Maggini Violin, 1610 

My dad has an maggini Violin. It is in our family for about 5th generations, i mean it! It was from his grandgrandgrandgrand father that came from italy to brazil and passes through generations of men of our family. It is dated from 1663 on the label. I hope someday it'll be mine.

I always think its a horrible shame and waste that these instruments are in museums and not playing the music they were designed for. I’d love to hear them turn out some baroque and pre baroque pieces as appropriate. Even so just seeing and hearing them is a delight.

One particular low note you struck I could feel it in my stomach. Very enthralling these old Maginnis! Personally I think they have more guts than Stradivari. Your playing young lady is impeccable! Thank you this is probably 6th or 7th time I've listened to this I never get tired of listening to you play these beautiful unobtaniums!❤

Recently I looking for the type of violin sound that I desire the most and Maggini is one them😊.

That Maggini was my absolute favorite that you have graciously shared with us. What you played on that violin was absolutely perfect. It brought tears to my eyes.

Purfling helps to keep the wood of the soft top plate form forming a crack at the edge, as well a s looking very decorative. I love your videos.

I had a Fernando Solar almost 70 80 yrs violin..I miss it :) thanks for all these vids.. informative

Greetings from Wisconsin; I love listening to all of these instruments. This one, however; seems deeper with more layers to the tone. I'm no expert mind you, but I really like it's tone. You, however; make all of them sound great. Thank you so much for giving life to these instruments for a little while so we can hear them. Nothing fills the soul with joy like music, especially violin music.

Forgive me for maybe appearing as a mutt dog crashing Westminster but I am absolutely enthralled by your series. Please do not, if only for my sake, attenuate your presentation of the of the history and lineages of the instuments, makers and context. Your comments on your experience with each instrument are golden. Your talent and skill as a musician are extremely admirable. Thank you Katha.

In fact, the purfling on a violin actually does have an effect on the instrument’s tone. For example, the inner purfling on a Maggini violin limits the vibrating plate to that ring, away from the outer edge. The usual single ring of purfling on a violin keeps the top vibration from reaching the outer edge, which transfers the sound to the ribs, if the location is correct. Tone of the violin is hopefully a balance of string vibration reflected away from the bridge to the audience, and down into the sound chamber, or box, developing the low end and sweet character, and out through the f holes to the audience. A ratio that varies, but hovers at around 50/50.

Oh my goodness, hearing this instrument begin to open up and blossom is incredible! From the warm depth of the bottom registers to the pure, fanciful sweetness at the top, it deserves to be played regularly and publicly. I think this and the Paganini Guarnerius are my favorites so far: the Paganini is gorgeous, complex and powerful, but this one hides something almost wild.

I like it that you keep quoting from Brahms’ Sonatas. Three of my all-time favorite pieces which made me fall in love with the Violin after a career playing Trumpet!

How is it no one has approached you to make a feature length documentary about these violins, their history and their music? Perhaps in creating it you would have a great deal more than 5 minutes with each! Seriously, there must be someone out there who could fund this, and multiple producers who would love to make such a film. And, if you can't find anyone else, I'd love to! You have a great gift, not just for music, but for storytelling!

I'm a Bassist, l've heard the Maggini Bass now hearing the Maggini violin l realize that the Maggini magic transcends range your playing is superb have you done any recitals and or recordings ?

What a fantastic experience to be able to "hear" these works of art....Big Thanks for this whole enterprise! More More More!!

woah, despite the setting up this might be one of the my favorites, the tone is just....moving! It's heavy and sad, I love it.

Wow beautiful instrument with rich tone! Beautiful singing E and luxurious G; love it!

Thank you as always-as someone who also plays guitar and loves gear, these videos are the closest to scratching that itch for the violin.

Oh my gosh you got her to cry!

Many "Maggini's" are actually forgeries made by Giovanni Battista Rogeri, who had trained under Nicolo Amati in Cremona and then moved to Brescia by 1664. These are also outstanding violins.

I’m really enjoying your videos and learning about these beautiful old instruments! I love this one too.

I would love to be in the same room to hear you play. It is amazing how you can make these instruments speak so beautifully.

You are providing an unimaginable service to the music world. Thank you!

@aTonalHits Thank you for bringing this instrument out! Amazing timbre! Never heard anything like it.

Do love you videos- such an opportunity to get closer and admire the sound to all these treasurose instruments .Thank you!

Thank you for another video from this series. It lifted me up in this difficult time. The sound is gorgeous. You two definitely are a match :)

I am really liking your channel, I am so impressed by your play. From violent and quick to soft and subtle. Quite amazing.

I love this video in your series! I believe some of the original Maggini violins are much larger than normal - and therefore not easy to adjust to - so you did a fantastic job bringing this one to life in the short window you had to try it! Bravo!

Well this one did it! I just had to subscribe. I love this series but was afraid it wasn't going to continue beyond the violins you have already done. I would love to see these continue indefinitely. I have done violin repair for decades and studied briefly under Hans Nebel and though I love my two German Strad copies it is just a joy to listen to the sound and watch the playing of instruments that are centuries old by notable makers. Thank you for this series! I love your playing and your vibrato. (I'm still working on it.)

Wonderfully dark and deep Sound.....

That violin in your hands is hauntingly evocative, even in such a brief compass. I love the appearance too. I hope you get more time on it. I became fascinated with Maggini violins some years ago when Rafael Todes of the Schidlof Quartet acquired a mysterious black-painted Maggini and released photographs of it on the web. A Swiss restorer unmasked its true beauty and potential. As far as I know he's still playing it. Thanks for another great video.

Hi Katha, I am restoring a beautiful Maggini violin right now. It might be the real deal but if not at a minimum looks to be a very beautiful very old copy. When the restoration is completed I'd be interested in your opinion. I hope it sounds as great as the one you play in this video (it hasn't been played in many, many years). I can send pics to you if you're interested. It's very beautiful very old fiddle. The scroll/neck was missing so we had to find a suitable old neck/scroll to make a violin out of it. best wishes Bernie Tamosaitis

Wonderful Masterpiece !

love these videos. thank you!

Beautiful Maggini violin, double fillets, you play very well and the instrument responds, congratulations!

This violin reminds me of my bassoon. Darker, woody and lovely.

Way too cool! I'm binging on all of your videos. It's funny as a 3 chord guitar hack I find this fascinating.

I love your videos... Thank you

Very interesting video-Thank you!

Great Show...thank you

this one is one of my favorites that you have played

Muito bom o conteúdo desses vídeos, principalmente por ficarmos conhecendo os diversos autores de violinos, parabéns

I like this series of different violins, some very interesting differences in different instruments. This Maggini has the depth that some of the others do not have, nice edge to it. A similarity to Flamenco guitars, the more they are played, the better they get but if someone heavy hands them, they have to be played back into shape.

Playing Bach on older instruments makes sense and is a great idea! I agree with all the old world players (Heifetz, Milstein, Menuhin, Ricci...) who use vibrato when they play Bach - as a sidenote. My reasoning: had Bach been born a little later he would not have objected

Wonderful, balanced tone

wow, a mixture of resonance and huge projection, full hue of tone, a good example of aged spruce and maple, and what it does with good chambering, thanks for sharing this majestically toned violin, ciao, Maggini from my part of Italia

I hear it as dark, but shiny and sorta brassy in its attack and I mean that in the coolest possible way. And freakin' gorgeous. Oh... and the violin is, too. Grins!!!

These videos are da 💣!! Thanks!

Merci Katha ! Toujours aussi instructif.

To John Gedesse, thank you I did not know the part about the second ring limiting vibrations and directing to the ribs. That was fastenating! Keep the tide bits coming I need to know this stuff! Thanks and bye!😅

i don’t get it you deserve more attention because you have so many samples off these amazing masterpieces i wish you got more attention

Wow, this is the one! The sound is beyond beautiful!

A lot of complex overtones in this one, I like it a lot as well!

I love history, especially music and mathematics histories. Great video. I subscribed. Thanks for sharing.

Um, that was amazing. Really enjoyed so many of your videos! And, who downvotes content like this?

excelente video

Thank you for these violin test drives. Oh how wonderful!😅

Wouldn't it be wonderful to know the complete history of these amazing instruments? I can't get over how fantastic it looks despite being 410 years old! Would it have had multiple restoration works done over the years? How old is the varnish? It looks so good, I don't suppose it can be original. Thanks for posting.

I’m learning a lot from your videos. When I visited the Chi Mei museum in 2012, I was fortunate to try out some of their instruments including the de Salo, which I liked more than the Strad and Guarneri I also tried. Wish I had tried the Maggini as well!

I like to hear Ole Bull violin 🎻..

His basses were awsome! Am I right in the asumption that this violin hadn't been played for a while? It's as if it was opening up...

Katha, can't say how much I appreciate this series, especially giving attention to non Strads/ Del Gesus! Also, i've been loving Early Light and you other performances. I also enjoy these sweet, dark instruments, like the Da Salo. I'm wondering if you have a video on what fiddles and bows you've played on and currently play? If not, I'd really love to learn more! The instrument in many (all?) of your performances sounds great from top to bottom.

I'm no expert but this violin sounds great! Just what a soloist needs to stand out!

Wow nice what you do.

This Maggini sounds really good! Pls as many Gasparo, Maggini and Rogeri in the future! Pietro G of Venice too, maybe also Matteo Gofriller. Enjoy!

Deep, dark, rich, but hollow... Something that Del Gesu has fixed the hollowness with more thickness in the back and some adjustment in the arching.

Splendid job. Like it a lot. Love 👌 🎥👌♥like+1

Thanks for Sharing the video..You play very well....I have a Maggini Violin copy.. Repaired in US....needs a new bridge and some adjustments. Curious... What strings this Maggini had on?

Absolutely Sasspatorious!!!

You said that “Perfling does nothing for the sound’, ...?! I beg to differ. My three luthier friends, two of whom learned in Cremona & Parma, explained to me, that purfling acts as a car’s ‘shock-absorbers’; taking in and releasing the sizable stress & tension on the ‘table’ of the violin while being played. Thus, while it may not enhance, per se, the tone production of the instrument, without it, the instrument and it’s sound would be rigid and ‘closed’, or, G-d forbid, sound 🙉 like a factory-made violin [-shaped box]-! 🥰

I do have a Maggini copy... it is a bit bigger than regular violins...as oppose to Amati violin is a bit smaller. The G sound is very very deep like a viola. Maybe it is just my copy and not sure if the real one also has that deep G sound. Among all different copies my least favorite is Jacob Steiner - It sounds nasal...

Yessssss! This seems like a deep instrument but perhaps a bit brighter than da Salo?

Suggestion: play the beginning of the Bruch Concerto in g with ALL the violins and we will get a real idea of the sound difference.

Not to take away from the violin or the history or the music, but I love your mug.

I'd be terrified to just handle such instruments.

Beautiful. Would like to see the neck graft in a close up, also close-ups of the scroll and box and frontal shot of the top to include bouts and both f holes in better light. I worked in New York in a very good shop directly across the street from Carnegie Hall in the mid 1970's and was surrounded by wonderful instruments and was able to handle violins of all sorts but by far my favorites were early Breschian violins. Their dark tonal qualities gave them tremendous power. The Strads and Bregonzis are prefired because of their highs and their ability to "cut through" and be better heard, so to speak but in Maggini's time the orchestras were smaller and that wasn't as important a factor then. Though Magginis don't seem to have the volume and don't project as later Cremonese violins I prefer the soulful sound of his works. It is a shame more is not known about him. He is my favorite maker. Thank you for the opportunity to view and hear that most magnificent violin.

I can hear the influence of da Salo in the singing of the treble strings, and slight growling on the G and D strings which helps those strings "speak." It was hard to clearly see the double binding in the video. It looked like the binding was twice as wide as usual. Is the binding one wide piece of wood or multiple strips of wood? It's too bad that you couldn't get a bit more time to play and get to know each violin you present. Despite that, I think that you still manage to reveal the character of each. Thanks

Has this violin been restored? I am mildly stunned considering it’s age. These violins must feel like people in the room with you.

I do not get to differentiate the sound from different violins. Could you explain a little more what a "rich tone" or "dark tone" or whatever means? I am a little lost.

When you do get it please don't put it in the attic! There it will recieve water damage or fry and glue become brittle. Also don't let cousins ruin it before you recieve it. Also don't place a shoulder rest on it or the torsion will Crack the glue in the lower bouts! Never transport it by bicycle! It will almost surely slip from hands and fall to the street. I hope you will indeed inherit your Magginni and savor ITS lush tone. These are some of the things I went through with my Strad copy which at that time was 110 years old. May you have much better luck with your family heirloom!😅

I realize these wonderful instruments are rare but why only 5 minutes per instrument. I would think that just getting them out of their storage area would take longer than that and also to have a world class musician give the instrument a much needed workout would be a deciding factor as to how long she would have to play each one. Its not like she's going out on the street and playing for money, this is a controlled environment and I am sure there is security as well. Love all the videos. Please keep 'em coming!!

Really enjoy your videos!! But was disappointed to hear you say that the purfling has no acoustical function, because that is not true.

❤️ She mentioned my comment! Shoutouts from the Philippines 😂 Timely that Milan was hit by the black death and we're stuck in quarantine during the time of a pandemic where Milan was hit particularly hard too. It'd be nice to have the names of pieces whose excerpts you're playing so we can look them up :)

Thanks a lot for your vidéos. What about the size of this instrument, please?

I'm curious Katha, do you use the same bow with all of these instruments?

Fantastic instrument. It's an interesting point that a lot of these older instruments, especially pre-Stradivari, have such different tonal qualities. I imagine a lot of it has to do with the experimentation and unknown territory of what makes a "good" violin at the time. It's also what makes them so unique now-a-days, too, as we've gotten so used to the more standardized Strad sound. Out of curiosity, what kind of instrument do you play on? It has a magnificent tone and it seems to suit your playing style very well. PS. Love the random Tengu mask in the background. 👺

I'm Indonesian, and I have Giovanni Paolo Maggini's violin which says 1600s or 1700s, because the writing on the violin is a bit blurry. This violin was repainted in the 1990s, and I'm now looking to sell it. can anyone help me? how much will my violin cost?

I know this is a strange question. Has there been any violins rescue or recovered from the time of the Holocaust and its victims?

Does anyone have a source for measurements or plans for Maggini fiddles?

The purfling helps protect the violin from developing cracks.

I really love the dark tones. On a side note, can you sometime tell us a little about your bow? If you’ve covered this already apologies. I just joined up.

What type of strings you use on this instrument.

There are many periphery events that take a lifetime to gather when studying the violin...mostly Beethoven, Mozart, Hayden and Bach. Makers of all k8nds of luthiery happening in the field of competition of instruments for partons on the new era of Baroque 1600-1750@!!! I will indulge you Dear@!!!!

Subscribed to you :)

So what is the price just sitting in museum for time indefinite!?

I thought purfelling was to stop a crack from going all the way to the edge.

What was that first piece you played on the Maggini?

2:10 - skip to playing.

Were all Maggini, Amati, Stradivarius etc. great sounding instruments? Wood varies a lot in it's tonal quality, so there must be some "not so good ones" among the thousands or so instruments the master violin makers made. Are any known to be a bit of a dud but still revered because of the maker?

Please do Antonio Capela