Baroque violin and modern violin: What's the difference? An introduction. 4K UHD

Violinist Lisa Grodin discusses the differences between the baroque violin and the modern violin.
Please consider a donation so that we can continue to make these videos: voicesofmusic.org/donate.html
Our companion video on the baroque bow: • Baroque, classical and...
The baroque violin in this video was made by Paolo Antonio Testore, Milan, Italy, 1736.
Lisa can be seen performing in many of the Voices of Music videos: • Biber Battalia, Die li...
NB: The composer Lully is earlier than Bach, and Saint-Georges lived at the time of Mozart, but they all would have played and composed for an early-style violin.
Special thanks to Oliver Webber, who made many helpful suggestions for this project.

[@juanmaruli4977]

Has anyone ever told you that you guys look alike? The resemblance is uncanny

[@VoicesofMusic]

They do look very similar....

[@zerohexer5900]

Yea they look really similar

[@iceskates8405]

It's the same person! 😅

[@bobbybrine6547]

@@iceskates8405 are you sure? I don't think so... but they do look really alike

[@zz2ss]

@@bobbybrine6547 yes i strongly think so. She even introduced herself as herself. Just camera tricks. Haha!

[@lunoxmos7623]

It's quite amusing watching them trying to better each other as the same person with similar instruments

[@mariondehn2191]

Well, you know the old saying....."If it ain't baroque, don't fix it." What a fun explanation by such a sweetheart!

[@nv7287]

Love seeing musicians talk about their instruments :)

[@SM_zzz]

I lost it at "sheep gut" slipped in so nonchalantly!! Not a blink. You're awesome, you both.

[@michaelmoss267]

Its the same person lol.

[@TravisD.Willis]

I know this is irrelevant: as a black musician, I am very grateful for your recognition of Le Chavalier de Saint Georges. Most people overlook him or refer to him as “the black Mozart”. Thank you!

[@VoicesofMusic]

Chevalier was brilliant in so many ways.

[@foxtrotfelix9086]

4:40 lol they cant touch bows or it'll destroy reality itself

[@theMad_Artist]

440 hahahaha

[@ingridayarza]

🤣

[@kosukemiura1226]

aCtUaLLy iTs 4:15 /s

[@resourcedragon]

@@kosukemiura1226: didn't she say the pitch was even higher in Venice?

[@Francois_Dupont]

@@resourcedragon 460hz~

[@tzu-weijackhuang6217]

Very educational video! You make things so clear for people to comprehend

[@SteveMavronis]

I like the Baroque era. Nice to know they tuned 1/2 step down just like I do along with others who play neoclassic rock guitar. style The Baroque period was a major influence.

[@ritualee10]

My 6 year old and I loved this.

[@VoicesofMusic]

So glad! Happy Thanksgiving to you both.

[@jasonlinton9055]

Thank you for making this video!

[@VoicesofMusic]

You are very welcome!

[@ricardo_valerio]

very informative and fun/captivating! Thank you! :)

[@infledermaus]

That was a wonderful, charming educational video! I prefer baroque music and instruments. Thank you! I can hear the difference between the two instruments, but it should be noted that the best way to hear the sound of a baroque violin is in person. The sound is so sweet. Recordings, eh. Go hear it played, like at, say, a Voices of Music concert!

[@kosukemiura1226]

the face modern lisa does when baroque lisa plays her strings

[@coldashell7057]

R/boneappletea “Modern Lisa”

[@lopkobor6916]

@@coldashell7057 Lmao mona lisa

[@saeidyazdani]

This is the best video I have seen in 2019...no joke!

[@VoicesofMusic]

Thanks so much!

[@kerakhed4506]

This need more views

[@AriannaCunningham]

Well I play Modern Violin, I don’t play baroque. It would be very interesting to play on a baroque violin as a violinist myself.

[@baroqueera9041]

I needed to know that! Thank u for this helpful vid. I was always wondering whats the difference..

[@journeymancellist9247]

You neglected to mention the open trench frog. Fascinating video. Very much wish you’d play the opening of the G minor fugue on each violin

[@arnoldrivas4590]

Baroque TwoSetViolin.

[@luksvarg]

Loved this content

[@vnekliaev]

Great! Thank you!

[@VoicesofMusic]

You are welcome!

[@Gedagnors]

Thank you so much!

[@beepot2764]

I love this channel

[@simach4412]

Amazing job, very interesting :3

[@mehranmosley]

Thanks for these mini-educational videos for the novices like me.

[@c.g.marseille4510]

thank you Lisa !

[@VoicesofMusic]

And also thank you Lisa!

[@c.g.marseille4510]

Thank you !

[@uansu5132]

i like baroque

[@ttaibe]

I prefer the baroque violin. Modern violins and their high pitch sound too cold even too shrieky to me. This one made me crinch. Before this video I always asumed I was listening to a viola when I heard the lower, warmer, pitch. Thank you for this video!

[@hsuhorn]

ttaibe just tune a modern violin by a half step down and it will sound baroque

[@hsuhorn]

XDranzer000 what no but baroque music in baroque tuning tends to not use much vibrato

[@brumm3653]

@XDranzer000 VIbrato is in the fingers.

[@YourSybariticWren]

Go WitH viOla You CaN gEt à NicE RiCh toNe aNd haVe à NicE ranGe wIthOut ShrieKs

[@deirdre108]

@@YourSybariticWren Viola is my personal favorite of the Viol family.

[@lesgibson969]

great content

[@michaelmoss267]

4:10 I love how she transitioned from English to French

[@FMIII-pj5bv]

Cool video Lisa. I'm a lot more knowledgeable about violins now. BTW Ellyn and I really enjoyed sharing pizza with you and everybody at Uncle Joes' this past November. Thank you!

[@DOBEAGAIN]

Excelent vídeo. And Jean Philippe Rameau.

[@waynechurchill7212]

Great info

[@VoicesofMusic]

Thanks!

[@canadiansoul9401]

Amazing Video :)

[@VoicesofMusic]

Thanks!

[@user-lu4ce3eu2n]

your smile looks so happy!!!

[@RosssRoyce]

Supernice!!

[@bakarka]

It seems wrong to me that the historic instruments played by the most famous modern violinists today have been altered and are played with metal strings. That is not how they would have sounded when they were made. Would the makers who knew only gut strings recognize their "metallic" sound today?

[@Ekvitarius]

No, gut strings sound warmer and grittier, and more organic and resonant. Modern metal strings sound more metallic, cutting, silky, and smooth.

[@jeremimayhuire7928]

I prefer the baroque violin

[@daniellbondad6670]

I've read that the common way to hold the violin in the Baroque era,was on the chest. It limited flexibility,which made it hard to reach higher.So,fingerboards were built shorter back then.

[@VoicesofMusic]

It doesn't limit flexibility, really, this was the way Paganini played.

[@daniellbondad6670]

+Voices of Music It might be because of his unusually long fingers. In what I've read,it is claimed that since it is hard to reach very high positions,there was no need for those.

[@wuggi8603]

Nice, thank you very much, but i was hoping for some more demonstration. So I could have heard the diferrence better.

[@VoicesofMusic]

Good idea!

[@anibalconcha6612]

Very interesting

[@Rangel9383]

Perfekte Erklärung !

[@VoicesofMusic]

Tx!

[@RafaelRDias]

Que vídeo lindo s2

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

Really interesting! But we need sound comparisons!

[@marcussfebruary9104]

Talk about the harpsichord!! 😁🎹

[@VoicesofMusic]

OK!

[@marcussfebruary9104]

Voices of Music love all the posts and educational videos,thank you😁🙌

[@zacharybond23]

Baroque Obama.

[@fuckuimnoreply]

Hahahaha

[@jonathanpineda5968]

@@fuckuimnoreply Funny

[@charliegabs]

?

[@jimquim1574]

Ehhh..... Meh

[@zacharybond23]

@@jimquim1574 I actually don't know why I made this comment. It must have been a random thought that I have had.

[@dagoelius]

Now I understand why I like baroque so much.

[@hernandezvencesdaniel472]

I want a new baroque violin . Do you have an idea if i can buy a new baroque violin in Mexico?

[@fitnessbrotherade2959]

Why looks so big the violin???😕

[@billstewartbill]

They are normal size and Lisa is not a large person. You should hear her play!

[@fitnessbrotherade2959]

Bill Stewart ohh i see. Tks for the answer..

[@hori166]

She must be really petite! I thought those were violas, but they sounded like violins. I wonder what it would look like if she held a viola...

[@billstewartbill]

She often plays viola, and has a particularly pretty one.

[@wofi784]

I was thinking the same thing, they look like violas

[@TheSammadan]

i prefer baroque violin ♥️👍🏼 thank you for your vedio i have learned a lot

[@VoicesofMusic]

You're welcome 😊

[@mikegarwood8680]

I'm still looking for a version of the "Four Seasons" played Baroque Fiddle Style.

[@VoicesofMusic]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIHHnGh9lq53oNE

[@mikegarwood8680]

@@VoicesofMusic Play it as written. Hold your fiddle like this. Looks more natural. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYi2Z5mOipxsrcU

[@VoicesofMusic]

I think this is as far as we go, but you never know .... kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGqpmnyaia-JoLc

[@idraote]

Nice video. A typo to correct: PAOLO Antonio Testore, not Paulo.

[@VoicesofMusic]

Thank you.

[@willlexie]

TWOSET BROUGHT ME HERE, now I understand why.

[@VoicesofMusic]

Thanks for visiting!

[@michaelreaper666]

Thanks .. interesting .. :)

[@100crowns6]

Very interesting indeed! However,I wouldn't class Le Chevalier St Georges as a baroque composer as such,although,he undoubtedly had baroque set up,at least for most of his career. Lisa,all told,you've won again,keep it up!!

[@VoicesofMusic]

Yes, there's a lot of different kinds of overlap. The baroque style extends through the early works of some classical composers, and the classical style extends through the early works of romantic composer, for example, Beethoven's first violin sonata.

[@100crowns6]

+Voices of Music Who was the last baroque violinist and also the first modern violinist? Easy. Nicolo Paganini. The last important violinist to play exclusively his own music,and the last to play senza chinrest. Overlapping. Dead right!

[@VoicesofMusic]

Always worth remembering that Paganini played all that music without a chinrest....amazing.

[@100crowns6]

+Voices of Music Also worth remembering is that Paganini had Marfan Syndrome which gave his hands and fingers incredible extendibility. He held the fiddle with his left hand at around the 3rd/4th position area and extended back and forth accordingly. He had no need of any mechanical support. Look at most of his pieces,they all start off in the 3rd position area..... As regards his LH some of what he did would look rather wierd by our present day concepts

[@100crowns6]

+100crowns More 'baroque' Paganini! In 1810 Nicolo purchased the 1680 Dessaint Strad. It was still in baroque condition and remained thus until Vuillaume converted it in 1853,13 years after Nicolo's passing! Paganini left behind enough fiddles etc to sink a ship. Many were still in baroque state. He played his cannone with transitional set up with a few ideas of his own.

[@Rafael-iv9qw]

What is the music played on baroque violin?

[@VoicesofMusic]

Bach: Fugue from Sonata for Solo Violin in G minor

[@robinormond7344]

Well done! Have any of the "great" instruments by Amati, Strad, etc, NOT been modernised (and where can we hear them?) What about the great instruments sitting in museums? (Horrors!!) Thanks!!

[@VoicesofMusic]

There's a small number of Strads that still have the original necks, but even these have been modernized--the necks were cut down and reshaped at a minimum. There's one original viola by Strad, I believe.

[@deirdre108]

Museums often loan their violins to national and international touring artists. A great instrument deserves to be heard and not mute in a glass case.

[@hernandezvencesdaniel472]

I want to buy a barroque violin, where i can buy it?

[@marinahla7651]

What was the piece that she played on the baroque violin

[@salamonthegreat]

J.S Bach Violin Sonata No.1: Fugue

[@MiMi-xh6rz]

I'm a pianist but this is very interesting

[@lekhapratap1652]

She’s so cool.

[@Harpsichord246]

Saint George was actually a classical era composer. Alive roughly at the same time as Mozart.

[@VoicesofMusic]

Absolutely, though some of his works have baroque elements, just like C.P.E. Bach. There's a little bit of overlap, as he was playing concertos when Telemann was still alive, but he was contemporaneous with Mozart.

[@MrAranton]

The modern violin came up around 1800. So most composers of the classical era still only knew baroque violins. So while not being baroque composers, they still composed for baroque violins.

[@johnroblox5210]

Baroque violin is pitched at A415

[@AriannaCunningham]

I think the Baroque Violin is the best!

[@songfulmusicofsongs]

And which composers wrote for the modern violin?

[@VoicesofMusic]

There is a nice sonata for violin and piano in F minor by Samuel Barber.

[@Le_Furret]

Play some caprice #24!!

[@booates]

wow her and styropyro look so a like

[@Metalovai]

What camera was used to film this video?

[@VoicesofMusic]

Hmmmm I think we had a Lumix G7 a G85 and a Sony ax100. G85 is still a decent camera.

[@Metalovai]

@@VoicesofMusic Thanks for the answer! I liked the image coming out of it, so I asked. Have a nice day!

[@VoicesofMusic]

I think in this case image is mostly due to using a pair of high CRI lights, but we do like the Lumix G85 even though the tech is a few years old. Even with the 14-42 kit lens the camera produces very good video.

[@Metalovai]

@@VoicesofMusic Yeah, sensor doesn’t mean much when the source is good.

[@threesidedtriangle1798]

i didn't even notice it was two different people until the very end lol

[@VoicesofMusic]

These are baroque bows; we made a video about the differences. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoiahZaObbGrldU

[@hudsoncampos5976]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@kitsomoreeng03]

Isn't the modern violin tuned to A =442

[@scoobydid4824]

Nope it was standardised to a=440 around 1939

[@k_alex]

Good example how "progress" is not always progress.

[@VoicesofMusic]

Right?

[@CanaldeArquitetura]

Eu prefiro o violino barroco.

[@ApaOFF]

@twosetviolin

[@lesbsocal9107]

So then the Stradiveri are baroque fiddles. But some of the surviving Strads are played in symphony orchestras. That's my impression. Am I wrong here?

[@VoicesofMusic]

Sadly, the Strads were almost all literally chopped up and modernized in the 19th century. A real tragedy.....

[@lesbsocal9107]

@@VoicesofMusic Yikes, the arts version of the "chop shop". That is a tragedy, almost sorry I asked.

[@teentheblue3644]

Still til' this day I don't know how to shift position on Baroque Violin, it seems like it only just stays in 1st.

[@VoicesofMusic]

Crawl the hand forward with the thumb

[@teentheblue3644]

+Voices of Music That would only work on moving from lower to higher, not the opposite, especially when you actually hold violin sticking right upto your chest which is lower than regular chin off

[@VoicesofMusic]

Use the same process in reverse to lever back with the thumb. But you know, we should make a video.

[@teentheblue3644]

Indeedly, it'd be a ton of comprehension.

[@tia283]

Uh-oh, I just bought a baroque bow for my modern violin. What should I do?

[@VoicesofMusic]

Practice 40 hours a day.

[@ckavishkaranasinghe]

there are violins or violas?

[@VoicesofMusic]

Violins.

[@steviebegger8968]

Damn long bow

[@xii-f-27-wibisanaandika70]

0:58 bwv 1001

[@fernwehn5925]

THANK YOU I LOVE YOU

[@drystroke7896]

#415isdawae

[@tomvaughn8505]

This is cute!

[@patriciajrs46]

Why do you choke up so far on the Baroque bow? Aren't your fingers supposed to be down on the end of the bow?

[@VoicesofMusic]

As you wish!

[@VoicesofMusic]

We made a video about all the bows, baroque, classical and modern: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoiahZaObbGrldU

[@EuniceCChina]

At the end of the video I just realized they are the same person 🤣

[@VoicesofMusic]

It was really hard to stop laughing when we made this video.

[@EuniceCChina]

@@VoicesofMusic ☺️

[@caleb6881]

Both of the violins looks like a full size viola rather than a violin. It’s is noticeable bigger than a full size violin, maybe it’s just me.

[@VoicesofMusic]

It's just you. And the fact that Lisa is small.

[@breadaddict5057]

I wanna buy a violin but im baroque 😏

[@saeidyazdani]

OMG TWINS!

[@veemusique8730]

they never said anything about the fine tuners...

[@VoicesofMusic]

Bummer.

[@salamonthegreat]

If you maybe just take a look at the tailpiece there are no fine tuners on the baroque violins.

[@sophiea285]

Bar-oh-que?

[@crixxxxxxxxx]

Baroque Lisa should've been in period dress.

[@bany1688]

How is she playing the Baroque violin if it's baroquen?..... sorry.

[@VoicesofMusic]

Again? You sound like a baroquen record.

[@bany1688]

Voices of Music internet problem, thought it didn't send! (was supposed to delete my comment, but now I won't, not with that comeback 😹)

[@turkikaboha9478]

You girls look alike are you twins

[@VoicesofMusic]

Identical twins.

[@turkikaboha9478]

Voices of Music I knew it!

[@jericoloreno7244]

First

[@poo_8857]

You’re such a small woman. The violins look so big.

[@oscarwattsoboe]

It’s pronounced barok

[@VoicesofMusic]

Certainly note!

[@bany1688]

How is she playing the Baroque violin if it's baroquen?................ sorry.

[@VoicesofMusic]

ack.

[@journeymancellist9247]

Sure looks like a viola. Awful big

[@VoicesofMusic]

not a viola :)

[@journeymancellist9247]

@@VoicesofMusic yeah I know you know what you’re playing… but sure looks big anyway. Loved the video, but really wanted to hear the g minor fugue on each violin. The baroque pitch is so much more gentle and peaceful. Haydn concertos on the lower pitch are just glorious. BTW who made them? Is the Baroque example,original or a modern repro?

[@hahmad6985]

What is the name of the piece at 1:00 ?

[@salamonthegreat]

Bach Violin Sonata No. 1: Fugue