Stradivari violin, "The Antonius," played by Eric Grossman - Part 1 of 2

Learn more about this exquisite violin: www.metmuseum.o...
See Musical Instruments to learn more about other instruments in the Museum's collection, and to see a list of upcoming concerts.
www.metmuseum.o...
The concert violinist Eric Grossman performs the chaconne from the Partita no. 2 in D Minor by J. S. Bach (1685 - 1750) on a violin made by Antonio Stradivari in 1717. The instrument - one of three by Stradivari in the Metropolitan Museum's collection - is named "The Antonius" and comes from Stradivari's so-called golden period (about 1700 to 1720).
Violin, "The Antonius," 1717
Made by Antonio Stradivari (Italian, 1644 - 1737)
Cremona, Italy
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Bequest of Annie Bolton Matthews Bryant, 1933 (34.86.1a)
Recorded by The Metropolitan Museum of Art at Yamaha Artist Services in New York.
Visit the Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History to learn more about violin makers in the sixteenth century. www.metmuseum.o...

[@StrikeInsanity]

He isn't struggling because of the violin, he's forming the sound so that it sounds as if there is a "struggle". That's how the piece is supposed to be portrayed. Basically, he's playing the music in a way that makes others feel the emotional struggle it's supposed to have.

[@Lurch-Bot]

Agitato doloroso = sorrowful agitation Hardly bellicoso though.

[@cappinteddy3228]

There is a reason these violins go for millions, they are the best. So what's the point in owning it if you don't play it? Sheesh.

[@ViolentFury1]

Maddie Sisk no. they are not more than just "the best". it is possible to build violins of same or higher quality than Stradivaris. I dont get what else can these violins be except "the best" at this time.

[@kennethlacewell1517]

+ViolentFury1 You're not the first to say that Stradivari can be matched today, but a Stradivarius will always be the gold standard.

[@anderson987]

Kenneth Lacewell What makes Stradavari's violins so uní que? Apart from the violins coming from him, is it the materials he used or the actual quality? Please answer, I'm geniuenly curious.

[@paridox4ever]

rich people collect all sort of expensive shit like clocks. So what's the point in owning it if you don't wind it?

[@chino852456]

it was like the ferrari for its epoque... hence why old ferraris are still sold like brand new... it doesnt matter if they cant match today standards... its the fact that they were gold and they represented a lot in the old days which gives them the value they currently have...

[@gekokapowco]

I would get the best recording studio in the world to record the best violinist alive now playing the heck out of it, and then make the music public domain, immortalizing it forever.

[@DavidL1980]

my right ear enjoyed this more than my left

[@rmiddlehouse]

Stradivari designed them that way, using wood from trees that went through a drought on their left sides only

[@FortuneMineMe]

mine is my left ear !!

[@foskco87]

Beautiful to hear someone play one of those. I agree they should be played. They built extremely well and as long as it is treated and stored properly theres no reason it wouldnt last just as long being played every once in a while. What is a stradivarius if its not being played? Its just piece of shaped wood. The real soul of that instrument is in its sound, not its physical appearance.

[@stevimichael5553]

I have listened to many violins through the years. This one in particular has a very bold, sonorous, expressive sound. Also the clarity is unique. It's as if the sound is coming from more than one instrument...amazing..

[@thehaka8663]

Those were my thoughts exactly!

[@michaelgawne4363]

It’s because hes using double stops. Its a technique that can make it sound like two instruments played at the same time

[@russBwright]

A power instrument indeed

[@rolysterling]

BRAVO...snape

[@soapmeridius]

+Rolando Sterling 10 points from Gryffindor for your remark..

[@howlingowl3254]

i laughed so damn hard

[@infernus6662]

Dickus Erectus

[@aurorasfondi5327]

AHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAH

[@aulden69]

Lol

[@Alex24seven]

man the quality, density, brilliance of the strad is simply out of this world!! i have a copy of a strad but i seriously would love to hear one played live!! outstanding fabulous instrument and most definitely a tone incomparable!!

[@simonsteam]

What an incredible Instrument,

[@dannygriffin7084]

Wow... This is the the very first that I have listened to a Stradavarius instrument. Wow again. Obvious difference heard loud & clear. Bel suono. And now I feel privileged!

[@saiyoucho]

That was by far the most beautiful instrument I have heard.

[@JCTruckLines]

Guess what? " A Stradivarius belonging to violin virtuoso Roman Totenberg has been recovered, 35 years after it vanished. The violin vanished from Totenberg's office in 1980 while he was greeting well-wishers after a concert. The instrument surfaced in June when a woman had it appraised after inheriting it from her husband. It was immediately reported to authorities. Violins created by Antonio Stradivari are considered amongst the world's finest and can be worth millions. Totenberg was a child prodigy in his native Poland and bought the instrument in 1943 for $15,000 (£9,675) - more than $200,000 (£129,000) today. It was the only instrument he performed with until it was stolen, though he continued performing into his 90s. However, he did not live to see the recovery of his beloved violin, dying at the age of 101 in 2012."

[@thebookwaswaybetter2827]

so sad :( but just goes to show how sought after these magnificent instruments were

[@rrrddd4863]

I cried. Listening to this was remarkable.

[@demonfelix]

Such a thick tone, yet smooth.

[@vanrijn1669]

I’m in no way an aficionado on violins, but this beauty growled and sung the upper registers with perfection. The overtones were incredible. A master playing another genius master’s work. This was a real treat. Thanks for posting.

[@delco2035]

i'm getting goosebumps from this sound, it is beautifully haunted

[@riokuPL]

this sound is pure... perfect

[@dianayt584]

Amazing how stradivarius violins produce beautiful sound

[@Zazjin2]

Incredible.... Inimaginable performance and sound!!!! I just began violin and I absolutely want to become as good as him.

[@xxchiefaustinxx]

That opening was beautiful.

[@kendramalczyk2613]

Stunningly beautiful! Thank you so much.

[@carlosvoros3935]

no importa como se interprete, al violín se lo hace llorar como uno lo desee sea de quien sea la partitura solo tu espíritu le da vida al sonar el violín y si es de un stradivarius mucho mejor la calidad del maestro es quien da la ultima estocada. saludos

[@Nga_Babaye]

Yes mate, it's all about soul.

[@PooyaRadbon]

Our ear is full of such aggressive playing!

[@kennethlacewell1517]

Gorgeous. Interesting that some say they can make a violin 'as good as a Stradivarius'. Even if they can, the Stradivarius is still the gold standard.

[@Ayokalyb]

So much implied harmony!!!

[@NathanTax]

Although I know little about correct violin posture (which may seem worse than it actually is, because of the shoulderpads in his jacket... that effects the initial look of both shoulders!), the music this man makes is incredible. He renders the Chaconne very well, with excellent expression and feeling. Incredible that this clip is noted as demonstration of only the violin...

[@alasondrolinney5317]

Bravo, Eric!!

[@russelspiroify]

not entirely true, i have played on a guarneri before and it is amazing. Playing on an instrument of that caliber feels just plain fantastic, everything you put into it it gives right back, doubly so. These violins are not just played because of pride, they are played because of how amazing of an instrument they are

[@morningcoffee2471]

I don't know much about violins, but from watching many youtube videos, I can at least claim that the pitch precision is amazing. Not sure about the loudness though.

[@raoultak]

With all respect; Eric Grossman is a wonderful violinist. This is the way even the greatest violinists let sound this piece of Bach. It's difficult! Having a beautiful Strad or a less beautiful instrument doesn't make big a difference. It's not the Strad that makes warmth and music, gladly it's still the violinist who does that.

[@EchoedAges]

Really the instrument not being played is a far worse fate than it being destroyed. Its a work of art that was meant to be admired, and cherished. It was created for the sole purpose of bringing joy to its listeners. What a cruel thing it would be to deny it that.

[@mottopanukeiku7406]

Beautiful and priceless instrument. But what we are really hearing is a marvelous player. I suspect there are very few folks who could truly distinguish a Strad vs. the finest modern instrument if played by master musician.

[@garyritterstrings]

wow, only a fool would not appreciate this world famous performance. This is rare and great playing.

[@mvpmikey]

stradivari violin a master piece that up to now no one knows whats causing its perfect sound. 1000+ are made in his lifetime but only 600+ remain as of today. The scientist have figured out whats it made of but they still dont know how its made to make it sound so beautiful.

[@camity1]

ah k hermosas melodias !!! irremediable m dejo con los sentidos abiertos en todo momento se sintio por completo el sentimienmto de la canción muy motivador y aunk no sepa mucho es una pieza interesante de interpretar

[@TheSailor450]

I totally disagree with you, Violins need to be played, or otherwise they degrade, and their sound quality will slowly fade. Yes, by all means when this is not being played it should be locked up somewhere and cared for, but really, it's just a crafted piece of worthless wood if it is not used. I mean, Antonio Stradavari would have wanted this to be played, not put away in a cabinet only to be held with silk white gloves every 30 years. Pro violinists are very careful with these instruments !!!!

[@rachellevin9855]

There was a very foolish British army officer who brought his Strad to the Battle of Waterloo. The Strad survived intact, the owner was not so lucky.

[@pumpkingamebox]

I think a handful of these violins SHOULD be kept safe and played once every decade. Only so that violin makers know what to strive for. Since when the time comes that all Strads and other famous violins perish. The violin evolution has to basically start a new.

[@jefnatuurfilmer]

And this sounds very beautiful voor just one instrument.

[@1a2b3c4d_]

Ok boomer

[@stepaushi]

@@pumpkingamebox The common wisdom is they need to be played frequently in order to retain their excellent tone.

[@davidjhoo]

i suppose the most valuable part of any instrument is the sound it produces. if no one plays it.... no sound. what good is an instrument that makes no sound :O

[@MoesTube1]

@marciapolenberg I agree with you he plays beautifully and has a solid grasp of this piece technically and musically.

[@LolindirElros]

Most things in a museum don't have practical proposes to them anymore. A violin, on the other hand, can still be played by a few and enjoyed by most people.

[@shortsandsheep]

@Digitbig Just a chord on the violin. I believe they're called that because you have to break larger chords into 2 bow strokes (i.e the first one or two strings and then the last two strings with the majority of the bow). Double stops.

[@jackxiao1054]

snape

[@FINgaming1000]

肖川宇 your mom is snape

[@nadiens200]

Best Violin EVER! Well Played

[@Sortudinho]

Awesome playing. Love your up bow spicatto

[@paulagadigian]

I know that this Strad is real and so is Eric Grossman. He did a fine job here folks, come on!

[@cassiehoalaia9179]

I bet people only want to think that a Stradivari sounds better than every other Violin and that's why they think that it sounds better/different than any other.

[@sergiocastro1499]

Increíble sonido, saludos desde La Paz B.C.S MÉXICO

[@alanbrunobruno]

8 minutos empanado la verdad que toca muy bien y excelente el sonido del violin!!

[@skjumpers]

@FatherWarhol if by crappy tune you mean pinnacle of the violin repertoire written by the greatest composer who ever lived and by Sarah Palin you mean James Ehnes then yes, you're absolutely correct.

[@hzuiel]

I found that out later. He didn't seem to have an obvious accent on the tv show so I didn't know. But his name is David Garrett and he is american-german, born in germany. There isn't much info about his life but I get the impression that he's lived more of his life in Germany, than in America.

[@chrissycroken]

buying a stradivarius =2.4 million taking the violin itself and smashing it up and seeing the look on the peoples faces=priceless

[@egioalex72]

The magic of the stradivarius is that no other instrument has the smoothness of the E string that strad has....

[@themelancholyofgay3543]

the harmonics in this is crazy

[@Bertziethegreat]

Maybe it's because it's a recording, but that violin really doesn't sound all that much better than a modern one.

[@pumpkingamebox]

Do you have musical education? Thought so! jkjk It does sound very different IRL and with a comparison. It's an interesting sensation that I can't really explain with words.

[@Candyqueen3211]

You know, that's one of the cool things about the violin, even if it's out of tune you can still play in tune. Think about tuning itself, every day the tuning is different. Does that mean the music is out of tune? No. A great musician compensates for adjustments in the sound day to day.

[@webutterbreadwith]

they go for a few million, a stradivari violin for a few hundred thousand will be the bargin of a life time.

[@beth_levin_piano]

Beautiful!!!

[@ErasmusFleet]

Dear god, I've never heard a violin sound so rich.

[@arevalo77]

Perfect

[@sharyno]

Eric’s dad was my bass teacher ❤️

[@TheZendarGameplay]

amazing sound

[@Scampi95]

It would be great to get a high quality version of this recording

[@joncan2348]

Most golden age master violins are longer the original Baroque violin it was, but a heavily modified to modern standard violin. The plates were thinned out, bass bar and neck were changed by so called luthiers.

[@goodyones]

That deep notes are great in a Stradivari violin.

[@ralykSNtepnatS]

Many people have copies that appear to be genuine, I have on the belonged to my great, great, great grandfather, and off the internet it appears very similar to a true Strad. violin, but I need to get it authenticated soon to be sure it's not a copy, but even if it is a fake it is still at least 160 years old and handmade.

[@lukaskim9014]

my dream violin

[@reginiamariadasilva]

Fantástico.

[@rrkbferg]

No it's not a mistake. He's going clear up on the G String for richness and then hitting a harmonic. Anyone who knows anything wouldn't even mention that. I dare you to find anyone who can play the chaconne with as much character, accuracy and richness as Mr. Grossman.

[@anahitayazdanshenas4789]

Wowwww what kind of voice am I hear?!!! Isn’t it from paradise????

[@TruthSurge]

I agree. The way it's made, the wood used, the age of the wood, it can all create enough of a difference to where you could hear it but I think with modern replicas designed to mimic the good old Strads, I don't think I'd be able to tell a difference. Perhaps a violinist who had played a lot of those ... maybe he could. IOW, the margin of difference would be negligible for most people, I would think. I should commission a Strad clone and sell on ebay as Paganini's. :)

[@YellowChoklit]

@RachelChang an original stradivari from the 17th century is considered most likely the best instrument in history. Without a doubt the one you own is a false reproduction as are millions of violins -modern or not- marked "Stradivarius". They would put Stradivarius on many violins because they were modeled after the original design.

[@MrBonghits666]

In a word, exquisite !

[@Davinp123]

bach chaconne!! i learned that song on violin and viola

[@HoKnows4]

that violin is freakin' beautiful.

[@bio2020]

excellent.

[@deathlove13]

@TehStupidBish You would be horrible. He is amazing. He is nervous, he plays a goddamn violin which was made in 1717

[@muddshshshark]

I'm guessing its all about the upper and lower resonant chambers being harmonic and the fingerboard has a lot to do with it too right?

[@MrAdriandipsf]

Maybe you can´t appreciate the difference because the recording hasn´t got a good audio quality. Also remember, that Violin was not played for decades. All instruments sound better when they are played. If you don´t play a normal violin for 50 years, it will not sound at all. So besides pitch, colour and volume, the historical value. You should listen to Heifetz or menuhin, they had starivarius violins and they sounded awesome those decades when they were alive and they played it.

[@JHaru777]

@KittyRokher Huh. But yeah, I've never played. Always wanted to though.

[@alienorbiter]

It's not the violin, it's the playah. Respect.

[@camilo20000000000000]

que buen violinista

[@danielxdoom3642]

you people are trippin. its pretty good. and lucky ass dude, to get to play on that.

[@PinkasC]

@TehStupidBish I did?! Maybe i didn't think about the first question... Eric Grossman, but the other questions!

[@valentinablum2015]

Esto es increíble

[@ferantares2001]

Maravilloso, casi lloro

[@ph03be91]

he has to feel comfortable with the violin first, see how he kept changing his chin position he IS amazing! btw,the sound is so beautiful

[@EJsacasa]

well if it was made in the 1990s it means it is NOT a stradivarius. It is a copy as is the case with most violins today. Original Stradivaris where made centuries ago. the ones still preserved today are priced in the millions.

[@19420130]

Divin!

[@KandeeKane85]

impeccable!

[@torstentight]

bravo, excellent.

[@auryherrera5737]

Exelente música de un estradovarius

[@danhmedina2187]

4:29 he kills it! WOO!

[@israelcanova]

This violin doesn't sound very far, are u sure it's the stradivarius?

[@BestAmateurViolinist]

It's a very small hall with a no reverb. Strads don't always sound "big", either. Sometimes, it's just a quality of the tone.

[@hannahpumpkins4359]

You can clearly hear the overtones produced by it, adding to the rich texture of its sonority.

[@chiarageremia1115]

Sei bravissimo!!!!

[@rollyunicorn]

The World's most expensive instrument. Sold by Nippon Foundation in 2011 at auction in London. Stradivari ( 1721 Lady Blunt ) $16 million.

[@ejonadamjani]

Really? Do you even know where is the best place to take them a look of your violin and then decide where, if is the case, to sale it?

[@rollyunicorn]

I would guess any good auction house would give you an estimate value. But the actual real value would be decided by how badly someone else wants to own it.

[@alsosusieq2susan142]

Bravo

[@martacubero9180]

es muy bonito

[@CookieOnMyShoulder]

@ShakerLouie so... ur not enjoying it cuz the sound is only coming out of the right speaker?...

[@FinSynthMusic]

Do you feel the same way about any historical objects? Do you think that museums are pointless and all the old stuff should be just used until they break?

[@egioalex72]

he plays very well, one mistake only at 1:22 .the strad sounds great in his hands

[@Davinp123]

@MrFpam lol i still love it its beautfiul