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Violin Blogs

Do Re Me Fa Sol La Ti...Doe, a Deer!

By Laurie Niles
July 29, 2010 18:11

Look who came to listen to me practice my fiddle!

I'm in Cincinnati, at my parents' house, which backs up to a woodsy ravine. As I was playing my A major scale routine I was surprised by this deer, which meandered up to the window, looked straight at me and pricked its large ears in attention.

The deer seemed to be enjoying my scales -- or at least it was very intrigued by this new sound. But it ran away as soon as we started taking pictures!

LVOV, Alexei Fyodorovich (1799-1870) violin concerto

By Bram Heemskerk
July 29, 2010 15:51

The unknown Russian composer Alexei Fyodorovich LVOV (1799-1870) wrote a violin concerto. Some people get associations with Paganini, others with Rode etudes:

Y Composer

By Mendy Smith
July 28, 2010 20:44

It has been several months since I started my Z-A composer goal. I've been working on a piece composed by Zelter for the past few months. It is much like Hoffmeister in style so was familiar in several ways. However after three months on Z, I deemed it time to move onto Y.

I first ordered a Sonata by Ysaye. However when it finally arrived I had to do a double take. I had never seen a piece before that was written in two staves for viola before (one in alto and one in treble clef to be played at the same time). I tried to play through the piece a few times at a greatly reduced tempo and decided that it should be put into my bucket list pile along with the Bartok and Walton Concertos - a piece that will be saved for my "By 60" goal.

I began the hunt once again for another Y composer and found Isang Yun who had written a piece for two violas called "Contemplation". Glissandos are used heavily and the piece is distinctively Asian in style. I was reminded of my time in the Asia-Pacific when I played through this piece for the first time. The rhythms and dynamics are unusual from a Western perspective, but quite traditional for the Asian region.

I'm looking forward to branching out into a new style of music, especially one with roots that I've experienced first hand.

Violin Discussion Forum

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News: The violinist featured in the movie/book 'The Soloist' plays for Obama.

Musicality??
Performing: Maybe I'm dumb, but to me it's such a vague term. Especially when it comes time to compare different pieces.

Pag Caprice #5
Technique: Do you stretch your fingers, or cross a string?

happynex support sling for violin
Technique: any historical iconography for this type of chin rest?

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Editor's Blogs

Laurie Niles
Violinist.com's editor is a professional symphony violinist and former newspaper reporter who interviews top violin performers and pedagogues, as well as reports on her experience in violin music and education.

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