves up about them, but accept them and use them to do it better next time. Well-demonstrated. 😉 I'm not trying to be a smart-ass, I'm glad you handled it the way you did and we got to see this episode, which was both fun and really interesting (especially liked all those details about the harmonics). Thank you!

[@FodorPupil]

I love this video. Please do another! And another and another. So great!! Focus issue aside, this was just great to see Thank you. ❤

[@lolamas3042]

Muchas gracias por esta conversación, por compartir tantas cosas interesantes! Os admiro muchísimo! 👏👏👏👏💜🎶💜🎻

[@brofenix]

Woah super cool :) They seem genuinely friendly with each other and that's awesome to see!

[@annikajohnson5086]

You guys are both so talented

[@levoncello]

You are a very good teacher also. Thanks a lot.

[@lone8636]

They seem to get along really well, and I think it’s because they also have in common a calm, noble, and humble attitude.

[@Cal_ta]

so much talent in one single shot

[@cesarrobertochavezdelgado1699]

You are amazing guys, two of my favorite violinists, i loved the video!

[@violatione]

Have you guys ever noticed that a great violinist's fingers always look graceful even when they aren't playing?

[@mga440]

I know this is probably impossible, but I soooooo wish there was a way for both of these brilliant violinists to meet again and compare and contrast the way they approach the technical aspects of the violin. It was such an amazing conversation but the focus issue could not have happened at more inopportune moments. They are both such stunning artists and virtuosos, but their approach to the violin, especially the left hand, could not be more different. I would love to see and hear more concerning their approach and technique. I just thought the whole conversation was such a rare gem. I hope they can do a part II.... PLEASE!!!

[@Bobeeha]

ssame!

[@user-hk6bf4yo3x]

My favorite violinists together...wow

[@leonardobastos1945]

Suuuper nice!! 👏👏👏

[@SL6NtheNorseman]

Two legandary violinists...!!

[@alexandracomus755]

Thanks for the video Augustin! Especially dealing with your talk about varying hand positions/spaces, how do you avoid collapsing your left wrist(if it is a bad habit)?

[@hamiltondoimo4684]

Eu gosto muito do Augustin, que timbre maravilhoso ele tira do instrumento.

[@DylanNaroff]

Hi Augustin, would you consider making a video on any tips you have learned on post-production mixing for your solo violin recordings? the Telefunken mics sound incredible but is there anything else you do (compression, EQ, etc) to hone the final sound? Thank you!

[@emmanuelmantzios]

It would be a great idea to do a series where you talk to other violinists, it would be veeeery interesting. Of course I know it's difficult and time consuming thing, and i respect your time

[@stefansack9107]

You both are great LG Stefan Sack Violine Viola Germany Thanks alot for your Coaching you gave me perhaps we can get or stay in contact

[@stefansack9107]

Dear James your Tipps of Standing correktly are perfekt LG Stefan Violine Viola Germany Professionelle Konzerte und Unterricht

[@jeyarajd.a.4732]

augustin senpai i love your violin playing one request could you do some mozart concertos

[@lalo2626]

Who immediately pauses the video to google telefunken m60?

[@wendyshell8679]

JEG AOL well, I did after seeing James do the virtual concert out of his home, that they were talking about here.

[@eriknystrom5839]

Save your hair for next bow re-hair!

[@myrtillegrandesoreilles8275]

The hair part made me laugh so much, both of them do start looking like sheep 😂 Nothing wrong about that of course.

[@elenasavina7117]

🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻

[@mintchoco5640]

I was wondering if you use your Guarneri violin for playing chamber music since it has a very soloistic sound or do you use a different violin?

[@andresrozsa637]

How to play pieces with double harmonics? If there are more than a few in a row and your fingers can't get them focused after hours of working on it, just cut the passage out or play them as regular notes a couple octaves up.

[@xSebaHD.]

potresti per favore attivare i sottotitoli automatici? grazie :-)

[@bohuslavpavlyshynets]

Thanks for blaming iPhone 😅😂😂. I will never use it again for recordings. You are right. It only makes the sound worse.

[@sunwookim9800]

6:18 yea... um... I still don't know after a decade of experience unrelatable lmao

[@joaooliveira5056]

Não entendir pq á gravação foi feita nesta distância

[@mysterioushawk2171]

Yeah can I just say this... Why can't this get as much likes and views as some other people (sacrilegious nimrods) preferably...

[@Fretfeeler]

Do you have a video of you playing together?

[@maiteflores7876]

😍💖😍💖👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@rain-qb2xv]

most of sarasate's repertoire is barely played. maybe too hard for both pianist and violinist to execute at times but still :* the ballade is amazing to name one

[@ogbeethoven1588]

The real irony: The Classical Music "Royalty": Wang, Trifonov, Gerstein, Argerich, Kavakos, Bell, Vengerov, Accardo, Mutter et al. are all doing a busy "virtual" Verbier concert from their basements. Augustin: "I'm going to Seattle and jamming with a buddy and having fun." Lol. "Choppy" encores on the menu? You are about fun and music not ego...it seems. Let me tell you something dude--If you manage to actually play at the real Verbier concert next year, I will personally fly in (w/wife) to see you play. ( I don't want you to punch me in the nose, lol), so I'll get an autograph for "John" but the truth is, you must play that place (for real, not virtual), and I'm 100% serious I'd pay to see you rock that place out. GLTY too, Mr. Ehnes.

[@IvanLuza]

What microphone do they use that they have in common? Anyone know

[@matsao1313]

The name of the mic was shown in the subtitles

[@jn1561]

Telefunken m60

[@belmon38]

MAsk Agustin & MAsk James..;)

[@wendyshell8679]

JO B he addresses this in the above comment by Christine Orio.

[@juliejules7780]

Double harmonic? Fuq dat. I'm glad we don't have to deal with that with piano

[@Bendygedy]

Very interesting video, so nice to see two experts_ but you should sack the camera man !!i

[@dvides89]

First!!!

[@jgunther3398]

so blindness

[@christineorio5855]

You are both wonderful, but why are you sitting so close together?! Those chairs should be shifted farther apart. Covid aerosol travels up to 27 ft gentlemen. Please take more care to remain healthy.

[@AugustinHadelichViolin]

You are correct that normally one should sit much further apart these days - but this was filmed at a chamber music festival in Seattle where everybody was tested for Covid before we started, so everyone was confirmed to be healthy, and then the musicians all stayed in the same space amongst themselves (even the meals were delivered only to the door) It was a luxury to be inside such a "covid-free bubble" for a week!

[@christineorio5855]

@@AugustinHadelichViolin Glad to hear that, and happy you were all able to create such a "normalizing" experience for yourselves. Must have grounded you all in a way we've been missing for months....I miss hugs. Also, without the next gig right around the corner, I have been finding it nearly impossible to maintain any consistent practice schedule. At first it felt like a nice sabbatical after a lifetime of practice, but now I think I miss the simple act of taking my viola to and from the car as I come and go from concert to concert. I play in the Rhode Island Philharmonic...we love you there!

[@powerofalto]

No masks?!!

[@katarinaenright5404]

I think they said somewhere that everyone had gotten tested in preparation for the week cause they were playing some chamber pieces.

[@9-8garcesaguileralauraalej4]

first