Comments on: Strings http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/04/22/strings Web Development, Classical Music, Kitties, and whatever else I feel like Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:01:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5 by: Hass http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/04/22/strings#comment-98 Thu, 22 Apr 2004 17:08:47 -0700 http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/04/22/strings#comment-98 I think that string choices sound much more drastic under your ear than they do to the listener. Nevertheless (funny word, that), you have to listen to it more than anyone else! The problem with experimenting is they've gotten so damn expensive, it's why I gave up using the Pirastro Eudoxa gut strings (they use sheep gut, not cat, Yoyo will approve), the Dominants last way longer, though they take a week to break in right. I rarely mixed different brand A's, I think that's how you get the most uneven sound of all! You didn't mention different gauge strings, don't the Doms come in medium, heavy, light? I'd mess with that for the A string first...my 2 cents. I think that string choices sound much more drastic under your ear than they do to the listener. Nevertheless (funny word, that), you have to listen to it more than anyone else! The problem with experimenting is they’ve gotten so damn expensive, it’s why I gave up using the Pirastro Eudoxa gut strings (they use sheep gut, not cat, Yoyo will approve), the Dominants last way longer, though they take a week to break in right.

I rarely mixed different brand A’s, I think that’s how you get the most uneven sound of all!
You didn’t mention different gauge strings, don’t the Doms come in medium, heavy, light? I’d mess with that for the A string first…my 2 cents.

]]> by: Jennifer Grucza http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/04/22/strings#comment-99 Thu, 22 Apr 2004 17:25:22 -0700 http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/04/22/strings#comment-99 Well, I used Dominant A's when I was younger, but they sounded too weak or flabby on my viola, I think. I was using a Jargar D in addition to a Jargar A for a while. What I really need is a new viola! And a new bow! Those would make the biggest difference. Though that's even more expensive than experimenting with strings. :) I haven't really experimented with different gauges before - I've just sort of stuck to medium. Though actually now that I think of it, I did try a lighter/softer gauge of Jargar D and A at one point. I don't remember if it made much difference. I think probably medium for Dominants is best anyway. I imagine I'd overpower the light strings trying to get enough power out of them (ending up with crunching and growling noises), and that it would take way to much effort to get a good response from the heavy gauge (my viola isn't that responsive to begin with). Oh wait, now I also remember trying a heavier gauge for Dominant G and C, too. It just ended up sounding very fuzzy. Well, I used Dominant A’s when I was younger, but they sounded too weak or flabby on my viola, I think. I was using a Jargar D in addition to a Jargar A for a while.

What I really need is a new viola! And a new bow! Those would make the biggest difference. Though that’s even more expensive than experimenting with strings. :)

I haven’t really experimented with different gauges before - I’ve just sort of stuck to medium. Though actually now that I think of it, I did try a lighter/softer gauge of Jargar D and A at one point. I don’t remember if it made much difference.

I think probably medium for Dominants is best anyway. I imagine I’d overpower the light strings trying to get enough power out of them (ending up with crunching and growling noises), and that it would take way to much effort to get a good response from the heavy gauge (my viola isn’t that responsive to begin with).

Oh wait, now I also remember trying a heavier gauge for Dominant G and C, too. It just ended up sounding very fuzzy.

]]> by: Eric http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/04/22/strings#comment-100 Fri, 23 Apr 2004 10:47:58 -0700 http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/04/22/strings#comment-100 Good luck with the Mendelssohn! My wife just played that with other members of the Western New York Chamber Orchestra a month ago...it's a tough piece! It didn't help that they brought in another concertmaster because the regular guy couldn't do the concert. The new guy was from Juilliard, but he had serious timing problems and really wasn't that great, in my opinion. He had never played the piece before, and it was sort of on the edge of falling apart the entire concert. My wife loves Obligato's for the violin... interesting that you find Dominants to be better for viola. Have fun with the concert - it looks like a good program. Good luck with the Mendelssohn! My wife just played that with other members of the Western New York Chamber Orchestra a month ago…it’s a tough piece! It didn’t help that they brought in another concertmaster because the regular guy couldn’t do the concert. The new guy was from Juilliard, but he had serious timing problems and really wasn’t that great, in my opinion. He had never played the piece before, and it was sort of on the edge of falling apart the entire concert.

My wife loves Obligato’s for the violin… interesting that you find Dominants to be better for viola.

Have fun with the concert - it looks like a good program.

]]> by: Jennifer Grucza http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/04/22/strings#comment-101 Fri, 23 Apr 2004 14:09:50 -0700 http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/04/22/strings#comment-101 Thanks Eric! It is a really hard piece--there are so many people it makes it harder to hear and see everyone. And that third movement has to be so light and precise! I think it's inevitable that it's going to sound messy (we are, after all, just amateurs--with the exception of Marcus). Too bad your wife's group got stuck with a less-than-stellar first violinist. It's kind of surprising he had never played the Mendelssohn before--it's such a popular piece. It seems like I sightread it for fun at least once every two or three years. But I guess conservatories aren't really known for concentrating on chamber music, which is quite a shame. I found the Obligatos to be relatively similar to the Dominants and my preference for the latter is not huge. But Dominants are cheaper, which makes me prefer them even more. Thanks Eric! It is a really hard piece–there are so many people it makes it harder to hear and see everyone. And that third movement has to be so light and precise! I think it’s inevitable that it’s going to sound messy (we are, after all, just amateurs–with the exception of Marcus).

Too bad your wife’s group got stuck with a less-than-stellar first violinist. It’s kind of surprising he had never played the Mendelssohn before–it’s such a popular piece. It seems like I sightread it for fun at least once every two or three years. But I guess conservatories aren’t really known for concentrating on chamber music, which is quite a shame.

I found the Obligatos to be relatively similar to the Dominants and my preference for the latter is not huge. But Dominants are cheaper, which makes me prefer them even more.

]]> by: Mom http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/04/22/strings#comment-103 Fri, 23 Apr 2004 20:30:56 -0700 http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/04/22/strings#comment-103 You don't want suggestions from parents?!?! Being the person who found your viola for you in the first place, I should think my opinion would count! (My opinion is that you have always questioned your strings too closely to concerts and ended up not having enough time to get the new ones played-in before the concert and then complained about them going out of tune.} I am sorry that we couldn't afford the better viola that the dealer had way back then--who know what might have happened? . . . . Hass, Meghan's (Jennifer's younger sister and roommate} violin has always REQUIRED a different e string for an even sound. And we have always used mixed strings on Jordan's {little brother} cello. Of course, neither vioin nor cello produce sound in their cases. (Hint, hint, to Meghan and Jordan.} You don’t want suggestions from parents?!?! Being the person who found your viola for you in the first place, I should think my opinion would count! (My opinion is that you have always questioned your strings too closely to concerts and ended up not having enough time to get the new ones played-in before the concert and then complained about them going out of tune.} I am sorry that we couldn’t afford the better viola that the dealer had way back then–who know what might have happened? . . . . Hass, Meghan’s (Jennifer’s younger sister and roommate} violin has always REQUIRED a different e string for an even sound. And we have always used mixed strings on Jordan’s {little brother} cello. Of course, neither vioin nor cello produce sound in their cases. (Hint, hint, to Meghan and Jordan.}

]]> by: Hass http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/04/22/strings#comment-104 Sat, 24 Apr 2004 10:31:25 -0700 http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/04/22/strings#comment-104 Ouch, Mom get's snubbed! Kids today have no gratitude! ;) Break a leg tonight Jennifer. Ouch, Mom get’s snubbed! Kids today have no gratitude! ;) Break a leg tonight Jennifer.

]]> by: Hass http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/04/22/strings#comment-105 Mon, 26 Apr 2004 10:58:21 -0700 http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/04/22/strings#comment-105 Hey, how did it go? Smooth sailing? Crash and burn? You don't remember 'cause the after-party was so crazy? Hey, how did it go? Smooth sailing? Crash and burn? You don’t remember ‘cause the after-party was so crazy?

]]> by: Jennifer Grucza http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/04/22/strings#comment-106 Tue, 27 Apr 2004 00:57:09 -0700 http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/04/22/strings#comment-106 Well, Mom, I didn't think you could really come up with any new brands of strings I hadn't tried before or anything, which is why I didn't include you - sorry! (Sheesh silly Mom.) Anyway, I got the strings plenty broken in for the concert. They did not go out of tune. And I'm not complaining about you buying my viola then--it's just about time I got a new one for myself! After all, the viola was better than I was when we got it. :) And I don't think Meghan ever reads this anyway, but she has played once or twice recently. Too bad she won't let me play with it--violins are fun, like little toy violas. Well, Mom, I didn’t think you could really come up with any new brands of strings I hadn’t tried before or anything, which is why I didn’t include you - sorry! (Sheesh silly Mom.) Anyway, I got the strings plenty broken in for the concert. They did not go out of tune.

And I’m not complaining about you buying my viola then–it’s just about time I got a new one for myself! After all, the viola was better than I was when we got it. :)

And I don’t think Meghan ever reads this anyway, but she has played once or twice recently. Too bad she won’t let me play with it–violins are fun, like little toy violas.

]]> by: Jennifer Grucza http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/04/22/strings#comment-107 Tue, 27 Apr 2004 00:59:03 -0700 http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/04/22/strings#comment-107 Hmm, not a terribly crazy after-party, I'm afraid. Just a little reception on the stage, of all places. Cheese, veggies, fruit, the usual catered stuff. I just posted about the concert itself. Didn't go too badly. :) Hmm, not a terribly crazy after-party, I’m afraid. Just a little reception on the stage, of all places. Cheese, veggies, fruit, the usual catered stuff. I just posted about the concert itself. Didn’t go too badly. :)

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