Pirastro Perpetual Cadenza - Violin Strings Review

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In this video I review the new Perpetual Cadenza violin strings by Pirastro.
I decided to give many sound samples, so that everyone can form his/her own opinion.
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[@3primenumber]

I just started playing my violin again after 25 years, when I studied the instrument as an adult beginner. Now retired, I have lots of time to really study it. Needless to say, I needed new strings and after watching your review decided to look no further and purchased the Cadenza’s. They are amazing, so smooth, so warm, so pleasant and so easy to hear the pitch intonations. They make me feel so motivated now. Thank you, I’m very glad I found your channel!

[@LordCarmesimXXVII]

03:07 So, if both Pirastro and Thomastik have a string on their websites marked as 4.6kg, which one is in reality higher tension?

[@SimonStreuffViolinEducation]

I think we can trust the tension information of the manufacturers. Naturally it will be a range somewhere in the decimal place and the accuracy of the information may differ in detail between brands too. As for playability and sound the stiffness of the strings material is another important factor. In my experience so far the Thomastik strings feel softer compared to a similar tension string from Pirastro. Softer material feels easier to play, but more fragile for the bow and has specific tonal abilities while stiffer material has more resistanse to the fingers and the bow and vibrates differently of course. Which strings were you comparing?

[@LordCarmesimXXVII]

@@SimonStreuffViolinEducation None in particular. I think the not accepting much bow pressure problem is because your violin needs higher tension strings. I've decided to try Cadenzas again after been using Dominants for over a year, Cadenzas accept more bow pressure than Dominants and are also more focused.

[@dvides89]

Hi Simon, great review.. Really looking forward to see if you could review Thomastik Infeld Dynamo next…

[@SimonStreuffViolinEducation]

Thank you for your comment! The Dynamo strings should be on the menu next. I am also excited to test those, as I heard good things about them already! :)

[@Valencia-mj4cb]

Are there are pieces or techniques you could show off in the video that explain more like the chords you were talking about or maybe the strings with the Ysaye and Bach compared to something that is less likely to go well with these strings? I also heard that these strings were "Sharper"

[@SimonStreuffViolinEducation]

good idea, I will keep that in mind for my next string test! Some Bach movements I have always ready, Ysaye not so much though. :)

[@acatalepsy7410]

I’d LOVE it if u reviewed Hilary hahns Shostakovich violin concerto cadenza (with the Berlin philharmonic!)

[@Creationhorse]

I tried both the regular Perpetuals and the Cadenzas. The high tension Perpetuals really hurt my fingers. Couldn't use them. The Cadenzas were too flabby. So, neither set worked for me. Went back to Larsen Virtuosos for now, might try the Cannone with the broad warm A option.

[@SimonStreuffViolinEducation]

I feel you, that is about what I was experiencing too. I like a middle ground between them. Larsen Virtuoso is a great set of strings. It was my go to set before I started testing all the different brands for my sponsor. Larsen Virtuoso and Evah Gold's (with silver g) are both sets, which you can't go wrong with. From Thomastik there are a few good options regarding your needs, all of their sets work well and are not too pricey.

[@peterbaxter8151]

Hi Simon. Have you done a review of the Thomastic Dominant Pro DP100 strings?

[@SimonStreuffViolinEducation]

Yes! it is on my channel! :)

[@classicalthrasher]

To each their own, and their violins! If I were to use synthetics, I would use the Perpetual Cadenza. My only "negative" comment is that the D is only made with silver windings, which is the norm for "modern" Pirastro and many other brands. I always prefer an aluminum wound D. For which I would also use light Dominants with their nice sound, but admit the Cadenza sound better to my ears. I disagree about the power thing, but we are all different. 👍 Lower tension helps me and my violin more. The mittel EP green will be more powerful, but will sound and *feel* very different (I prefer weich for the originals/greens, but use neither right now). A wow effect for sure, but it is fleeting in a way. Agree they (Cadenza) last a long while for synthetics, a huge pro for a synthetic string, which the Pirazzis-and myriads other brand lines-cannot match. A 1st violin that can make an Eudoxa set sound "soloistic", will also be able to make the Cadenza also sound like that. I know you know this yourself from your experience with Eudoxa and Oliv strings. I understand it would be more work vs the Titanium Solo, but really not that much, and the Solo has their own cons vs Eudoxa, Cadenza, etc. (all strings present compromises.) I am enjoying using the Perpetual Cadenza A as my gut A "replacement" due to its sound (many synthetic As sound really dead or dull in the upper positions, the Cadenza is rather "similar" to gut, much better than Obligato IMHO), obvious stability and reliability, and nearly matching the power of a resonant Oliv A (wound gut). A Tricolore (or other) plain gut A is more raw and could be used, but I feel the wound A matches a wound gut D's color better. Right now, using *non*-rigid/stiff G & D Oliv, in specific lower tensions (15.5/16.25), the Cadenza matches quite well, not being overpowered nor being too powerful-very surprisingly even from D to A to E, so that is my current favorite setup: original Oliv G&D (gold-aluminum for the latter, which at the lowest gauge is still very strong but also very responsive), Perpetual Cadenza A, and Oliv E mittel, since it does not whistle for me and has tremendous tonal qualities I like. Of all the As I have used to "replace" gut, the synthetic Perpetual Cadenza A is my current favorite (have used steel Prims, steel Larsens, Synoxa A, Eudoxa-Chromcor A, etc.-none of which are bad, but I prefer the Cadenza at this point, unless I am using a wound gut A.) Sorry if I sound negative/contrarian, not my intent at all. Many great players use EP green/gold/Infeld Pi, Dominant, regular Perpetual, etc., but I feel one does not lose that much with lower tension strings unless your instrument really does not work with low tension. I understand your sentiment, and most people prefer mittel or at times higher tension, but for me, the Cadenza presents the closest ever in feel to wound gut strings, while having an incredibly beautiful, not at all muddy sound. Better than Oliv/Eudoxa? Not for me, but at least it's the closest I have ever played to that "ideal". Happy playing! Not excited about Dynamo and others, because they have higher tension than Cadenza, which with their relative low tension has set a new standard for *me* for synthetic strings. I am sure I am in the minority, but thankful to Pirastro for thinking o f the few of us who still love low tension strings. Hoping they do not discontinue the Perpetual Cadenza line, as they have done with some others in the past. 😶 Be well, and much success-thanks for your honest assessment of these beautiful strings. (Must be noted that the Cadenza share the Perpetual name with the originals, but they are not light Perpetuals-they use another, Cadenza specific synthetic core. Not the same as EP mittel vs weich.)

[@SimonStreuffViolinEducation]

Thank you for your detailed comment. I needed some time to find a calm moment to read it again. I think we agree overall about string choices. I really like Oliv D/G (non stiff and stiff) with synthetic A (I played a Larsen Tzigane back in the day) and I would play a similar configuration if it wasn't for three things: 1. My string testing videos ;) 2. the tuning stability (managable) 3. the difficulty to project. Now.. to point three you also are right: One can learn to project or sound "soloistic" with lower tension strings alright. But what I experienced, both in playing myself and listening to other violinists trying to project with wound gut strings, is that when you have to project "against" players with synthetic core strings you have to work 3 times as much to not only match their output but even to overcome it a little. That might not only be due to the output in dB of the strings, but also because of the timbre or overtone mix they produce. Sometimes as a violinist you can hear yourself well on your ear, but from the outside it is not enough coming through compared to the other voices. I experienced that very often with wound gut strings in ensembles and never had the problem with synthetic core strings in that amount. Would I prefer a string quartet where all players play on wound gut strings soundwise? Yes! But also then it would be a miracle to find 4 players who can handle the tuning issues with elegance. Most modern players have never learned to manage a wound gut string and it will be out of tune most of the time. So my take is, that projecting with gut or very low tension strings is possible, but it is not the same as it was back in the day, when the whole orchestra was playing gut strings. Projecting with a gut string over an modern orchestra with mainly players on synthetic core strings to my ear has a hard limitation. That is because modern violinists 99% of the time learn to play "soloisic" on synthetic core strings, which produces a much denser and "forced" sound than you would want with a wound gut string. That is known as the modern violin sound... sadly.

[@LordCarmesimXXVII]

My violin is from the 1800s, and it sounds louder with Dominants and Perpetual Cadenzas than if I put PIs or Dynamo, it sounds dark and muffed, with notably less volume. The Perpetua Cadenzas are slightly higher tension than medium Dominants, so Dominants still win as the lower tension synthetics. Have you compared both?

[@johnalexander4946]

I really like the Cadenza strings. They are very low tension compared to most modern synthetic strings which is refreshing. They are smooth and easy under the left hand. Wonderful depth and color while maintaining a strong core to the sound. Bowing is a bit different. One must be cognizant of the pressure and sounding point but still much easier to bow than gut. For loudness and projection I think being light with more bow speed is the key. One must allow the string to vibrate freely and not smother the sound with a heavy hand. I find if you allow the instrument to resonate openly it will be very loud.

[@rodmilankov8966]

Does perpetual mean that one has to perpetually change rhem due to their short life span or can use one set in pepetuity?

[@SimonStreuffViolinEducation]

I think the people from Pirastro left that part up to our imagination and experience ;)

[@1minutecomicswalahollywood648]

Maybe we should not compare, But just for knowledge sake. ---- Remember we are not comparing "Cello" and "Guitar". ----- Guitar vs Violin: Which one do you think is more powerful?

[@Jesuswinsbirdofmichigan]

#22_Excellant_DetailedToThe_finestDegreeReview_Thankyou_very_much_July25_2024🇺🇸