I went to Venice to see the ORIGINAL Testore Violin!

Dear Friends,
For many years I am making a copy of a violin which I haven't seen too often in real. So I decided to go to Venice while there were still very few people traveling after Covid-19 Lockdown. My wife and I enjoyed staying for two night s in Venice. What a nice town. You should take your time to visit it once. Definitely worth seeing.
Well, this time the reason has been to compare my Carlo Antonio Testore violin with its original which is exhibited in a Music collection exhibition owned by Artemio Versari. Versari has started to collect instruments since he has been 40 years old and now after only 40 years he owns a very nice collection of important instruments. He is actually more specialized on more recent makers as Pollastri, Ornati, Garimberti etc. and indeed the Testore doesn't seem to be an original Testore the more I elaborate what I have seen and touched.
But since it has given me so much, I think it has been a wise decision to pay a visit.
Would love to get my Testore and the one in Venice played by Lena Yokoyama to compare.
Who knows, maybe I get this also arranged later on in summer.
Therefore, anyhow, a huge special thank you goes to Artemio Versari who allowed me to visit the violin.
And a very special Thank You to Paolo Cognolato, director of the Museum in Venice, for his understanding and enormous patience to open for me the museum, nevertheless it has been still closed. A very nice persona with lots of passion for music and instruments.
All the best
enjoy watching
Edgar
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[@azielce]

This is amazing. Thank you for sharing. I cannot imagine having the privilege to touch these such historic violins with my hands.

[@felixhesse4096]

great video, I loved this type of video. would be interesting to see this violin grow to the final product

[@EdgarRuss]

Thank you! Yes I also would love to show you how I can compete with antique competitors. all the best from Cremona Edgar

[@ario7965]

Very interesting video Edgar. Loved the scenes from Venice and the museum. Great job comparing the violins.

[@donbachmeier7617]

Extremely interesting! Your observations and comparisons are profound in our understanding of the advancement of your craft. In the end I hope you remember "You do you" and make your unique mark.

[@bennyblanko3]

Totally awesome! Thanks for sharing.

[@EdgarRuss]

Thanks!

[@HenJack-vl5cb]

What a marvel!!Thank you for the journey!

[@EdgarRuss]

Thank you so much. all the best ER

[@sergiodamian2147]

Great video ! I was so exciting watching it! Thanks!

[@hassaanahmed23]

Love you instrument mask !!!!!! Edgar hope youre safe

[@EdgarRuss]

yes I am fine! ☺️

[@Tostra1997]

Great video, loved every bit of it! :-D I had the good fortune to see an actual Vuillaume in person while I was building my Vuillaume cello copy, but I can imagine seeing the exact violin you're making and compare them side by side must be incredible!

[@BRS5]

Love the fast mask! Very interesting video, I really enjoyed the comparisons!

[@EdgarRuss]

Thank you! I love it as well. My sister Margit sews them. Check if the fabric you like is still available! Soon some new ones will arrive as well. edgar-russ-sound-of-cremona.myshopify.com/collections/accessories/products/mask Thanks for your comment! All the best from Cremona Edgar

[@ElAle_cuchillos]

gracias por compartir. excelente viseo!

[@EdgarRuss]

Grazieeeee!!!!!!

[@masterchief586]

Above and beyond just great work.

[@carrieannkouri2151]

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

[@PaperGrape]

Do not warp your copy, Edgar! Haha, both are beautiful,and it is so awesome they let you take a video of the violin for us.

[@טלילהאלגזי]

I am just an ordinary layman, who loves music. I love your videos an explanation. I use to wonder about the sound post, when I was younger (I am 73 now) why is it called "the soul of the cello", finally after all these years due to listening to all the expalenations I understand this "nickname" and a few more facts about the sound, and the different components that influence the vibration and thus the sound... thank you, lovely lovely videos!!!!

[@johngee876]

So many tiny, subtle, asymmetrical differences! Good job pointing them out.

[@JAJO9991]

In the Basilica is ( was ) Gaspar Da Salo, Dragonetti's double bass

[@EdgarRuss]

Correct! I just need someone who commissions a doublebass copy of Gasparo da Salò! All the best Edgar

[@JAJO9991]

@@EdgarRuss Ha. I have good instrument. By the way, is the bridge supposed to stand in the rules ( postsound & bass bar ), when the fingerboard is pased asymmetrically, lightly?

[@williamkauffman5745]

nice trip

[@EdgarRuss]

Thanks!

[@tpistor]

They couldn't bring out a table? Priceless violin laid down on the ground clanging against the other violin? Painful to watch .

[@terryvaughn3179]

Great video!!!! I love looking closely at the old master's work...how does the higher arching effect the sound compared to a flatter arc?

[@franztrischberger8023]

I have a violin with an even higher arching. I also wanted to know how it affects the sound so I tried to find some infos. What I found: the higher arching emphasizes the higher registers. To counter the negative effect on the lower registers (bass) the plate has to be made thinner. On my violin I have an extremely deep sound on the G string and beautiful bright and silvery tones on the E string. Unfortunately it comes with a downside: The instruments with higher arching produce a more delicate and less loud sound, so it gets more difficult when you play with other musicians who own louder instruments. Of course I am not a violin maker, so take this with a grain of salt.

[@EdgarRuss]

Hi Terry, Yes Franz is right, a high arching makes a nicer and more beautiful sound but don't increase power and volume. So since we want it all in one it is better to stay in a medium high arching. all the best ER

[@EdgarRuss]

@@franztrischberger8023 Correct I agree!

[@franztrischberger8023]

Very interesting video, thx for taking the effort! I learnt so much from all you videos! 13:05 - are you sure the warping is from fresh wood? Shouldn't the neck also be warped then? It looks straight to me. Probably the scroll was cut free without laying it out perfectly?

[@ironmonkey1512]

Wouldn't this be oil varnish worn away and replaced with shellac? I've been looking at measurements for some of Paolo's violins some would say they sound the best.

[@BennyAldaba]

Hi Edgar. Love your videos. Could you make a video on violin appreciation for new hobbyists like me? When I look at a scroll or a F-hole, what should I be looking at? What makes it beautiful? Do aesthetics have to do with sound quality?

[@S_Hwang]

Great video! I just can’t believe they let you handle the antique instrument without having some white gloves on.

[@EdgarRuss]

🕺🏽😃

[@johannesbachlein149]

Was there exactly two years ago at this museum! :-) Is the original Testore still playable?

[@Hadriandidnothingwrong-z8c]

I can get the idea of a bench copy but if you just make it mostly from pictures anyway, I don't see why you shouldn't try to replicate the sound as much as that is possible and do all the visual details as perfect as possible.

[@EdgarRuss]

Of course we make the sound as well! Imagine that sound wise I ave customers who confess me that my copy sounds even better than the original. Or lets say it more precisely: they confess that my copy is easier to play than the original and very similar to the original in character . All the best from Cremona Edgar

[@jamesoliver6625]

Blame the photography rather than the printing. The original color separation was done like a job lot school violin probably as well.

[@agnidas5816]

They don't have 3d scans of every famous violin yet ? What a joke ... you have to make it from some pictures from a book !? You can 3-D scan with a device for 100 bucks these days. 300 if you want to scan a double bass. I am understanding the sad state of fiddles now (compare to the advances in musical instruments in general) ... luthiers aren't taught modern technology and they won't teach themselves out of the blue. Also starting to understand why some factory fiddles are starting to come out so well shaped at a fraction of the cost... I have not seen one CNC machine in a luthiers place and that is a travesty also. CNC machines are really easy to operate if your IQ is 110+ and luthiers fit the bill on that often having more than enough intelligence to figure out a CNC... You will also note the bottom of the original is uneven. Meaning it is lopsided on the bottom and on the top. Made that way on purpose to resemble organic asymmetry which we see in nature (as in the human face). Modern manufacturing practices. Study them. You can begin a revolution. I don't work as a luthier so I will not be ... I have other business to attend to , believe :)