Son has been listening to various violinists, and has picked German Christian Tetzlaff as his current "violin hero".

He says he likes the depth of tone. I'm not too sure just what he means by that, but never mind.

I've been curious to note really quite big differences in product reviews from US and Europe "consumers" - I'm beginning to think that when people say they want "fire" or "passion" in playing, they are talking about specific things such as a very hard attack in articulating beginnings of phrases, and using heavy bow pressure (choosing power rather than sweetness at times) rather often.

And then I see violinists who seem to me to have a beautiful clarity and evenness of tone reviled for lack of "fire". The dynamics are there, but it's not on/off switch high contrast stuff.

But what do I know?!

Is this high-contrast dynamics "shredding" the current trend? Or is it just that one or two high-profile people play that way (or even just that audiences think it would be good if they did!)?

Or are there really clear differences in taste on both sides of the Atlantic than the other? Would anybody like to stick their neck out and say that they think that this violinist is at the top of the "fiery passion" game, and that violinist is at the top of the "elegance" game?

Whatever Oistrakh used to do to get his sound ... that is the way to play!!

If it has anything to do with the instrument used, interestingly Tetzlaff is one of a minority who use a new modern instrument (Peter Greiner) and a carbon fibre bow. This combination seems to work very well for him.

Although I agree that there are trends in American styles of playing which are different from European counterparts - the former preferring a much darker tone colouring - no two people will sound the same, even when playing exactly the same instrument.

Every player is unique and every player has their own sound, even when they try to copy another player. Your physique is the biggest contributor to your sound.

As to who makes the ideal sound on a particular instrument, well that's a purely personal thing. As listeners we are also all individuals with our own preferences, likes and dislikes.

Quite frankly I can't stand Mutter's recordings of the Bach violin concerti. The vibrato is excessive and doesn't vary in width or intensity throughout any of the slow movements. Her Brahms playing however, is out of this world. Some will agree with me, plenty won't.

Correct about the Greiner, but he doesn't generally use a CF bow (not to say he doesn't own one, of course).