PhilipKT Posted January 25, 2020 Report Share Posted January 25, 2020 I was a monitor for a concerto competition at a local church. I had the opportunity to listen to a dozen or so really fine young players, each playing a major piece, and each playing at an extremely high level. I checked in each player before he went in to perform, and had a chance to glance at instruments. One lad in particular had a breathtaking Violin. I wondered what it was, but didn’t ask. This young boy played the first movement of the Barber concerto, which, like that of Beethoven or Sibelius or Mendelsohn, fails if not played with exquisite beauty. We were sitting outside the sanctuary, but could see through the surrounding glass windows, and we could hear a little bit. The sound of this violin was amazing, in power and quality, even when heard outside the sanctuary. The proud father came over to chat, and I asked what Violin he had. “A Vuilluame.” Was the proud answer. I was quite surprised. “A real one?” “Yes, a real one. It was very expensive.“ It was interesting to listen to the Young students, all of them played extremely well. The difference in sound between this violin and the other instruments was profound. A lot had to do with the little boy(all 95 pounds of him)who was playing so well, of course, but it was such a pronounced difference. Never let it be said that an instrument makes little difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Merkel Posted January 26, 2020 Report Share Posted January 26, 2020 ah...but you didn't hear him on other instruments texas has some of the highest level string kids. for all-state orchestra the violins have some surprisingly unplayable audition pieces Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three13 Posted January 26, 2020 Report Share Posted January 26, 2020 Did you get a close enough look to see what model it looked like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilipKT Posted January 26, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2020 2 hours ago, Three13 said: Did you get a close enough look to see what model it looked like? No I wish I had, but I didn’t think to ask. He won his division, btw, and no surprise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilipKT Posted January 26, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2020 3 hours ago, Bill Merkel said: ah...but you didn't hear him on other instruments texas has some of the highest level string kids. for all-state orchestra the violins have some surprisingly unplayable audition pieces 3 hours ago, Bill Merkel said: ah...but you didn't hear him on other instruments texas has some of the highest level string kids. for all-state orchestra the violins have some surprisingly unplayable audition pieces Yes that’s exactly right. They’ve scheduled some incredibly difficult music: Concerto for orchestra, Rite Of Spring, Also Sprach Zarathustra, amazingly difficult. And yet they manage to find 80 kids who can play everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violinnewb Posted January 28, 2020 Report Share Posted January 28, 2020 I live in one of the most high cost-of-living cities in the US. We have hundreds of amazing string players here. We also have some of the most stingy parents as well. Most of the students, including some of my former ones, play on good quality Chinese instruments. I can only imagine the difference if these parents in my locale decided to give up their $100k cars and bought their children Vuilluames! It must have been so amazing to have even had a peak/listen to an exceptional student with an exceptional instrument! Thank you for sharing Philip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deans Posted January 28, 2020 Report Share Posted January 28, 2020 More than once I've been blown away by a Vuilluame. But I'm sure there are some duds too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lwl Posted January 29, 2020 Report Share Posted January 29, 2020 Mine is fantastic (when in proper adjustment, and it's pretty damned finicky about it). But I've also tried numerous others that weren't good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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