On March 29 and 30, a string instrument dealer from Kanazawa, Ishikawa brought number of string instruments for an exhibition. Anyone who loves music wars allowed to try them which included from beginner models to the one like museum collection.
I was so excited to visit the event. Though I was a little hesitated to try those instruments, I guess I was there nearby two hours (I forced myself to quit because my wife was waiting).
The variety of the instruments were so amazing! The violins, the violas and the cellos made in various luthiers countries and years. Different looks and sounds. All of them were adorable. If I were to choose one from them, it would have been really a life challenging decision to make. Even it was hard to define in myself what is the good sound.
What is really different from a piano technician’s point of view is that the violins are much more diverse unlike the pianos today are manufactured by certain companies in the world. The piano brands lasts much longer than the luthiers’ therefore it tends to be that the piano variety seems to be limited compares to the violins. The pianos used to be diverse, but since the pianos became industrial products, its manufacturing methods are likely to be standardized. The string instruments are also industrialized in some parts, but still individual luthiers can run their commercial business by themselves and that makes the piano and string instrument cultures so different.
I need more experience to know more about violins. There will be another exhibition taking place in Tokyo in May. I’m absolutely coming there.
