Violin Adventures With Rachel Barton Pine

Episode 81: Yes You Can! How to Easily Make Your Own Arrangement of a Rock or Pop Song for String Ensemble   Upcoming Events: August 13 – master class for the Sphinx Performance Academy at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, August 17 and 18 – Paganini 24 Caprices at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL, August 26 – chamber music by Chinese composers at Millennium Park in Chicago Inquiries from my Inbox: David asks: “What is the best thing about performing unaccompanied violin music? What are three of your favorite moments in the violin literature?   Random Musical Thought: A modern violin in a historically-flavored work of art is as out of place as if someone were wearing blue jeans.   Main Topic: Rachel explains how to make your own arrangement of a rock or pop song for string ensemble. Includes tips on how to get the tab as a reference, choose your aesthetic, figure out the structure, decide who plays which part, pick a key, experiment with orchestration, add in the “drums,” figure out the bowi

Episode 80: Hale be Your Heart! Hale Be Your Fiddle!   Upcoming Events: July 30-August 4 – guest teacher at the Jink and Diddle School of Scottish Fiddling in Banner Elk, NC, August 10 – memorial tribute concert for luthier Carl Becker in Chicago, August 17 and 18 – Paganini 24 Caprices at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL   Inquiries from my Inbox:  Catherine from Australia writes: “Could you do a podcast on the features that Paganini brought to the world of violin playing? What is it that he did differently that challenged the status quo?” Emily asks: “Have you ever played the Conus violin concerto? I never heard of it until my teacher suggested it for me to play, I instantly fell in love with it and am really enjoying practicing it! I wanted to know why not as many violinists play this concerto anymore.”   Random Musical Thought: Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could magically hear some of the great repertoire again for the very first time?   Main Topic: A conversation with master Scottish fiddler Dr

Episode 79: Making Fun WITH the Music: Aleksey Igudesman   Upcoming Events: July 16 – faculty performance at the Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp in Olathe, KS, July 20 – Earthen Grave at the Metroplex Heavy Fest in Dallas, July 21-24 teaching at Le Domaine Forget in Quebec, July 28 – Vieuxtemps 5 for Music in the Mountains in Durango, CO, July 29-August 4 – teaching at the Jink and Diddle School of Scottish Fiddling   Inquiries from my Inbox:  David from Nebraska writes: “I wonder what suggestions you have for developing skill with harmonics.” Delaney asks: “When you're performing, what kinds of things do you focus on or think about while you're playing? Do you ever find your mind drifting to random thoughts?”   Random Musical Thought: Is Bach the only great composer whose music is still satisfying to hear even if done metronomically and without expression?   Main Topic: A conversation with violinist/composer/comedian Aleksey Igudesman. For more information about his many projects, please visit www.alekseyigude

Episode 78: Impromptu – Lullabies and More   Upcoming Events: July 5 and 6 – recitals with pianist Arnon Erez in Israel (Bach, Achron, Bloch, Franck), July 10 and 11 – Vieuxtemps Concerto No. 5 and Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending with the Israel Chamber Orchestra in Tel Aviv, July 13 – Vieuxtemps Concerto No. 5 at the Masterworks Festival in Winona Lake, IN, July 14-20 – teaching at the Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp near Kansas City   Inquiries from my Inbox:  N-O asks: “Where does your inspiration come from? What sets you apart from other artists? What can people expect to hear or see from you this year?”   Random Musical Thought: Sir Edward Elgar said, “My idea is that there is music in the air, music all around us; the world is full of it, and you simply take as much as you require.”   Main Topic: Rachel Barton Pine and Matthew Hagle perform live on WFMT on June 20, 2013. Repertoire includes Brahms Wiegenlied, Ysaye Reve d’Enfant, Rebecca Clarke Lullaby, Faure Berceuse, Rebikov Berceuse, Gershwin Summe

Episode 77: Writing Women Back Into Music History!   Upcoming Events: June 20 – performance with pianist Matthew Hagle for WFMT’s Impromptu; June 22 – with Earthen Grave for Days of the Doomed near Milwaukee, Wisconsin; June 28 – master class for the Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Door County, Wisconsin; June 30 – free children’s program at the Swedish American Museum in Chicago   Inquiries from my Inbox:  Vanlal asks: “How do you play period works a half step low?” Brian asks: “Have you ever played ‘Ashoken Farewell?’”   Random Musical Thought: Are your instruments your friends, your family, your harem, your menagerie, or what?   Main Topic: A conversation with Karen Shaffer, author of “Maud Powell: Pioneer American Violinist” and Pamela Blevins, author of “Ivor Gurney and Marion Scott: Song of Pain and Beauty.” For more information about the Maud Powell Society for Music and Education and the magazine “Signature, Women in Music,” please visit www.maudpowell.org.   Total playing time: 00:45:28   SUB

Episode 76: Yes, It Really Existed! Meet the Shoulder Cello   Upcoming Events: June 14 – Bach Six Sonatas for Violin and Keyboard with harpsichordist Paul Cienniwa at the Boston Early Music Festival   Inquiries from my Inbox:  Robert asks: “Is the page turner the only ‘on stage’ position in the music industry that it is proper to totally ignore?”   Random Musical Thought: Can one claim to have truly heard a piece of music if they’ve never experienced it performed live?   Main Topic: A conversation about the violoncello da spalla with luthier and violinist Dmitry Badiarov, including recordings of the instrument played by Badiarov, Sigiswald Kujiken, and the Bach Collegium Japan. For more information about Dmitry Badiarov and his instruments, please visit http://badiarovviolins.com/. To read an interesting article about the violoncello da spalla, please visit http://sscm-jscm.press.illinois.edu/v12/no1/wissick.html.   Total playing time: 00:53:54   SUBSCRIBE TO THIS PODCAST ON I-TUNES!   Would you like to be fe

Episode 75: To Memorize or Not To Memorize, That is the Question   Upcoming Events: May 25 – Six Bach Violin Concertos for the Montreal Chamber Music Festival, May 30 – Bartok Concerto No. 2 with the Gottingen Symphony in Germany, June 1 – recital with pianist Matthew Hagle in Montpelier, Vermont (sonatas by Beethoven, Mohammed Fairouz, and Strauss, and lullabies by Brahms, Ysaye, Rebecca Clarke and William Grant Still)   Inquiries from my Inbox:  A student at a master class asked, “What is your favorite time of day to practice?”   Random Musical Thought: If children dress as ballerinas to attend the ballet, why don’t they dress as concert violinists to attend the symphony?   Main Topic: A conversation with harpsichordist Paul Cienniwa about the pros and cons of performing with and without sheet music. To learn more about Paul, please visit www.paulcienniwa.com   Total playing time: 00:51:59   SUBSCRIBE TO THIS PODCAST ON I-TUNES!   Would you like to be featured on Violin Adventures? Just send your question v

Episode 74: Violin Lullabies, part 2   Upcoming Events: May 9 – performance on WGN’s Noon News, May 11 – Vieuxtemps Concerto No. 5 and Saint-Saens Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso with the Illinois Valley Symphony, May 17 – Trio Settecento in Ames, Iowa (works by Stradella, Marini, Legrenzi, Corelli, Geminiani, Locatelli, and Veracini), May 18 – recital at the Music Institute of Chicago in Evanston, IL (Beethoven Sonata No. 3, Liszt Grand Duo Concertante, Strauss Sonata, lullabies by Brahms, Ysaye, Clarke, Still, Rebikov, Gershwin, and Strauss), May 19 – children’s concert at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago   Inquiries from my Inbox:  Bob asks, “Would it peeve you if, at a classical concert, during a pause, someone shouted out, "Play "Devil Went Down to Georgia!"”   Random Musical Thought: Could we have a photos section (silent and flash-free) at classical concerts?   Main Topic: Part two of a tour of Rachel Barton Pine’s new album, Violin Lullabies. Includes excerpts of cradle songs by Ysaye,

Episode 73: Violin Lullabies, part 1   Upcoming Events: April 27 – Mendelssohn Concerto with the Lafayette Symphony in Indiana, April 28 – Biber Mystery Sonatas No. 5 and 10 for the Bloomington Early Music Festival in Indiana, May 2 – recital for the San Diego State University’s Jewish Studies Program in California (works by Bloch, Achron, Yale Strom and more), May 5 – violin/cello duo recital with Mike Block in LaGrange, IL   Inquiries from my Inbox:  Janis writes, “For an easy-to-use, much safer heavy hotel mute, get a couple earth magnets and clap them together around the bridge near the center, over the heart cutout.”   Random Musical Thought: Wouldn’t it be interesting if the audience didn’t know the “set list” for a recital until they were actually at the concert?   Main Topic: Part one of a tour of Rachel Barton Pine’s new album, Violin Lullabies. Includes excerpts of cradle songs by Beach, Durosoir, Faure, Respighi, Schubert, Iljinsky, Ravel, Reger, Sivori, Viardot, Antsev, Falla, and Hovhaness.   To

Episode 72: No Guts, No Glory: Master Stringmaker Dan Larsen   Upcoming Events: April 12 and 14 – Vivaldi Four Seasons and Vivaldi Concerto in D Major for Viola d’Amore with Boise Baroque in Idaho, April 13 – lecture on the history of the violin at Boise State University, April 16 – master class at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, April 20 – master class for Sigma Alpha Iota at the Oak Park Public Library in Illinois, April 22 – adjudicating the finals of Northwestern University’s concerto competition   Inquiries from my Inbox:  Anmajumdar asks, “Do you use first knuckle and wrist for your vibrato?” Peter writes, “I have a full-blown arm vibrato, which only makes me clamp down on the violin with my neck... do you have any tips to help me learn a 'wrist' vibrato?”   Random Musical Thought: Why do so many people fail to realize that my Birthday Variations are supposed to be a parody?   Main Topic: A conversation about the art of making early music strings out of gut with luthier and stringmaker Dan Lars

Episode 71: Barely Controlled Chaos – Maestro Michael Morgan   Upcoming Events: April 4 – master class and viola d’amore lecture/demo for the Juilliard School’s Historical Performance program   Inquiries from my Inbox:  Philip writes: “I honestly believe that the modern violinists exceed both the musical and technical abilities of the old (I am sure you have heard of the wax recordings of Brahms and Sarasate, etc.).”   Random Musical Thought: How is it possible to enjoy the musical interpretations of someone whom you don’t like as a person?   Main Topic: A conversation from 2008 with Michael Morgan, conductor of the Oakland East Bay Symphony and Sacramento Philharmonic. Maestro Morgan offers words of wisdom for orchestral string players, including to use less vibrato, play with more slides, have your own opinion and don’t be afraid to take risks. For more information about Michael Morgan, please visit http://www.morganorch.com   Total playing time: 00:48:53   SUBSCRIBE TO THIS PODCAST ON I-TUNES!   Would you

Episode 70: Fiesta! Rachel Barton Pine’s CD Capricho Latino, part 2 Upcoming Events: March 21 and 22 – Bruch Scottish Fantasy and Mackenzie Pibroch Suite with the Orchestra de Bretagne in Rennes, France, March 23 – master class for the Rennes Conservatory Inquiries from my Inbox:  Steve writes, “I'm really curious which rosin you use.” Dierdra asks, “What is your setup on this stunning ex-Soldat of yours? What brand of strings do you use? And what brand of rosin works best with them? Do you change the rosin depending on the climate of the place you perform in or a season? And what bridges are used on such valuable instruments as yours - are they the high- level "commercial" ones like Aubert de Luxe, Despiau etc. or maybe custom made especially for you?” Random Musical Thought: Can imagination be as effective as reality?  Main Topic: Part two of an extended version of WFMT’s program “Fiesta!” with host Elbio Barilari. Includes an interview with Rachel Barton Pine about her new CD “Capricho Latino” on Cedille R

Episode 69: Fiesta! Rachel Barton Pine’s CD Capricho Latino, part 1  Upcoming Events: February 29 – at the American String Teachers Association national conference in Providence, Rhode Island (presentation with Dr. Roland Vamos “Fixed Double-Stops: A Neglected Area of Double-Stop Work”, Carl Fischer book signing, speech and performance with Mark O’Connor at official dinner), March 1 – session “First Position Virtuosity!” at the American String Teachers national conference in Providence, Rhode Island, March 3 – master class and performance at benefit for the Kenosha Orchestra Boosters in Wisconsin, March 8 and 9 – Mozart Concerto No. 1 with the Orquesta Filarmonica de Bogota in Columbia. Inquiries from my Inbox: Tom writes: “Thank you for recording Wohlfahrt. Will you be recording Kayser, Mazas, and Dont?” Amy asks: "Can you please tell me where you found your baroque bow - the one you used to record the lovely little YouTube segment of Partita 3?" Random Musical Thought: Why doesn't anyone ever do the print

Episode 68: Emoting with the Fiddle – Klezmer Violinist Yale Strom   Upcoming Events: February 13 – master class for the Youth Rock Orchestra in Little Rock, Arkansas, February 14 – recital with pianist Matthew Hagle in Little Rock, Arkansas (works by Beethoven, Villa-Lobos, William Grant Still, and Strauss), February 17 – recital with pianist Matthew Hagle in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (works by Beethoven, Villa-Lobos, William Grant Still, and Strauss), February 22 – Tchaikovsky Concerto with the New West Symphony in Oxnard, California, February 23 – Tchaikovsky Concerto with the New West Symphony in Thousand Oaks, California, February 24 – Tchaikovsky Concerto with the New West Symphony in Santa Monica, California   Inquiries from my Inbox: Bruno asks: “Where can I find the solo part for the Clement Violin Concerto?” Ann asks: “Do you sometimes call yourself a fiddler? How does one distinguish? And does it matter to you what they call you when you play fiddle music?”   Random Musical Thought: A violinist can’t

Episode 67: Native Informant – Composer Mohammed Fairouz   Upcoming Events: February 2 – concert with the New York Chamber Soloists Orchestra in St. Augustine, Florida (works by Paganini, Bach, Albeniz, Piazzola, and Mozart), February 8 – recital with pianist Matthew Hagle in Montpelier, Vermont (works by Beethoven, Villa-Lobos, Mohammed Fairouz, and Strauss), February 9 – recital with pianist Matthew Hagle in Montreal (works by Beethoven, Villa-Lobos, William Grant Still, and Strauss)   Inquiries from my Inbox: Hannah asks: “How important do you think it is to have an urtext edition as opposed to International or another cheap one?” Corey asks: "Do you practice with a metronome or are you able to dictate the tempo as the sheet music notates it?”   Random Musical Thought: Can a violin be considered a co-commissioner?   Main Topic: A conversation with talented young composer Mohammed Fairouz, including a discussion of the five-movement unaccompanied violin sonata written for Rachel Barton Pine entitled “Native

Episode 66: Musical Passions, part 2 Upcoming Events: January 19 – Mendelssohn Concerto with the New Mexico Philharmonic in Albuquerque, January 27 – Paganini 24 Caprices at the Phillips Collection and National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC Inquiries from my Inbox: Hannah asks: “How important do you think it is to have an urtext edition as opposed to International or another cheap one?” Random Musical Thought: What if composers of the past had had to give their works catchy titles like today’s composers? Main Topic: “Musical Passions” with Eric Kisch on WCLV, part 2. Includes an interview with Rachel Barton Pine and tracks from her albums “Brahms and Joachim Violin Concertos,” “Scottish Fantasies,” “Glazunov Concertos,” “Maud Powell: American Virtuosa,” and “Violin Concertos by Black Composers of the 18th and 19th Centuries.” Total playing time: 01:05:38 SUBSCRIBE TO THIS PODCAST ON I-TUNES! Would you like to be featured on Violin Adventures? Just send your question via text or as an MP3 attachment to rach

Episode 65: Musical Passions, part 1 Upcoming Events: January 12 – Sibelius Concerto with the Sacramento Philharmonic, January 13 – guest appearance with the Chamber Music Society of Sacramento (Chausson Concerto for violin, piano and string quartet, and Suk Bagatela “With Nosegay in Hand” for violin, flute and piano) Inquiries from my Inbox: Elizabeth asks: “Does texting a lot hurt your violin hands?” Random Musical Thought: Do babies come in keys? Main Topic: “Musical Passions” with Eric Kisch on WCLV, part 1. Includes an interview with Rachel Barton Pine and tracks from her albums “An English Fancy,” “Xavier Montsalvatge: Canciones and Conciertos” and “Capricho Latino.” Total playing time: 00:55:55 SUBSCRIBE TO THIS PODCAST ON I-TUNES! Would you like to be featured on Violin Adventures? Just send your question via text or as an MP3 attachment to rachelbartonpine@aol.com and listen for your answer on Inquiries From My Inbox! Thanks for listening! www.rachelbartonpine.com www.twitter.com/rbpviolinist www.fac

Episode 64: Gorgeous Melodies in a Strange Structure – The Glazunov Violin Concerto Upcoming Events: July 12 – with the New York Chamber Soloists in Stowe, VT (Bach, Paganini, Mozart, Albeniz, Piazzola), July 15 – “Classical Heavy Metal” late night chamber music in Ottawa, Ontario, July 16 – recital with Menahem Pressler in Ottawa, Ontario (Mozart, Schubert, Franck), July 17 – Brahms Piano Quintet with Menahem Pressler in Ottawa, Ontario, July 18-23 – teaching at the Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp including a July 20 performance, July 24 – master class for the Sphinx Performance Academy in Chicago, IL, July 25 – 17th Century English music with Trio Settecento for the Viola da Gamba Society of America Conclave Inquiries from my Inbox: Jaden asks, “Can you make a video of you playing the Czardas and Massenet? Can you wear your golden watch on the right hand side?” Random Musical Thought: As classical music has changed and evolved over the centuries, should we consider this to be “progress?” A conversation with M

Episode 63: The Violin’s Awesome Medieval Ancestors, the Rebec and Vielle! Upcoming Events: June 16 – Trio Settecento live on WGBH, June 17 – Trio Settecento at the Boston Early Music Festival, June 27-29 – Mark O’Connor Fiddle Camp at Berklee College in Boston, July 4 – Barber Concerto with the Orquesta Filamonica de Montevideo in Uruguay Inquiries from my Inbox: assindiastignani asks, “There are some videos of you rehearsing, talking about, playing bits and pieces of the Bruch Scottish Fantasy. Do you have anywhere a complete performance of the work with you and orchestra? I'd really love it if you would put it on your channel. Many thanks!!” Random Musical Thought: What is early music? A conversation with multi-instrumentalist and early music specialist David Douglass about the violin’s medieval ancestors. Includes four pieces from the 1200s played by Rachel Barton Pine on rebec and David Douglass on rebec or vielle. To learn more about the rebec, please visit The Rebec Page, http://crab.rutgers.edu/~pbutl

Episode 62: “Blues and High Spirits” - Rachel Barton Pine on St. Paul SundayUpcoming Events: May 26 – Chausson Concerto at the Montreal Chamber Music Festival, May 28 – Arensky Piano Trio No. 1 and Tchaikovsky Souvenir de Florence at the Montreal Chamber Music Festival, June 3 – recording Montsalvatge’s Poema concertante with the NDR in Hanover, Germany, June 12 – recital for the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival in Florida.Inquiries from my Inbox: Jason writes: “Hey! Last night, I went to see Sepultura. The first openers were all bands I knew and somewhat liked. Most of them played tight, well-rehearsed, energetic and interesting sets. But when Sepultura came on, it took about a minute to realize that they were working on a completely different level than the openers. They were tight, well-rehearsed, energetic and interesting but they had something else that I can't describe. It was just electric. I'd chalk it up to liking the band and knowing their material - and I sure there's some of that - but I'm rea