Tango, Jobs

May 11, 2007 at 2:30 PM

At my university, in the reference secion we have these books called "Avec sans deux" or something to that effect. It's a french book, and there's one for each instrument. It covers the first ten years of learning that instrument. Well, they call it the first 10 years, but their 10th year is pretty bloody impressive... after playing for 13 years, I think I'm doing pieces in the 8th or 9th year. Basically, it covers all the "top" repertoire for that year of learning, in Solo, With Piano, With ORchestra, Duos (with the same instrument) and Chamber Music. I was looking for any chamber music that I could do with 2 violins (For the beautiful Ashleigh and I), Violin and Harp or Violin and Guitar (Will talk about below). As I was looking through, I noticed that it had some Violin Etudes written by Astor Piazzolla. Piazzolla was known for bringing the Tango to the concert stage, and has a link with Stravinsky in that a first performance of one of his works induced a riot in the audience.
These Tango Etudes are originally written for Flute, but Piazzolla also writes that they can be played on Violin. Having had a bit of a play, I can say that they are possibly on violin, but are probably a bit easier on the flute. But I'm enjoying playing some Tango music (because I sure as hell can't dance a Tango), and hope to explore this music a bit more.

I think that I have been a bit privilidged in my work. I recently returned to do some work at a supermarket, but quit after only a month. The reasons for this was many, but a major one was that I was doing dull, mundane work, and getting less than half of what I could get playing my violin. But there's only one problem... I'm not getting enough work with my violin to not have to do dull mundane work in a supermarket.
This has got to change. I've approached a harpist about forming a chamber group to look to start playing in a Restaurant and she seemed keen. She apparently has a couple of hours of music already, so we look pretty set there. I'm also wanting to find a guitarist who's pretty flexible in the styles of music so that we might be able to do some classical stuff, but also some Jazz and Folk music as well. Hopefully if I can get a couple of nights with these happening regularly, I'll have a nicely paying job which will allow me to be a bit more free with spending my money.

From Richard Hellinger
Posted on May 11, 2007 at 8:48 PM

that sounds like an interesting series of books. I wonder where I can get my hands on a copy (for violin, tuba and piano). It sounds like a good reference book to have.

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