May 2009
May 27, 2009 23:17
My repertoire is primarily orchestral/chamber orchestra, but I do keep a solo repertoire going. Some of them require aggressive bow usage, not to mention my already-aggressive playing at certain times. There are just so many strings and possible combinations... it's like doing a chemistry experiment (or physics?)! I started out on Tonicas, then onto Dominants, and then eventually removed the E (as I got smarter >_>) with a Gold Label. Then I started experimenting...
I have never found an A string I liked. A lot of the synthetic A's are way too brash and/or bright/metallic and/or nasal on my main violin. The only synthetics I've ever liked are Dominants... Oh, and steel As haven't been any better, of course. My teacher recommends gut strings, so my search begins one more time.
She recommends Olives. Unfortunately, my parents aren't wiling to shell out ~US$100 for a set of Olives, so I'm looking for alternatives/different setups. In any case, no more synthetics for me... and I'll be sticking to my favorite E string: Gold Label E. But now to find a suitable GDA...
To start me off, I asked my luthier for good, reliable gut-combos with the E in mind. He kindly recommended me the following two setups in no particular order:
1. Olive GD, Euxoda A, GL E
2. Eudoxa GDA, GL E
So I'm curious about these setups that were suggested to me (Eudoxa rigid or brilliant--what's the difference? What would suit my style of playing better?). I'm also extremely curious about the Plain Gut A/D, especially because Heifetz once used them, and the reviews on this website are on the most part, enthusiastic. Anyone care to lecture me about suitable gauges for the rest of the suggested sets...? I like to keep it consistent around the medium-gauge range. (By the way, what are the gauge-readings for Olive for medium?)
Replies are received with my warmest thanks! :)
EDIT: Wow Goldbrokat broke within 10 minutes on a Bach.
UPDATE: After a long, steady experiment, I am now playing on Dominants and Gold Label e.
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May 14, 2009 16:41
Hello, this is my first time posting a blog on this website, but after I read fellow v.commer William Wolcott's blog about "surrounding yourself with those who empower you" (thank you William) I had to vent, somehow.
I grew up in a nonmusical family... a family that doesn't care about classical music. My sister played piano but she quit after she had to attend to her studies. Ultimately, she grew to hate the piano. I, on the other hand, started violin when I was just before 5th grade, and I had lots of trouble to get to love the violin. I had found out that my parents were obliged to make me learn an instrument since in that school, in 5th grade you were required to learn an instrument. This didn't help matters. Of course, this was most of my wrongdoing--the days without practice and the unsatisfaction I got from playing my instrument. My gaming habits and lack of work ethic...
It was not until a couple years later did I start maturing and began to appreciate classical music. But most importantly, I found out that it was such a privilege that I had the opportunity to own and play a violin when so many hidden prodigies could not. I felt guilty that I didn't work as hard back then, so I really stepped up. I quit gaming. I began to practice every day and eventually grew to like classical music more than any other music... Beethoven, Dvorak, and Saint-saens dominated my life and then I had to slip somewhere. One day my progress report showed up with declining grades. My parents naturally pointed the blame on my new interest: music.
Here is where the real difficulty comes into play. Ever since I was small I've always wanted to become a doctor--a contributor to society. I genuinely have always wanted to help people, and that ambition I still keep in mind. Ever since that report card, I have worked so hard to balance my academic and musical career so that both continued to progress. And evidently, I have really improved. But no matter how hard I try, my parents think I'm being interrupted in my studies! Every time I pick up my violin to practice or listen to a Mendelssohn symphony, my parents literally hawk me. I get reminders every day that I cannot forget my studies, that I spend too much time to and fro music, and especially that I don't have my priorities straight. They constantly remind me that the violin I was given is a luxury and that those 2-year-old (not joking) Dominant strings are still able to be used. (I agree to the latter in terms of being able to produce sound, but there is a limit, I think, to how frugal you can be--especially when we are decently well off and just being rational!) I quit all my other "waste-of-time" interests and invested all my free time in a musical passion... yet I am constantly discouraged. Nowadays, every time I pick up my violin at home... I feel shy. After performances... the only compliments I get are from my peers and their acquaintances.
How in the world do I convey my passion to my parents? I tell them every day that "I know." But this isn't a lame excuse many teenagers use to get out of a situation. I really, really know! From the bottom of my heart, I love my parents and I extremely appreciate the opportunity they have given me, but must they reduce me to what I feel now?
I think I seem to be coming off as just any teenager wishing for their parents to understand. In reality, I agree teenagers are just not experienced enough. But I do realize that my parents want me to have a secure, happy future. I know they want the best for me. I do realize that the opportunity to play music is a luxury. But sometimes I wish they could see that I really have been working hard to attain a bright future... but also working for a simple reward of being able to enjoy what we all love here: music.
Are there any others out there who are/were in a similar situation? Or if anyone wants to give some feedback... all of these are greatly appreciated.
(I just saw the public-posting option and switched it on 'Yes.' Whoops! Well needless to say, thank you very much to all those who sent me messages so kindly!)
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