Violins -- Old Italian vs. modern

[gvans]

Results from a fascinating study comparing Old Italian (e.g., Stradivari/Guaneri) violins with modern instruments were just published in the PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Science). The modern instruments, in carefully wrought research using concert violinists and a number of fine violins, played by blinded players in a variety of halls, won hands down. There have been a number of threads in this forum re blinding at piano competitions, etc, threads to which this research may (or may not) be germane.

Once more, it becomes clear that objectivity is deeply colored by subjective impulse. 

For an LA Times summary:

https://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-violins-old-new-stradivari-20140407,0,4801344.story


For a five-minute video of the study, held in Paris:

&feature=youtu.be


For text of the PNAS paper:

https://josephcurtinstudios.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/FritzEtAl_PNAS_public.pdf

[thalbergmad]

The "they don't make them like they used to" argument fails in many fields.

Thal

[goldentone]

Will the truth now permeate the musicians and the classical world?

[Bob]

Of course.  There's still voodoo. I've seen it with other instruments moreso than piano.  Musicians will tweak or add on their own little bits of crap and think/say  it makes them sound better.  And it may... If they think it does.