It has to be small and light

When violist Ursula Sarnthein is travelling with her baroque violin, you can't miss her: Because she transports the instrument in a "crocodile case", as she calls it, a grass-green beauty. Violin cases have always been important to her, she explains: "As a child, I was looking for a way to hang the case over my shoulder with an old belt instead of carrying it in my hand so that I was less conspicuous in the village." Later, during her studies, it had to be a square case, which looked more professional than a moulded one. And to this day, she always carries photos of her loved ones alongside her instruments.

Over the years, however, she has become more pragmatic - like most of her orchestra colleagues. Everyone agrees that the cases have to be small and light. The colour, on the other hand, is more of a minor matter; apart from the green exception and one discreet dark red case, you see black, white, instrument cases and perhaps the occasional metallised one. And photos? "Once upon a time, but not anymore," is the most common answer to the question.

As personal as the relationship to one's own instrument is, the relationship to the cases seems to be just as matter-of-fact. But there are still stories to tell. Violinist Isabel Neligan, for example, was given the perfect case by her husband: one that is positioned so low on her back that she can ride her bike without it colliding with her helmet. Violinist Alican Süner, on the other hand, relies on a double case because he is often travelling with two instruments. And his colleague Marc Luisoni raves about his son's old and wonderfully light case, who one day no longer wanted to play the violin. Now, however, he does want to play again, which his father comments with mixed feelings, at least ironically: "Now we have to discuss who gets the box!"

If he has to buy a new one, he is spoilt for choice. The cheapest ones made of hard foam are available for 25 francs, while a handmade one made of six-layer wood laminate with a monolithic shock-absorbing system costs around seventy times as much. In between, there are violin cases in every price range, with or without floating bearings, a rotating bow holder, a water-repellent cover and all kinds of other features.

And the development continues, not only for string instruments. Solo trombonist David Bruchez-Lalli, for example, talks about new trombone cases that have been developed because the bell of some instruments can now be unscrewed. This allows them to be packed more compactly, "the cases look like viola cases". He himself still has a traditional case, large but used to the last square centimetre. With the best will in the world, there wouldn't be room for photos.

We use deepL.com for our translations into English.