Original author/Jason Price

Translation/Murong Xin

Originally published in Tarisio magazine on May 3th

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. Born in Lexington, Virginia, USA on November 27th, 1979, he began to play the violin at the age of 4, and was a musical prodigy. He was first enlightened at Peabody Conservatory of Music in the United States, graduated from Curtis Conservatory of Music at the university, and won the Grammy Award at the age of 21. After becoming famous, she has been using a French antique violin made in the 19th century, which is called "a violinist with her feet in the 19th century but her body in the 21st century".

hilary hahn has two violins made by Vuillaume. Her first piano was a famous piano made in 1864 with a Guarneri model, which was her main musical instrument when she was 14 years old.

There is a heavyweight in the history of violin development, whose name is Jean-batiste? Jean-Baptiste Villaume (1798-1875) was a famous French piano maker and collector. Villaume has handled dozens of authentic pianos of Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesu, and he copied many pianos based on these two famous pianos.

The Guanelli model piano used in hilary hahn's youth was made by Villaume in 1864 based on the Guanelli cannon made by his friend and famous violinist Paganini. The previous owner was Samuel Lande, a Soviet violinist, and Samuel Lande was a good friend of Klara Berkovich, hilary hahn's first teacher.

After Samuel Rand's death, his family began to look for the next person who could use this piano. After listening to hilary hahn's early concerts, Rand's family decided to give Hahn this Guanelli model violin made by Villaume in 1864. This is the origin of the first famous piano that accompanied hilary hahn.

A few years ago, hilary hahn got another Stradivari model violin made by Villaume in 1865, which Hahn has been playing all the time.

Not long ago, Hahn told us the story of how this famous piano entered her life.

Hahn said, actually, I don't intend to buy another Villaume piano. It's just an idea in my mind, out of curiosity, not to replace the one I used to use.

hilary hahn said that a few years ago, when I participated in the auction preview of Sotheby's in London, the Stradivari model piano made in Villaume in 1865 was there. When I picked it up, I had a hunch that it would have something to do with me. At that time, when I looked at this piano, I felt that it looked like a failed thing, and it looked unremarkable, but I immediately knew instinctively what potential it had, and I had a great impulse to help it show its brilliance.

Hahn said, but my reason easily dispelled this impulse. This piano made in 1865 was not designed according to the way I play now. I need to test its flexibility and applicability. After I got permission, I made a fine adjustment to the piano. It was really good to play it, and my reason was rewarded, otherwise I might not have a chance to feel the piano.

But I still don't know whether this piano really suits me. The reason I like it is that it is also made by Villaume, the brother of the 1864 Guanelli model piano I am using, and it looks cooler. My name is now intertwined with Villaume, whose piano is really a great trip to play the violin. After careful consideration, I bought this Stradivari model violin made in Villaume in 1865 with sincerity.

hilary hahn said, I have been thinking hard about how to use this newly bought old piano, and the conclusion is that it can be used as my spare tire, but I haven't touched it for a long time. Then, I hurt my arm, so I didn't go to tamper with this strange piano. So, when I recovered, I played the piano again, and I still used my 1864 Guanelli model piano.

When my body completely recovered and I began to have excessive energy, I re-examined the Stradivari model violin I bought in 1865, and made a lot of adjustments and surface corrections. As a result, its performance suddenly exceeded my expectations, and I felt that all kinds of subconscious about my violin I had been carrying since I was 13 years old were freed from imprisonment.

hilary hahn said, I have two pianos made in Villaume now, and it's hard for me to compare them. I have different experiences at different stages of my life. I understand that I don't feel as natural as I used to feel when I continued to use that 1864 piano. Over the years, some things have changed, and everything has not changed in the same direction. What has changed can also be reversed, so I don't want to belittle it at all. In fact, this piano in 1864 is an excellent and powerful violin with a sweet but clear voice. But this piano in 1865 is more suitable for me now. It is more flexible to use, has a stronger voice and can respond to my subtle details quickly. I have been using it at present.

Qin is like an extension of my body. The differences between Qin and Qin may only be understood. The relationship between a performer and an instrument is as complicated as interpersonal relationship. I play this piano in 1865 with a Tubbs bow, and its sound quality will enter a more simple realm.

after reading hilary hahn's introduction, the author will explain some technical and historical issues involved.

In Paris, France in the 19th century, the upper class and the art world flocked to the oldest musical instruments produced in Italy, and musicians and gentry competed to win the great Italian masterpieces of the 17th and 18th centuries to decorate their faces. But just like now, not everyone can afford the Stradivarius or the Guanelli, so there is a craftsman industry that specializes in imitation of famous Italian pianos, and makes new high imitation pianos through accurate measurement and understanding of the original. The origin, brand, model and year of the imitation piano are listed, which is called "XXX piano model".

This is a great change for the French stringed instrument industry, but at that time, the high imitation violins produced in France, in most cases, were boring, superficial and light compared with the gorgeous original works made in northern Italy.

However, it's not entirely true. One of the violin manufacturers and distributors in Paris was Villaume, who was a big brother in the violin imitation field at that time. His studio in the first district of Paris was synonymous with the most exquisite imitation instruments.

Villaume has researched and produced more than 3, new pianos, some of which are considered brand-new, but most of them are either antique, look old or customized for specific needs.

The most frequently copied violin brands in Villaume are Messiah, Panette, Cannon, Duport, Alard and so on.

how good is Villaume's imitation ability? For example, he copied a cannon that Paganini was using for the devil violinist Paganini. After a long time of use, even Paganini couldn't figure out which one was the real one and which one was the imitation, indicating that the gap between the real one and the imitation was very small. This confused imitation piano of Paganini is Hahn's first playing piano.

The violin currently played by hilary hahn was made by Villaume in 1865. Although it is not an exact copy of the Stradivari, its original piano was "Alard Stradivari" in 1715, and the first owner was Villaume's son-in-law. It has the solid and flat arched surface of the original piano, which is why the Stradivari is so popular. At best, copies of the Stradivari model made by Villaume can sound as good as the real one, but they are more affordable in price.