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Six degrees of Simon FischerViolinists: Did you know that Simon Fischer is just two degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon?
Let's explore just how in-bred this classical world of ours is. More so, I'd argue, than even the world of movies. I'm going to argue that you can connect any two classical musicians through their teachers, orchestras, etc., probably in about four degrees! Call the game...."Six degrees of Simon Fischer." The aim of the game, as with SDOKB, is to come up with the most ridiculous connections possible. Basically I'm asking you to connect yourself with well-known musicians. Or, you can connect musicians with each other. For example: I was a student of Gerardo Ribeiro, who was a student of Ivan Galamian, who taught Dorothy DeLay, who taught... Simon Fischer! Three degrees! Or, Robert figured out a way to connect me to Paganini in one degree: My violin was played (okay for, like, a few 2-minute demonstrations) by Ruggiero Ricci, who also played the "Cannone" violin that was played by... Paganini! One degree from Paganini! Seems like if you can get to Ivan Galamian, Josef Gingold or Dorothy DeLay, you can connect with just about any violinist. How many degrees are you from ...Simon Fischer? Heifetz? Paganini? Brahms? Sting? Can you connect Gil Shaham with Led Zeppelin? And then just to really connect everything: Simon Fischer performed on "Ten Summoners Tales" with Sting. (Credit to Robert and his wicked Internet search skills for that one!)
From Eitan Silkoff
I have played the real "Red" Mendelssohn strad currently played by Elizabeth Pitcairn. Strad-Mendelssohn to all the other soloists that had that strad haha.Posted on August 14, 2008 at 11:02 PM um this is too hard From Christopher Ciampoli
My former violin teacher studied with Josef Gingold, who was the teacher of someone you're about to interview: Joshua Bell!Posted on August 14, 2008 at 11:28 PM My current teacher studied with Arnold Steinhardt (and undergrad with DeLay), and my current piano teacher studied with Jerome Lowenthal, so I'm connected to anyone who's connected to them! (She also had masterclasses with Leon Fleischer and he goes back 5 degrees to Beethoven as a pianist!) From Graham Clark
There are always hubsPosted on August 14, 2008 at 11:30 PM Let's restrict them to people rather than fiddles, eh? gc From Laurie Niles
No way! The fiddles ARE people, fool! ;)
Posted on August 14, 2008 at 11:31 PM From Graham Clark
hehehehehhehhe!Posted on August 15, 2008 at 12:43 AM Laurie, then I am connected to too many people whose names I don't know Every old school fiddle dealer had a fiddle that they wouldn't sell, but loved, and showed to every decent player who crossed the threshold. The dealer who owned my violin in that way was situated round the corner from the Colston Hall in Bristol, and was visited by all the great soloists who played there. He bought my violin in the early 60's so who knows who has played it - the roster of the violinists who played at the Colston Hall, probably. How to get to Simon Fischer???? I can get to Jascha Heifetz with one meeting on the London Underground - I met his cousin down there, more than once, and she told me, " my cousin plays fiddle". She looked like him, too. ah, I stll work sometimes with Daevid Allen, who was friendly with Jimi Hendrix, worked with William Burroughs, knew Robert Graves. They are hubs, what? Sting? Ah, well he was in a band called Strontium 90, with Mike Howlett, whom I know through playing in Gong. Charlie Parker, I connect to through Tony Scott, who stayed for a fortnight in the house I lived in, in 1986 or 7. So that's two connections to Miles Davis, through Hendrix and Parker. Now they really are hubs. My old mate Graham Massey, straight to Bjork (what kind of a hub is she?) I had a teacher for a while whose teacher was taught by Ysaye (and I have some of his bowing exercises). I bought Nigel Kennedy a Pils once at the Bulls Head in Barnes. Alec Dankworth introduced us. His sister Jacquie did somegigs with my old band as well. So through them, yo get to the Royal family via their parents. too much: there are many more! At least this makes name dropping less uncool! gc From Karen Allendoerfer
I went to high school with David Kim, who studied with Dorothy DeLay. Posted on August 15, 2008 at 01:02 AM I also studied with Larry Sonderling, who studied with Ruggiero Ricci, who played Laurie's violin that time . . . From Anthony Barletta
My teacher owns a copy of Basics written by, wait for it, Simon Fisher. 2 degrees!
Posted on August 15, 2008 at 02:33 AM From Bill Busen
Simon Fischer: Sang Beethoven #9 with Sherban Lupu as concertmaster. He was a DeLay student, so two intermediaries, unless Lupu knows Fischer, then one.Posted on August 15, 2008 at 02:47 AM ...and I'm not even a violinist. ;-) But as I previously have noted, my Heifetz Number is three. From Nicole Stacy
My friend studied with Gerardo Ribeiro, who was a student of Ivan Galamian, who taught Dorothy DeLay, who taught Simon Fischer.Posted on August 15, 2008 at 04:24 AM I went to IU summer academy with someone with the same last name as Riccardo Muti. I asked if he was related...the gesture he made suggested it wasn't the first time. According to a facebook quiz, I'm Maxim Vengerov. What is that, like, zero degrees? Freaky... From Bart Meijer
My wife's great-grandmother sat on Brahms' lap as a child. Would that make my Brahms number four, or two?Posted on August 15, 2008 at 01:26 PM And, of course, I own a copy of "Basics", written by Simon Fischer. On second thought, the "own book by" or "own CD played by" links are pretty weak! From Nicole Stacy
Actually, compared to the original Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, the music world is kind of easy. :(
Posted on August 15, 2008 at 04:33 AM From Anne Horvath
This took a few more than six:Posted on August 15, 2008 at 04:35 AM Vanessa Mae studied with
From Yixi Zhang
My teacher’s teacher was David Oistrakh, who was the student of Stolyarsky, who also taught Nathan Milstein... I'm sure Simon Fischer can be conntected someone along this line.
Posted on August 15, 2008 at 05:38 AM From Jude Ziliak
Mathematicians speak of their "Erdos numbers," the degrees of separation (defined by publication of articles with people) between themselves and Paul Erdos.Posted on August 15, 2008 at 06:15 AM My Auer number is three, three ways: I studied with Dona Lee Croft, whose teachers Nathan Milstein and Benno Rabinoff both studied with Auer; I currently study with Bayla Keyes, who studied with Oscar Shumsky, who studied with Auer. My Galamian number is two, two ways, through both of my aforementioned teachers, who both studied with him. From Emily Grossman
Galamian is such a huge hub that you can connect just about anyone in less than six degrees.Posted on August 15, 2008 at 07:07 AM I was a student of Michael Ma, a student of Galamian. I was also a student of Walter Olivares, a student of Galamian. Galamian also taught Gerardo Ribeiro, who taught Laurie Niles. That means Laurie and I are cousins. From Laurie Niles
LOL, Anne!Posted on August 15, 2008 at 07:33 AM And I have a cousin in Alaska :) From Graham Clark
I taught Ella Nicholson, who is Vanessa Mae's cousin by marriage.
Posted on August 15, 2008 at 09:23 AM From Dottie Case
Must mean we're all related! One of my teachers studied with Galamian, Gingold and Fenyves, so I must be realted to everyone here then. :)
Posted on August 15, 2008 at 01:45 PM From Bart Meijer
I play the same instrument as...
Posted on August 15, 2008 at 04:03 PM From Sander Marcus
Niccolo Paganini's only "pupil" was Sivori. Sivori taught Fortunato Francescatti, who was his son's (Zino's) major teacher. And I saw Zino Francescatti play once. How's that for violinistic royal lineage?Posted on August 15, 2008 at 04:17 PM Sandy From Todd Carlsen
Posted on August 16, 2008 at 03:56 AM From Larry Brandt
My teacher studied under a pupil of Leopold Auer, who had Jascha Heifetz as a pupil too! (and in fact my teacher's teacher was the conductor when Heifetz played Mendelssohn concerto at the age of 7, if I'm not mistaken!)
Posted on August 15, 2008 at 09:59 PM From Ben Clapton
"ah, I stll work sometimes with Daevid Allen, who was friendly with Jimi Hendrix, worked with William Burroughs, knew Robert Graves. They are hubs, what?"Posted on August 16, 2008 at 12:34 AM Jimi Hendrix lived in the same London house as Handel - so you have a link to him as well! From Graham Clark
"Jimi Hendrix lived in the same London house as Handel - so you have a link to him as well!"Posted on August 16, 2008 at 12:51 AM Not at the same time, though ;) heh heheh gc From Jim W. Miller
I played the Messiah, so I have a connection to Daevid Allen.Posted on August 16, 2008 at 01:07 AM From Ray Randall
I studied with Dorothy DeLay, my current teacher studied with her. Now I'm confused, LOL.
Posted on August 16, 2008 at 01:22 AM From Christian Abel
My teacher's teacher's teacher was Lucien Capet. I just call him great grandpa Lucien.
Posted on August 16, 2008 at 03:20 AM From Graham Clark
"I played the Messiah, so I have a connection to Daevid Allen."Posted on August 16, 2008 at 09:10 AM hahahahahhahahahahahahahah! gc From Henry Butcher.
My mothers seconed cousin, who is 1 year older than mum and, they where close during childhood, was the Director of Music and a instructor at The Vienna Conservatorium from 1954 to 1964. Posted on August 17, 2008 at 12:45 PM Her name is Hedy Krenzjoch, she was a pianist and knew Alfred Brendel very well. I can not find any violinists that studied or tutored during this time. But I wonder if Fritz Kriesler ever passed that way in the mid 50's. Mums not a musician, does it still count? From Terry Hsu
I played the Messiah, so I have a connection to Daevid Allen.Posted on August 17, 2008 at 02:19 PM ___________________ You don't expect us to believe that without proof I hope. From Jim W. Miller
I know. I almost can't believe it myself.Posted on August 17, 2008 at 06:15 PM From Kathleen McCrudden
My last teacher at college, Ruth Crouch, studied with Emanuel Hurwitz (who studied at RAM with Sydney Robjohns, an Australian was pupil of Joachim) and again Max Rostal. My other teacher at college, Edwin Paling, studied with Norbert Brainin (Amadeus Quartet), who studied with Carl Felsch and Max Rostal. Both Flesch and Rostal taught Yfra Neaman, who taught Simon Fischer. My new teacher, David Adams, studied with Daniel Phillips, who was another Galamian teacher. It really is such a small, musical world!
Posted on August 18, 2008 at 02:00 PM From Marianne Devos
Ha, I played in a masterclass with Simon FisherPosted on August 19, 2008 at 09:08 AM hee hee From Marianne Devos
And my old teacher was a student of Menuhin, another old teacher was a student of Maurizio Fuks who himself was a student of Galamian.
Posted on August 19, 2008 at 09:09 AM From Eric Brahinsky
I studied with Henry Brahinsky (my father), who taught Jack Glatzer, who studied with Maxim Jacobsen, who taught Benito Mussolini.
Posted on August 19, 2008 at 01:19 PM From Eric Brahinsky
I've played several pops concerts with Marvin Hamlisch, who composed the music for Starting Over, which Kevin Bacon was in. That's probably the shortest connection. But also:Posted on August 19, 2008 at 02:02 PM My father was in the Dallas Symphony under music director Jacques Singer, whose daughter, Lori Singer, was in Footloose with Kevin Bacon. I think these next two would work for all of us on violinist.com: I've played many works by Mozart, who was played in Amadeus by Tom Hulce, who was in Animal House with Kevin Bacon. I've played many works by Beethoven, who was played in Immortal Beloved by Gary Oldman, who was in Criminal Law and Murder in the First with Kevin Bacon. From Tom Holzman
I take lessons from Rachel Schenker who was a student of Gingold. As a child, I took lessons from Gerald Gelbloom who was a student of Galamian.
Posted on August 19, 2008 at 02:56 PM From Laurie Niles
LOL Eric, so far you bring home the Bacon Award!
Posted on August 19, 2008 at 09:05 PM From Tom Holzman
Actually, maybe I should put in for the Bacon award. A colleague of mine many years ago was married to Bacon's sister.
Posted on August 19, 2008 at 09:18 PM From Nate Robinson
Musically I link indirectly to Heifetz, Milstein, and Galamian through my teacher. Erick Friedman had one lesson with Dorothy DeLay while Galamian was out recovering from surgery so I guess I link to her in some way and Simon Fischer who was her student :)Posted on August 20, 2008 at 03:51 AM I played on Viotti's own Stradivarius and Joachim's Guarnerius, and for a year played Michael Rabin's Amati on loan to me so I link directly to them I guess haha. I played violin in a film recently with Danny Devito (he was very happy that I was using an Italian violin - he said to me "Italians are the best." : ) ) on screen so I guess I link to him or whoever he knows (which probably includes Bacon) haha. From Mattias Eklund
And I know you Nate :)
Posted on August 20, 2008 at 12:43 PM From Jane Smith-Bodden
I'm 3 degrees from Flesch, Enescu and Sevcik, through my teacher's teacher, which I guess puts me close to most (and but 5 from Viotti).Posted on September 22, 2008 at 11:58 AM (How many from Simon Fischer, I'm not sure) From Anne Horvath
This thread got a mention in the October '08 issue of The Strad magazine (page 11, in the "In Brief" column).
Posted on September 24, 2008 at 03:25 PM From Stephen Brivati
Greetings,Posted on September 24, 2008 at 10:57 PM I have a distant cousin related to Mussolini who once held Milstein`s violin for a few seconds when he wans`t making trains run on time. Cheers, Buri From Elizabeth Cahoe
My father was fortunate enough to have played the Adagio for Strings with Samuel Barber conducting the orchestra. Here is my link...Dad---Samuel Barber---Tom Hanks. ha ha
Posted on September 25, 2008 at 03:46 PM From Simon Smith
I have appeared on stage with Plant and Page (Led Zep) and Gil Shaham, and recorded with Simon Fisher. This game is too easy.
Posted on October 11, 2008 at 10:03 PM From Hope Paolotto
I took with a teacher who studied with Ivan Galamian in her youth and then with Dorothy Delay at Julliard. I took with another teacher who also studied with Delay at Julliard. I guess that would connect me with Delay in two ways!
Posted on October 12, 2008 at 03:39 AM From Allan Chu
:)Posted on October 17, 2008 at 01:47 PM My teacher, Joseph Pach, who taught Heifitz, Milstein, etc etc Although I wonder if Parlow was there when either of those were there, which would bring the connections down too. She definitely met Sibelius and Glazunov. From Sander Marcus
So what! I'm 4 degrees of separation from Paganini. Paganini taught Sivori, Sivori taught Fortunato Francescatti, Fortunato taught his son (Zino), and I saw Zino play in person once.Posted on October 17, 2008 at 02:01 PM :) Sandy PS. No, I never heard Paganini play. From Bart Meijer
Posted on October 10, 2009 at 10:47 AM Simon Fischer studied with Dorothy Delay Dorothy Delay studied with Ivan Galamian Ivan Galamian taught Vera Beths Vera Beths taught Veselina Manikova Veselina Manikova taught Romana Porumb Romana Porumb teaches me! (as of October 1st) Six. Unbelievable. From Michael Divino
Posted on October 10, 2009 at 11:13 AM I saw Hilary Hahn in concert, who studied with Jascha Brodsky, who studied with Ysaye! From Joan Coy
Posted on October 10, 2009 at 08:02 PM Dorothy DeLay taught Won-Bin Yim Won-Bin Yim taught Tze Yean Lim Tze Yean Lim is my teacher From David Joyce
Posted on October 10, 2009 at 09:41 PM "Seems like if you can get to Ivan Galamian, Josef Gingold or Dorothy DeLay, you can connect with just about any violinist." Seems straightforward enough. I can do most "moves" in under 4......;) Here's a nice one. My violin was broken (crack) so I borrowed another....the borrowed one was bought by a player who travelled to Prague in the hope of playing for Mozart in 1791.....apparently. (That would be something if it could be proven)
From David Joyce
Posted on October 10, 2009 at 09:42 PM Oh yes, I think I've sat in the section with Simon with his Dad conducting.....so that's easy... From Giancarlo L
Posted on October 11, 2009 at 02:30 AM Here: Vieuxtemps and Wieniawski taught Ysaye, who taught Persinger, who taught Stern, Menuhin, Ricci, and Almita Vamos, who taught Rachel Barton Pine, Jennifer Koh, and me. Galamian taught Rabin, Perlman, Chung, Zukerman, DeLay (who taught Chang, Salerno-Sonnenberg, and others), Steinhardt, and Tom Wermuth, who taught me! This is so neat! From Bart Meijer
Posted on October 11, 2009 at 05:18 AM .. and, of course, we all participate in the a violin internet community with Simon Fischer .. no, that's too easy! From Tom Holzman
Posted on October 12, 2009 at 06:09 PM I had a colleague now deceased, whose second wife was Kevin Bacon's sister and whose daughter is Kevin Bacon's niece. |
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