——Symphony Knowledge No. 21

Text: Lao Hou

In 2018, the world’s ceremony to commemorate the end of World War I was held in front of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma performed the cello piece "Bach Can Unite Us" live.

The famous cellist, who has won the Grammy Award for 18 times, last won the award in 2017 for his Silk Road Band. He and his band have been trying to integrate music from different ethnic groups and cultural backgrounds since 2000. The beautiful melody is intoxicating. What also attracts people's attention is the piano in his hand. It is not only priceless, but also legendary. .

Pictures

Dupré and Davidoff.

The first condition for a famous violin is that it is used by famous players. This cello is the favorite of three generations of top famous players.

It once belonged to Du Pré, a famous cellist in the 20th century. The name of the violin is "Davidoff", which is named after the famous cellist Karl Davidoff in the 19th century. It has been around for 300 years.

The second condition for a famous piano is to be made by a famous teacher and famous materials.

In 1712, the famous Florentine violin maker Stradivari selected the best spruce and maple to complete this cello, which was perfect in terms of size, shape and craftsmanship.

Twenty-five years later, when the Austrian army occupied Florence, the cello disappeared and has been among the people for hundreds of years.

In 1817, Count Vychowski, the founder of the St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music in Russia, bought the piano. On his 70th birthday, he felt that his life was short, so he gave this piano to Karl Davidoff, who was still unknown at the time.

That year, the 21-year-old cello master Karl Davidoff was hired as a professor at the St. Petersburg Music School.

Karl Davidoff was called the "Cello Czar" by Tchaikovsky. The "Cello Textbook" he published is still an internationally renowned textbook on cello theory and practice. At the age of fifty, he unexpectedly fell ill while playing Beethoven's sonatas, and then died.

After that, the piano was named "Davidoff" and was auctioned. After several twists and turns, it ended up in the hands of an American collector.

In the 1960s, British cellist Du Pré was a star. The collector of "Davidoff" personally took the piano and flew to London. Dupree was very satisfied after trying it out. Du Pré's godmother bought the piano and gave it to Du Pré. Du Pré started her music legend with "Davidoff".

There is a movie about the cellist Du Pré called "She's Lonelier than Fireworks."

Dupré plays "Venetian Barcarolle".

The pinnacle of Dupre’s performance is Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E major. I think she played this work unrivaled.

In 1968, at the peak of his playing career, Dupree fell ill and ended his playing career.

In the 1980s, Du Pré and his wife met Yo-Yo Ma, who had just become a professional performer. Du Pré lent the "Davidoff" to Yo-Yo Ma. After Yo-Yo Ma adjusted it, the timbre of the "Davidoff" gradually developed. At the proper level, the famous piano that had been sleeping for a long time was awakened.

Yo-Yo Ma performs "The Death of the Swan".

The third condition for a famous piano is its age and appropriate moisture content.

Most stringed instruments are made of wood. The stability of the sound of the instrument and the propagation of the sound depend on the moisture content of its wood. As the age changes, the moisture content is just right, and the silver color reaches the best. The moisture content of the violin should be constant. If it is too dry, it will deform and crack. Therefore, when the water evaporates to a certain extent, the violin must be humidified. Beijing musical instrument stores have musical instrument humidification services.

With the passage of time, the internal structure of the instrument is actually different from the structure just before leaving the factory. After the water in the instrument evaporates, the instrument will become lighter, and the fibers inside the instrument will become more stable, resulting in a more stable sound path.

In 1987, Dupree passed away at the age of 42. "Davidov" is once again put on the auction market.

Yo-Yo Ma could have enjoyed the right to purchase at a preferential price, but he was financially unable to afford it at the time. A philanthropist bought the piano and gave it to Yo-Yo Ma.

In 1998, Yo-Yo Ma started his "Silk Road Music Journey" with "Davidoff".

His comment on the "Davidoff" is: "It is the best instrument I have ever played. I really believe that this piano has a soul.

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