![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/Toronto-LUthiers.jpg\")
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The Canadian Association of Violin and Bow Makers (CAVBM) presents an exhibition of contemporary violin and bow making in Toronto on Sunday, September 18, 2022. The exhibition will feature the work of 33 luthiers, and over 60 instruments. The event will be free of charge.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not only the instruments and the fascinating work of their makers that\u2019s on display.<\/p>\n
The Canadian Association of Violin and Bow Makers website<\/a> also allows string musicians to find instruments from across the country.<\/p>\n Professional musicians wax rhapsodic<\/a> about the virtues of the old Italian instruments, typically those built in the 17th and 18th centuries by the Stradivari family.<\/p>\n But, aside from the prohibitive cost of a Stradivarius or Guarneri, there may be another good reason to opt for a contemporary instrument \u2014 apparently, no one can tell the difference, including professional string players. At least, that\u2019s what recent research overwhelmingly suggests.<\/p>\n In 2014, violin maker Joseph Curtin and others conducted the now-infamous Paris Experiment<\/a>. Ten soloists were asked to assess 12 violins, and come up with their favourite. Those soloists were: Olivier Charlier, Pierre Fouchenneret, Yi-Jia Susanne Hou, Ilya Kaler, Elmar Oliveira, Tatsuki Narita, Solenne Pa\u00efdassi, Annick Roussin, Giora Schmidt, and St\u00e9phane Tran Ngoc.<\/p>\n In a blind test:<\/p>\n At the end of the experiment, the test subjects were asked to guess which was which in a 7-minute exercise. They couldn\u2019t do any better than they would have with a random guess. It follows a similar test, with similar results, at the 2012 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis.<\/p>\n A 2017 experiment<\/a> looked at audience reactions to Strads vs. contemporary Italian violins. The researchers specifically noted the often repeated idea that the old Italian instruments have an advantage over new instruments when it came to projecting sound over an orchestra. They also surveyed the audience on their preference when it came to the sound of the instruments. They tested their reactions to the violins both with and without an accompanying orchestra.<\/p>\n \u201cResults are unambiguous\u201d \u2014 as the researchers write.<\/p>\n The Toronto Makers\u2019 Forum: An exhibition of contemporary string instruments and their bows<\/strong> takes place on Saturday, September 18 from 10 a.m. until 8:30 p.m.<\/strong> at the Royal Conservatory of Music<\/strong>, Leslie & Anna Dan Galleria, Koerner Hall free of charge. More information here<\/a>.<\/p>\nBut what about the old Italian instruments…?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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