I got the book "The Violin a Social History..." by David Schoenbaum yesterday. It is hard not to skip around and skim the index first. I have dutifully read the Acknowledgement, Introduction and am 1/3 of the way through Book One: Making it."
I am delighted with it so far. I notice that this up-to-the-minute compendium weaves together many names that I recognize with those that I do not. I love it when I can connect the dots with the little bits and piece of violin lore and history that I have heard and read from time to time. There is even a nod to a 22 year old Hahn Bin, a protege of Itzhak Perlman, who I had a chance to chat with at a concert here in Nebraska. That's how up-to-the-minute this book is.
I am posting this to thank Laurie and violinist.com for suggesting this book. Even though it is a "Harry Potter" sized read, there is something for everyone who loves the violin in this volume.
Ok--Break is over. I'm grabbing my wine glass, with the snow falling and I am diving back into this book.
Previous entries: June 2009