Death Knell for Legendary Prestige
Humankind, imperfect itself, is always searching to attain perfection. Certainly not in human nature and practise, since that is manifestly not possible. The perfection of performance, of manufacture, of design, art and music, of scientific understanding all those possibilities intrigue us.Those who can claim having achieved that perfection for the delectation of the few who can afford to take advantage of them, attain a very special status; social prestige. To own something as rare as a Stradivarius violin, viola, cello or bass, is affirmation of one's ability as a musician, itself a rarity. A musical instrument of clarity, beauty and precision, in design, workmanship and sound quality.
Combine a rare musical talent with such an instrument and one reaches sublime limits of human achievement. Such wonderful musical instruments are, understandably, in short supply, and much is made of them.
Horrors! What unfair advantage do we confer on those to whom we kindly agree to demonstrate ancient method and secretively privileged ways? Such musical instrument makers call themselves luthiers, and they have generously and in such good spirit taken into their hallowed shops novices whom they have carefully trained in Cremona, home of superb lutherie.
Alas, now Chinese-produced musical instruments have usurped the first-place standing of traditional Italian craftsmen. Zhu Ming-Jiang of Beijing last year won the gold medal at the Violin Society of America awards. Silver went to another Chinese contestant, and four of the 12 competitors given certificates of merit were also Chinese. Indeed, it would seem that Chinese luthiers have dominated the event since 2004.
For perspective: since Antonio Stradivari perfected the modern version of the violin more than 300 years ago in Cremona, it has been the epicentre of violin-making ever since. An instrument produced in Cremona is the ultimate status symbol for a musician, affirmation of unparalleled status.
Yet now, in Xiqiao, a town in southeast China, more than 40 companies are now turning out inexpensive violins. One company alone produced 300,000 violins, violas, cellos and basses last year. By law, in Italy, a luthier is permitted to craft only fifteen instruments annually and it becomes incumbent upon him to prove he has not exceeded that limit.
Despite those low production numbers Italian luthiers thrived financially, since they could demand up to $30,000 for a violin, more for a cello. Those of Chinese manufacture? Cheap, albeit an excellent product. The cachet may not be exactly the same, but there's no contest when it comes to quality and price.
Italian luthiers admit they cannot come close to the Chinese price, and they're facing a real downturn in the demand for their craft. The quality, they insist, is better for those made in Italy. "There are good violin-makers in China, whom we taught in Cremona, but when they leave Italy, they lose a bit of the Italian taste."
And there you have it. Italian taste or Chinese, take your pick. "The varnish, the sound, the wood is all particular to this city."
Labels: Particularities/Peculiarities
posted by Pieface @ Monday, March 05, 2007
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