The GrowlersWorld Violin Concertos - 4th Movement

INDEX

A late starter learning to play the violin, here are the inspirations for the journey...

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See also Growler's Violin - The Preludes , GrowlersWorld Symphony No.1 - Violin Links

and GrowlersWorld Philharmonic Orchestra - Classical Music Links

Earlier I spoke about how no two violinists play the same way.

I mentioned Hilary Hahn playing Paganini's Caprice No.24.

Well here is legendary maestro Jascha Heifetz playing the same tune. It does sound a little different in places and the way he moves the bow is individual too.

I actually prefer his version.

All great violinists make a clean sound when playing. No scratching or squeaking beginner noises can be heard.

A clean sound is something I'm trying to perfect and, following my teachers advice, more practise is required.

This clean sound is something I like to call the voice of the violin. I want my violin's voice to sing sweetly.

Anyway, here's Heifetz doing his thing.

Enjoy.

Something I've noticed is that no two violinists play a tune in the same way.

Everyone has their own style.

Their own way of expressing themselves. The way they hold the bow, how much pressure they put on the strings and other things.

Here's an example. This is Hilary Hahn playing Paganini's Caprice No.24. She's an excellent performer.

Have a listen then wait for another violinist playing the same tune to come later.

Enjoy.

Went to see violinist Nicola Benedetti perform live in concert at the Royal Festival Hall, South Bank Centre with a couple of friends.

What amazing skill she has!

Her cadenzas (fast solo pieces) were pure magic to witness.

Watching the best violinists is a great way to study technique.

Accompanied by the Philharmonia Orchestra and conductor Hugh Wolff, I and the audience soaked in the incredible performance.

She played Sibelius's Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47 which was the middle part of a total of three pieces played that evening.

We sat in the choir seats and had a good behind view looking down on the performers.

And to top it all, when we were leaving, leaflets were handed out announcing that Sarah Chang will be playing there on the 8th May!

She's only my favourite violinist, though I've only seen her on YouTube.

Friday can't come soon enough!

The song What is a Youth by Nino Rota from the 1968 film Romeo and Juliet by Franco Zefferelli is one of my favourite pieces and is very easy on the ears.

If I can learn to play this on the violin one day then, wow, that would be cool.

Here's a rendition by violinist Andre Rieu. It would be nice to see a whole solo performance of this tune focusing only on the violinist rather than the style you see here but it's still good to see it being played at all.

Sit back and enjoy.

Enjoyed my first day back for the summer term of the East London Late Starters Orchestra.

We have three pieces to learn so far.

A blues tune, a jazz tune and the classic Serenade by Franz Schubert.

Feeling more comfortable with playing and starting to get the hang of sight reading music.

I performed Edelweiss informally in front of one of the violin teachers to get some constructive criticism.

Felt a bit nervous but kept it composed and got some good feedback.

I'll be making and showing you videos of my informal violin performances so you can track my progress from complete beginner to, well, something better.

The practise continues!

Sarah Chang is another of my top five favourite violinists.

I'm in awe every time I watch her play.

The sound produced is quite magical at times and is hypnotic in it's beauty.

This is her playing Massenet - Meditation from Thais.

Enjoy.

This violinist is the late Nathan Milstein performing Bach BWV 1004 Chaconne (or Bach's Chaconne).

I like how he had a clear love for playing the violin which I only discovered recently through documentaries and YouTube.

Enjoy this maestro at his very best.

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