My old German violin and it’s story | Violin Lounge TV #432
Finally after many requests here’s the full story behind my old German violin!
I play this violin for seven years and for special reasons I didn’t share this before…
In this video I share all about my old German violin:
- It’s history in the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under Mengelberg
- How it was under my nose for three years, before I started to play on it
- How I paid myself through conservatory after my father’s sudden death
- How I couldn’t afford it, but bought it anyway
- How so many things moved in a very special way for the violin to become mine
Hi! I'm Zlata
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Hi! I'm Zlata
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I hope this story inspires you and motivates you that things you desire can unfold if you dare to take a leap of faith.
Of course I’m not promoting doing things thoughtlessly and impulsively. What I’m talking about is to trust the nudges deep inside of you and act on them to make your dreams come true.
What kind of violin do you play? Does it have a special story?
Please share all about it in the comments below. I’d love to read it and I’m sure we can inspire each other with beautiful stories.
I’m only a beginner and I mainly use an electric violin with a mute so I can practise without annoying the neighbours! One day I’d love to have an old violin with a lovely story behind it.
Your violin was fate! It sounds lovely.
Thank you, Jo, I’m sure you’ll find a great violin in the future too :).
Good story !! you didn’t share by whom the violin is made ?? But it definitely sounds beautiful.
Thank you, Elizabeth, the maker of my violin is unknown.
A very interesting story. My story is a little different but I still don’t know how it will turn out. When I was a little girl – 7 decades ago – my uncle, who made violins as a hobby, made a violin for me. I never played on it, ever, and never was interested in string instruments, but my daughter later studied violin and used it for about 5 years. I went on to a semi-professional career on the bassoon, and retired a few years ago. So now in my 80th decade I have decided to learn violin and have just got this old one back from the luthier, who made a few basic changes to the structure and pronounced it a very nice violin.
I am very excited to see how this violin plays and to see whether I can become a halfway decent violin player in the years that I have left to study. I love how your old violin sounds and hope this one will have a nice sound, too.
Wow, full circle, how wonderful! How do you find it to study violin as a bassoon player?
As an ex-bassoon player, recorder player, and piano player, I thought violin would be a snap. Boy, was I wrong! Violin is a whole different world and an exercise in doing several things at once. I am quite awful at it but continuing to try.
Wonderful that you’ve picked it up 🙂
Very interesting story!
Glad you like it :).
thank you for the story , I hope you like mine, many years ago a bank manager telephoned me saying that they found a violin in the bank vault. and someone told them that I collected instruments which was not true – He told me that a man had borrowed money at the bank and left the violin as a guarantee. The man never returned. the Bank had it authenticated the verdict was that it was a fake so after a number of years the bank decided to get rid of it. He said that they wanted 100$ for it – I asked if it was in good shape – the menager said that it had a crack on the serface. I said WHAT – 100$ FOR A CRACKED VIOLIN- th which the manager replied – is 25 $ too much? so I bought it for 25$.There was a faded lable inside saying Joseph Klotz 1795 and the town where it had been made I went to a luthier and and asked about the name and he got very agitated – asked some questions and got very upset as he had some involvement with the violin – he shouted that it should be broken. Some friends sent it to NewYork to be repared and it came back beautifully repared. For many years it was then lent to promissing students. about 5 years ago I got it back and it was used in a concert of Oliver Jones – the quartert who played it were amazed and wanted to know where this fabuleous instrument came from. and that it needed love. That was when I decided to learn to play it –
Wonderful story, John, $ 25 for a real Klotz? Now that’s a great deal!
My current violin, the sixth I’ve owned since I began learning the instrument, is attributed to Jules Gaillard of Mirecourt. I purchased it from “The Bearden Violin Shop” in St. Louis, Missouri. I had it on loan while my 1892 Andrew Hyde instrument was undergoing restoration. I was so taken with the sound of the instrument that I decided to buy it.
Wonderful how you stumbled upon it!
Thank you – what a beautiful story – My violin was nade by joseph klotz in 1795 i have owned it for ajbout 40 years and only recently have decided to make room to learn
Wow, a Klotz, beautiful!
Hello Zlata, love your story and the struggle behind to achieve where you’re at. …
My story is: going through a very hard time of my life, I was on my way to a psycho appointment, feeling like crap. Suddenly, I saw this beautiful violin in the window of a Pawn shop. It’s like he talk to me, it said : play me, I will help you. So I bought it for 100$. Got to my Dr. and I said : I bought this violin, I don’t know why.
He answered smiling : this doesn’t surprise me.
Once home, that middle finger left hand missing by an injury was quite a challenge.
I turned around and started playing left handed. After some alterations to the instrument, many efforts, then I found your school and know I am getting much better.
Although I have overpass many obstacles, I am very grateful that with you and Vivians teaching I will be able to express my feelings through this beautiful instrument one day.
Please receive my deepest consideration for your wonderful work.
What a wonderful way in which the violin came on your path and the healing it has offered you, Gustavo, happy to have you as my student. Shooting a video for you next week! 🙂
Thank you for your beautiful story Zlata. My violin was brought to the US from Germany by a young soldier at the end of WW2. My father bought it from the soldier for $200. That’s all we know about it. I have played it for more than 60 years and love it very much. The tone is exquisite!
Also a special story, Ann Marie!