Dvorak: American Quartet 1st mvmt: Strathcona String Quartet

[DragonNoirification]

I like the upbeat tempo...in parts. There are some places in the piece that are just begging to be stretched out as a rubato, but I feel that they just blew right past those spots. I also agree that the first violin dominated the sound. Overall, though, I did enjoy the performance.

[fiddlinmatt]

I don't like to bash anyone's preferences. I also don't think that Carbon fiber instruments are necessarily better than wood instruments, or that they are "superior" in some way. I own a violin made by luis and clark, and the sound, playability, everything about it is far better than my other violin which was wood. It was a student model though. However, I have met numerous professional musicians, some of extremely high caliber who love it and would play it anywhere and sound awesome..

[beethomozart]

Anton Dvorâk composed this famous quartet at Spilville, Iowa, USA, where he entered in touch with a conmunity of inmigrants from his homeland Czech republic.

[Nachtmusik02]

Whoa... there's no balance in the quartet. I think the 1st violinist is stealing the show. I feel that it's important to hear everyone's parts. That is why quartet music is so unique because the group isn't whole without everyone.

The best Dvorak performance, I think, so far is by the Emerson String Quartet. Beautiful balance and they are in tuned with each other.

[forestofmagic]

I'm playing this with a few friends.

I believe this is one of the best performances on YouTube. If you find one better, I'd love to get input. :)

[blondiecoco]

this is one of my favourite string quartet pieces ever. my fave is definately Borodin No.2. This is lovely, though there are a few intonation slips but on the whole very good!

[galgorthion]

The first violinist sounds great and all but there are quite a few rhythmic mistakes.

[Paladine777]

Too fast, too fast, too fast! Oh my God! O_o

"Allegro ma non troppo".

[Mecinimi]

The first violin took a little to much of the the spot light. Or the others didn't play loud enough. Anyway.. I didn't like how the cello sounded at all. There was a lot of intonation problems, but it was fairly good overall.

[95thRiflesOCI]

where's the carbon fiber instrument??? or is it the bow lol.

[ETSUdrummer1]

amazing

[maddysav]

Yeah, wood's better. Whoever thinks otherwise should eat their own poo.

[edeikuliu]

i like the wood better its more of a traditional thing and i think wood is a natural and sometimes i just don't think carbon fiber could catch up b/c wood can be in many density but yet so fragile

[Hal243Music]

I agree, though nothing is wrong with carbon fiber, I remarkable cello (or string instrument in general ) is one that has been crafted by the hand with wood, and old. Though carbon fiber is good you cannot replace a hand crafted wooden instrument(especially ones that have survived for many years)

[thinker93]

y'know, everyone says that the carbon fiber cellos are so affordable, and are amazing and better than wood instruments, but think for a second: for more than 300 years people have been perfecting the art of wooden instrument making, then this guy comes along and in what, 20, 25 makes a cello which he thinks can rival a wooden one. I dont buy it

[arrowheadglasses]

I bet you think sleeping on hay is better than memory foam too. You're a joke.

[forestofmagic]

I have to agree. Wood did take a very long time to master, and carbon fiber didn't take nearly as long. I think I'll stick with wood, thanks.

[celticagent]

The tempo is perfect. Intonation is quite bad in some places. I love the carbon fiber cello

[8kathleen8]

carbon fiber cellos are apparently really great. They're easier to play and sould awesome for the price.

[Amhantar]

As good as the musicians might be, I just don't think that cello are meant to be made in anything else than wood... definitely a loss!

[YouveStolenMyEyes]

That view is archaic. The proof is in the listening. Not everybody is lucky enough to afford fifty thousand dollar instruments...

[Amhantar]

Maybe so... but I still think that these carbon fiber cellos have as good a sound quality as wooden ones. They're definitely lacking a soul.

As for the price, I suppose that carbon fiber is an interesting option for beginners, as a tool to learn but it can only be a first step for anyone serious about playing the cello.

[YouveStolenMyEyes]

The cello doesn't have a soul, it's a piece of wood. It's a tool for expression wielded by the player. A cello suitable for an advanced player can only be judged on the sound it produces and the ease of playing, not on what it looks like.

Yes, I would prefer a fifty thousand dollar instrument to a carbon fiber cello so I could have aesthetic beauty as well as a great sound, but what the cello looks like is at the end of the day, completely irrelevant.

[Amhantar]

When did I ever say anything about how the cello looks? Please do not twist my words!

And if you really do think that cellos (or musical instruments for that matter) don't have a soul then I really don't know what kind of a cellist you are... I find this very sad for you.

[thearsonette]

i am sorry if i may have twisted your words, but what reason do you have - other than what the instrument looks like - for saying that this cello lacks a soul? Why in your opinion does wood have a "soul" yet carbon fiber does not? They are both just materials for building.

I am not religious, perhaps you are, so i do not believe that anything has a soul. A cello least of all.

i think we should agree to disagree, i respect your view.

and i'm a very good cellist, don't worry. =]

[Amhantar]

It does indeed seem quite unlikely that we shall ever agree on the matter. Maybe, it's just a European point of view. I suppose that our relationship with History/"noble" materials is different to what it is in a relatively new country like yours.

I am not particularly religious no.. What I call the soul is this mysterious "thing" which makes you "vibrate" inside, something which brings the instrument to life and therefore differenciate it from a hammer or any other "tool" as you consider it. :)

[mrn93]

there does happen to be a very good use for these instruments, teaching. A fifty thousand dollar instrument does not fair well when picked up and set down five or six time every time one teaches a lesson. And finally they make great practice instruments, again to avoid undo wear and tear on your 50 thousand dollar cello

[Amhantar]

As I said in a previous message: "As for the price, I suppose that carbon fiber is an interesting option for beginners, as a tool to learn but it can only be a first step for anyone serious about playing the cello."

[mrn93]

and i clearly said that it makes and excellent tool for a cellist of any caliber

[kelda123123]

I have two violins, and very good Italian 1700's from Milan, and a slightly newer, German violin. I find that if I don't play one for a while, I need to play it in again before I can get the tone back (not just getting used to the instrument again, actually getting the tone 'back'). Of course, there always little things to fix up with string instruments, but in general, I think that the more use an instrument gets, the better is. Not the other way around.

Nice playing though!

[mrn93]

Yes that is very true but, the amount of playing needed to keep an instrument 'played in' is far less that a professional needs to practice. so other than playing it a couple day before a concert to get used to it again one only needs to play it about 20 or so minutes a day

[erikvisserart]

The cellist Josephine van Lier just recorded a new CD: Bach Cello Suites on 4 different instruments. A "normal" cello, a carbon fibre cello, a baroque cello and a violoncello piccolo.

There are many good comparisons on her YouTube channel (140 videos). Just search for "Josephine van Lier"

[viola989]

sorry but i like the version of this young quartet much more. there are several intonation problems and it sounds very hounded.

[leitfie3579]

Enjoyable, though the acoustic is very resonant and tuning is not always spot on.

[ulyssesjj]

A carbon fiber instrument still riles the purist in me..

[cello58ff]

to fast slow it dwon

[fluticious]

oh cool!

[Celloed5]

this is a good tempo for this piece

[AlinePascutti]

I think they are great! Although maybe a little too fast, as you said ...

[Aarorose]

really fast...maybe too fast?