Anyone enjoy Bach?

[earlsy]

I am a former orchestral violinist and I have recently started taking the violin seriously again.

I have put a few videos on Youtube.

Please take a look if you are interested.

http://youtu.be/kQZav__d5uE

[MerlinShepherd]

Many thanks for posting John, it's a pleasure to hear! I for one am very glad that you're taking the violin seriously again. I'm a clarinetist by trade and am always saddened when good players stop playing. I fully understand the pressures and traumas of playing for a living and I know that there are other trades that can earn more cash....but what other activities can offer so much pleasure and give so much depth to our existence?

There are a few other Musicians on this forum, some of whom now play and some who have played professionally. There are also a few who play just for the love of it. Good to meet a bunch of like-minded individuals!

[earlsy]

Around 9 years ago, I really felt that the violin had ruled my life for long enough.

Even though I had stopped playing full time and gone into teaching, I still did a lot of playing - even being the Concertmaster of the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra for a while!

I changed teaching job, remarried and decided to make few additional changes too.

It was liberating not feeling that my self esteem was inextricably linked to my prowess on the violin.

I still had to demonstrate for my students, but I just used a chinese school violin and my good violin stayed under the stairs for a full 8 years.

The prospect of another job change last year encouraged me to start practising again and it was amazing how everything was still there. Only the stamina had gone!

I love playing again and feel much less inhibited about performing than I ever did when I was a full time pro.

[swanbourne]

I enjoyed that, well done! Mendelssohn's violin concerto?

Eddie

[ralphy]

As someone who cannot play nor read a note of music I am impressed by those who can - and very much so by someone who can play at that level.

Very enjoyable indeed - and I've never heard a ukulele sound like that before.

Subscribed now, so please post some more work up.

R

[earlsy]

Glad you liked it guys. There is more to come...

I do know the Mendelssohn really well Eddie, but it needs a full orchestra as an accompaniment, or at least a piano. I could do a little snippet anyway...

[sundial]

I enjoyed your videos John ... including the ukulele. Are you aware that Michael Seal, Assistant Conductor & Sub Principal Second Violin City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is a TZ UK forum member ... forum name Batonman ? He has not posted recently.

http://www.michaelseal.com ... interesting video.

I collect and enjoy playing violin recordings and I once owned a Charles Jean Baptiste Collin-Mezin violin and a Pecatte 'School' bow. The violin was very similar to this one http://www.tipper-violins.com/pdf/vi...llin-mezin.pdf

dunk

[earlsy]

That's interesting about Michael. I'll look out for him.

Both those instruments you mention are very well thought of. My violin is a Sannino and my bow is a Garner Wilson (English maker Hills trained). For a few years I was fortunate to have been loaned a really good French bow by Sartory - it was worth more than my violin! The owner was my mother in law's boyfriend and I had to give it back when he wanted to sell it to buy a new conservatory...

[sundial]

That's interesting about Michael. I'll look out for him.

Both those instruments you mention are very well thought of. My violin is a Sannino and my bow is a Garner Wilson (English maker Hills trained). For a few years I was fortunate to have been loaned a really good French bow by Sartory - it was worth more than my violin! The owner was my mother in law's boyfriend and I had to give it back when he wanted to sell it to buy a new conservatory...

I owned the violin may years ago when acquired it in need of repair - so took it and the bow to Voigt's in Soho . The elderly Mr Voigt repaired the violin but he advised that the bow was not a genuine Pecatte but "only school of Pecatte " ( and was spelt Peccatte) and was "not repairable but could I have it for the parts? ... I can sell you a good new bow" So , foolishly, I let him have the old bow. Then I started subscribing to Sotheby's musical instruments sales catalogues and discovered how much 'school of Pecatte' bows sell for ... and also found out that Menuhin used one ... and that the bow was probably an easy repair (the stick had a crack in it). Live and learn ... the bow was worth a lot more than the violin. I then made quite a study of the history of violin making - fascinating subject - and subsequently sold the Collin Mezin violin via Sotheby's. I wish I had not sold it but at the time it was a case of 'needs must'.

Glad to hear your Sannino violin is no longer languishing 'under the stairs' .. a very fine instrument far superior to my Mirecourt violin. Your Garner Wilson bow is a modern classic.

Best wishes

dunk

[bandylegss]

A couple of years ago I went to see Hayley Westenra and Fiona Pears was also on the bill I came away with a whole new perception on the violin. Hayley was also amazing what a voice.
paul.

[jrpippen]

Well played mate. Sounds superb, a lovely Fat violin sound is so satisfying to my ear. Far far to much bloody scratching going in most sections.

Cheers for sharing.

Jon.

[MerlinShepherd]

Far far to much bloody scratching going in most sections.

+1.

Also nice to hear the right amount and speed of of vib. Far too many fiddlers think they have a yo-yo on their left hand.

[canuck]

Thought not a concert violinist, I played classical guitar as a solo instrument but also in a duet and quartet. We played a lot of j.s. Bach as he is indeed one of my favourite composers. My two children now listen to Bach at least weekly, with my two year old bustin a move whenever it gets fast.

[rfrazier]

Very good! Thanks.

One of the sad making features of my life is that I've never been able to make music. I've tried, but failed. Still, I love listening to music. Last night I went to a concert given by college orchestra (50+ instruments for this concert) in the cathedral. Wagner and Brahms. Good stuff.

Best wishes,
Bob

[patrick]

Really enjoyed the Adagio John. .The Double is one of my favourites.

[earlsy]

Thanks for the positive comments guys. I am glad you enjoyed the music...

[earlsy]

Very good! Thanks.

One of the sad making features of my life is that I've never been able to make music. I've tried, but failed. Still, I love listening to music. Last night I went to a concert given by college orchestra (50+ instruments for this concert) in the cathedral. Wagner and Brahms. Good stuff.

Best wishes,
Bob

One of the many things I learned while I was playing for a living is that it is people like you who are the life blood of classical music. Everyone can't be a player, but we need people who enjoy listening to music. I really came to respect the audience members I saw week in week out at our concerts in Bournemouth, Poole, Bristol, Portsmouth and Southampton, as it was their subscriptions that put food on my table...

[jrpippen]

Very good! Thanks.

One of the sad making features of my life is that I've never been able to make music. I've tried, but failed. Still, I love listening to music. Last night I went to a concert given by college orchestra (50+ instruments for this concert) in the cathedral. Wagner and Brahms. Good stuff.

Best wishes,
Bob

You can't have everything mate!

[jrpippen]

One of the many things I learned while I was playing for a living is that it is people like you who are the life blood of classical music. Everyone can't be a player, but we need people who enjoy listening to music. I really came to respect the audience members I saw week in week out at our concerts in Bournemouth, Poole, Bristol, Portsmouth and Southampton, as it was their subscriptions that put food on my table...

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra ??

[earlsy]

Yes. Got it in one!

[earlsy]

Here is another snippet...

http://youtu.be/AmD8U-kNL6k

The ending of a very long fugue - very dramatic!

I hope you enjoy it.

John

[earlsy]

Here you are Eddie,

A little bit of Mendelssohn...

http://youtu.be/ot3HmvbqCaI

Hope you enjoy it...

John

[trisdg]

Sounds great!

Love all the Bach violin works, but especially the unaccompanied pieces.

Will keep looking back to see if you've uploaded any more clips in future.


Tris