Violinmaker Hans Benning Remembers Violinist Jascha Heifetz 

"It is my privilege and duty to keep these fine old instruments for the next generation, I have the privilege to work on them, you have privilege to play on them". A true old world craftsman without ego, most would says it's their pleasure or honor to service, but here this true tradesman is dedicated to his work entirely without even a thought of ego.

Great story and great storyteller....people like this are getting rare. This man's story should be documented for posterity.

I know I will be burned and scorched for saying this but we have no one like Heifetz in the violin world today and we never will again. We have fine violinists, but hardly any great artists. What we have are mostly a lot of Heifetz imitators. Anyhow, it's nice to hear/see this interview. Only a moment or so was included in the Heifetz film (2011.) As a Benning customer for many years, I will attest to how good this shop is - and there have been 3 generations of Bennings working there for many years now.

So much respect for this dude being like, "I don't give a fuck who you are, you come into my shop you bring your shit. And no house calls!"

“It is very lonely at the top, and there’s a very high price to get there”

I've played your violas, and violins. They are off the charts amazing. I have been saving for years for your violin.

Heifetz stories are always interesting. The person who had the greatest number was Eric Friedman. If you met him at a party he could tell Heifetz stories, one after the other as long as you could stay and listen. This included the one about what Heifetz said to Friedman after Friedman had sent his first recording to Heifetz. Heifetz allegedly said "I have taught you everything I know, and you know nothing." Friedman was such a superb player he did not need to depend on the stories to create an impressive identity. He told them for the sheer joy of it.

A very humble man.

Heifetz touches ones soul with his playing.

Image meeting mr Heifetz in person, it would be an honor just to talk with him, this is an amazing story, and I loved hearing it

“It’s just the way it is”

he talks very delightfully.

One of my very favorite videos on RU-vid! Hans is a great man!!! Also wonderful to see family continuing the good work!

Im 37 now, well 38 in two days but i have been going to hanz since i was 5 and bought all but one of my violins from his shop. I can attest that he definitely doesnt give a "F" and a bit scary at first but as i got older i respected him. I love seeing him and hes a great man. His whole family is amazing. His son Eric is definitely keeping their legacy alive and erics son is now working there as well. Im honored to be able to say that im lucky enough to know them and now that hanz knows me i get to see his soft side and talk to him more and love him so much.

the background music appears too noisy affecting Mr. Hans particularly audiences . please consider !

So very personal, and beautiful relationship with a great Violonist

Very humble man. Great story.

An amazing video, amazing story, Mr. Hans Benning an amazing gentleman. Thank you for making such a great video and sharing it with us. Much love from Ireland.

What a great master `violin fixer`. Great unsung heroes.

Outstanding story.

Heifetz just tested him, would make sense given his nature :) great story !

Wonderful old world accent.

I love your story and respect your expert.making. this was a joy to see there will never be another Heifetz. Violin hasn't been the same since. And you sir thanks so much for being there for him and also for all the other musicians that came your way and I know there was a lot. Enjoyable story

Love hearing about all this. Thank you.

Talk about a fascinating video. I loved listening to him discuss his meeting the great violinist the first time and how their relationship lasted for 15 years. So interesting.

Sympathisch!!!

What a memory to tell, thank you

I'm glad the guarneri would speak only to Heifetz in that particular way.

Thank you Eric Benning; are you a relative of Mr. Hans Benning -- a real humble artisan he sounds like. WOW....am in tears...so much history...I am a violinist in Calif. I so want to know about Mr. Heifetz's violin and other violins he owned and what happened to them.

I like the story about the little half-size bow lol. This guy calling the del Gesu the "del Jayzee" that's an old Californianism, like a real old California guy might call the city of Costa Mesa, "Costy-Maysy".

Thank you Sir. Wonderful.

Lovely. Thank you! Maestro Heifetz' comment on the cost paid by top virtuosi reminds me of a quote attributed to Franz Liszt when an admirer after a private concert in a home told him she would give her life to play like him. He responded, "Madame, I have!"

The Benning shop is the best! This was very interesting! He is a humble man.

That’s a lovely memory Mr Benning. Thank you for sharing it.

Many thanks for uploading this most interesting video! The most impressive anecdotes to me: Heifetz never allowed his students to show up with shoulder rests, and the famous Guarneri sounded totally different in different hands on the same music with the same orchestra. Great lessons!

How inspiring!!! thank you. I wish I had heard Heifetz live ... sigh

"Cwaarnayree dayl chasey"

Lo que dice Tom Greene es FORMIDABLE. Y la honestidad de Hans Benningtá es un ejemplo de amor y honestidad.

This such a great lesson in not compromising your standards you will be more respected in the end. Great story!

Great story

What an amazing interview.

Wonderful memories. Thanks for the storytelling M. Benning

This is the best video on this website

Thank you Sir. I love your craft. I am sure that you make most beautiful instruments. A very nice story.

Fantastic interview. Thank you

That was wonderful!

Fascinating. Thank you for sharing this.

Wonderful. Thank you.

Fascinating... Thank you so much for posting this marvelous reminiscence!

Thanks for sharing, very insightful.

Thank you again for your touching insight !

This is so beautiful!

Thank you!

I always look for Great Stories like yours, Sir. Thank you for sharing. Blessings.

Great .....so cool....just wonderful....thank you sir....

He reminds me of Max Von Sydow.

Thankyou for sharing these most interesting memories with us. I think Heifetz appreciated - besides Your mastership as a violinmaker - that You are an honest, down-to -earth and humble person, The story with the sissers though show that he was - let's say very - "special".

Great story from a consumate craftsman and student of his craft.

What a wonderful account and what a great man! Thanks so much for sharing your memories on the genius that was Jascha Heifetz

astounding wonderful wise humane

July-18-2023. ✝️

A very pleasant, peaceful piece of storytelling.. very different from Heifetz' playing style which is natural because this talking gentleman is another artist. Still could feel Heifetz. I enjoyed it.

I'd love to hear Heifetz play, and I'd love to hear Mr.Benning. But I hate doing both at the same time, because they only disturb each other.

Fantastic story! Also, who downvotes something this amazing?

the first time I find Heifetz' playing annoying: the background of this video.

7:38 Heifetz did not allow a sholder rest in masterclasses.

Wonderful stories from a wonderful workman. I can play instruments, but I recognize that I don't have the patience to work on them. :)

Imagine playing ping pong with heifetz

A very nice tribute to his good friend...

A great privilege n video not to mention it would be great for your business

If theses stories and this history ever gets lost, the world will be worse off for that loss for ever.

How did Jascha have his Instrument set up?/What particularities? Great video, thanks very much for sharing all such insights.

Never could. Heifetz was a pain up my bum. My hands and wrist simply wouldn't accept his finger position on my bow hand . And then Ivan Galamian entered into my education. ❤ Pull the bow with a steady energy originating directly from your chi. Worked like a charm. The original spiritus involved was my mentor William Magers, a former Galamian student, and my viola Teacher at Arizona State University. I was one of five students, which gives you a clue regarding his status. He said to me, "You need more than Arizona. Study at Meadowmount. At Juilliard.""You need Paul Doktor, the #1 Violist on this planet." So off to Juilliard I went. Whilst running round this lecher's dining room table in my tennies, my peers in Manhattan asked"why are you studying with Paul Doktor, when you had Bill Magers??" Sometimes you have to go all the way round the world to find home.

and meanwhile reducing Jascha's playing to documentary background music, thereby making it difficult to listen to the interesting story of mr. Benning!

The background music is too loud!!!

Can you tell me please, did Jasha Heifetz use only stock height bridges, or did he ever cut them down. Thanks for any help. C.e.usa

🙏🏻💐🎻

🙏

I play my viola with no shoulder rest and no chin rest. Makes ALL the difference!

........for performances , Jascha had some good days and some slightly less than good days. There were a hell of alotta top violinists back then . Plenty good ones today but I think they were slightly better from that earlier generation.. ....yehudi Menuhin made a violin out of matchsticks,, that's the violin I'd want. I like unusual violins. Best fiddle I've ever played is a homemade teardrop shaped violin.

The music is too loud and it is difficult to hear what the man says

What are the pieces being playing in the background?

The music makes it hard for me to hear what is being said 6:56

“One day, I was at my violin shop and God himself walked in and asked me to repair his instrument.”

Music is a bit too loud to hear the guy speak.

Thank you for the video. I came back to re-watch it. Is Hans still living and well?

Great luthiers are far interesting than their violinist counterparts.

👏

4:35 What's playing here and next? Hungrean dance

Please correct en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jascha_Heifetz which says 10 years, if it's indeed 15 years.

Would love to be able to access this without the background music

What is the piece being played in the background, and which recording?

That's a great story, BUT it would also be nice to come and greet your customers. I frequented your shop on the recommendation of a dear colleague. He said I should stop by and say hello to you. I saw you through the glass window and one of your employees told you that I wanted to meet you. You declined! I was shopping for 3 people that day, but unfortunately, I did not get the help that I needed. I told my colleague about my visit.

I like this guy more than Heifetz 🤔

Geigenbauerschule Mittenwald. Yeeeees!

You rehair as well, right?

Holy Mackerel Turn the background music down

Who had the glorious idea to overdub the text with music? It's a pain to try to focus on what the man says. The music spoils the text and the text spoils the music, a classic lose-lose-situation.

:)

Is he German?