V.com weekend vote: From what century is the last piece you just played on your violin?

Written by The Weekend Vote
Published: January 16, 2015 at 7:24 PM [UTC]

In which musical century have you been spending your time?

The last time you picked up your violin, to practice or perform, exactly what did you play? And for our vote, the question is: from what century?

For example, the last time I played my violin, I practiced the last movement of Bach's Sonata No. 3 in C, which was written around 1720. So my answer would be 18th c. If you were practicing a passage from a Tchaikovsky symphony for orchestra, those were written in the late 19th century, so the answer would be 19th c. If you were playing "Allegro" by Suzuki; Suzuki wrote the little pieces for his books in the 20th century, so the answer would be 20th c. If, last night you performed the Mendelssohn concerto, that was around 1845, so 19th c.

You might need to do some googling, but I'm interested to see the range of living history that's taking place in our practice studios, rehearsal rooms and concert halls. After all, this is one of the most phenomenal things about playing classical music: its capacity to connect us to the past, and in such a visceral way. Music conceived in the past can unfold in the present. The voice of someone who lived hundreds of years ago can speak through our instruments. Wow!

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From 77.95.229.18
Posted on January 16, 2015 at 7:46 PM

Last night at a rehearsal for a concert coming up next week we worked on Sibelius's Symphonies 2 & 3, and the Violin Concerto (the soloist being Jennifer Pike).

From Bart Meijer
Posted on January 16, 2015 at 9:26 PM

May 1790. Care to guess what it was?

From Kevin Keating
Posted on January 16, 2015 at 10:42 PM

On the violin I tend to favor Baroque & Scottish fiddle, so 18th c.

From John Rokos
Posted on January 16, 2015 at 11:06 PM

Perhaps the time periods are too wide to be really informative. There's a massive difference between Bach and Mozart, for instance.

From Laurie Niles
Posted on January 17, 2015 at 1:50 AM

Hmmm, Bart...Mozart chamber music?

From Paul Deck
Posted on January 17, 2015 at 4:03 AM

Well my main piece is the haydn g major, thats 18th century I believe, but just in the last 15 minutes of my practice time I worked on an issue in Ten Have's Allegro Brilliant, so I had to put 19th century.

From Joshua Iyer
Posted on January 17, 2015 at 4:23 AM

21st Century. It was my own composition! :)

But I've also been playing Holst recently with my orchestra.

From Bev Saunders
Posted on January 17, 2015 at 5:35 AM

I'm finishing the Barber concerto so I think that's 20th century. I always get my centuries confused...

From Steve Reizes
Posted on January 17, 2015 at 7:24 AM

Mozart sonata in G K301.

From Bart Meijer
Posted on January 17, 2015 at 9:30 AM

Laurie, you got it. String quartet K 589.

From Patrick Tinney
Posted on January 17, 2015 at 9:40 AM

I selected "17 c. or before:", but I might be wrong.

Turlough O'Carolan was born c 1670 so turned 30 at the turn of the century. The individual pieces are not dated in the collection I play from.

I always end my practice with either Irish Folk tunes or Turlough O'Carolan.

At this point in my practice I have moved from a traditional style bow hold to what I hope is similar to that used by the likes of Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (Altan), but I cannot find specifics so I'm guessing.

The beauty of O'Carolan is determining if one of his pieces should be treated in the folk tradition or in the baroque style. Always an interesting choice, though most pieces can sound wonderful either way so I won't harp on it.

From Mark Roberts
Posted on January 17, 2015 at 2:34 PM

I must be the most unoriginal - Mendelssohn violin concerto

From David Beck
Posted on January 17, 2015 at 3:59 PM

Funnily enough, it's that Bach g minor depicted in the MS version at the top of the page of the blog ! I find Bach S & Ps great not only for getting my 12-year-old Italian fiddle to "open out" but for holding back the onset of age-related cognitive impairment.

From Laurie Niles
Posted on January 17, 2015 at 10:44 PM

Sounds like fun, Bart!

Yes that is the Bach G minor up there, floating through the ancient forest... ;)

From Francis Browne
Posted on January 18, 2015 at 1:00 PM

Gitana by Kreisler, so 20th century. Had to look it up to be sure. Loving Kreisler lately.

From Charlie Gibbs
Posted on January 20, 2015 at 11:37 PM

Right on the edge! Corelli Follia, 1700 (with my wife on cello)

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