Olen viiulimängija ja töötanud sellises toredas ja loomingulises kollektiivis nagu ERSO lugematu arv aastaid. Mängin ka täna 1. viiulite rühmas.

Mind on peale viiulimängu  alati  huvitanud viiulid kui sellised, kui omaette kunstiteosed. Kunagi nõukogude aja lõpus, kui Eestis ei olnud saada normaalseid viiulikeeli, õppisin neid Moskva Suure Teatri töökodades valmistama ja sel ajal olid need päris head ja kvaliteetsed keeled.

Esimese oma viiuli ostsin 7. klassis. Läksin pilli proovima ajalehekuulutuse peale ja nii ma selle leidsingi. Aja jooksul oli muidugi vaja järjest paremat pilli ja nende otsimine ja proovimine osutus väga huvitavaks tegevuseks.

Oma praeguse viiuli ostsin Londonist ja seal pille proovides tekkis omamoodi hasart, kuna valik oli suur ja otsustamine polnud seetõttu lihtne. Koju jõudes ei läinud kuidagi meelest veel üks viiul, mis Londonist küll kalli hinna tõttu ostmata jäi, kuid mis oli vägagi hea. Kuu aja pärast lendasin sellele järele. Samas kahte viiulit nagu ka ühel mängijal otseselt vaja ei lähe ja nii leidis üks viiulitest endale uue õnneliku omaniku.

Edaspidi reisides ei jäta ma naljalt ühtki head pillimeistrit külastamata, et viiuleid proovida ja tänaseks on paljud interpreedid ja üliõpilased minu abil endale sobiva pilli leidnud.

Olles proovinud sadu erinevaid viiuleid on paradoksaalne see, et odavam pill võib vahel kõlada paremini kui tunduvalt kallim. Samas on kahtlemata uhke olla ka kalli ja tuntud meistri pilli omanik.

Igal eluetapil tuleks leida just sinule sobivaim pill, olenevalt sellest, kas oled alles õpilane, tudeng või juba professionaal. Tähtis on, et kehv pill ei takistaks õpilase arengut ja et professionaal leiaks viiuli just enda soovi ja maitse järgi.

Kohtumiseni,

Tõnis Pajupuu

 

Greetings!

I am a violinist and orchestral musician, having for many years worked with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra where I am currently a member of the Principal violin section. During this time I have also been very interested in violins as works of art in themselves.

Before the collapse of the Soviet empire, when it was difficult, for example in my hometown of Tallinn to obtain strings, I would learn this craft in Moscow, whereby I was soon making my own quality violin strings. I purchased my very first violin through a newspaper advertisement at the age of seven. As my studies progressed so did my need to look for better quality instruments which altogether proved to be an exceedingly interesting pastime.

The violin I am playing at present was purchased in London. I felt considerable pressure during this decision-making process because there were too many good instruments from which to make a choice. After I returned home to Tallinn my mind was filled with the thoughts of one particular instrument which seemed to me to have the ideal balance between purchase price and quality. After a short period of further consideration I returned to London to buy this same violin and since then the other violin I originally bought in London has now found a new owner.

These days it is unusual for me not to visit a foreign city and search out a local violin maker, with whom I have established contact and through whom I have been able to help both colleagues and students to find instruments worthy of their gifts and talents. Of the hundreds of instruments I have had the privilege of playing over many years, I have often been surprised at the high quality of medium-range instruments compared with others of a significantly higher price tag and supposed tone quality. At the same time there is no doubt about the privilege one feels in possessing an old violin with a respectable history. However, what I would like to emphasize at this point is the absolute necessity of owning an instrument which serves ones needs in accordance with ones level of musicianship (whether it be amateur or professional) and ones learned playing ability.

What I would really like to emphasize to everyone is this; as one progresses through the various stages towards advanced performance and technique of violin playing, this progress should not be retarded due to playing on a poor quality instrument. Likewise, there is no point in playing an instrument of a quality above and beyond ones own level of natural ability.

In conclusion, I would like to say that I am available as a violin consultant, and I look forward to any questions from anyone interested in wanting to buy or to sell a violin.

Sincerely,

Tõnis Pajupuu