Violin Adventures With Rachel Barton Pine

Episode 61: String Instrument Care 101 Upcoming Events: May 7 – Brahms Concerto with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, May 14 – Brahms Concerto with the Shreveport Symphony in Louisiana, May 15 – chamber music for the Norton Building Concert Series in Lockport, IL, May 19 – Brahms Concerto with the Monterrey Symphony in Mexico, May 22 – recital in Wayne, IL featuring music by Mozart, Strauss, Janacek, Beach and Ravel Inquiries from my Inbox: BBC Music Magazine asks: “If you were stranded on a desert island, what luxury item, what book, and what recording would you want to have with you?” Random Musical Thought: Steve Hashimoto writes: “If you watch almost any horror or science-fiction movie, you’ll hear some sort of atonal  music on the soundtrack; you probably won’t hear anything like that in your typical Reese Witherspoon or Jennifer Aniston flick. It made me think that perhaps there’s your demographic for a concert of works by Webern and Berg and Stockhausen: dudes who dress in black, listen to Metallica

Episode 60: Why are you holding the violin like THAT? The surprising true story of early violin playing Upcoming Events: April 19 - Haydn Seven Last Words of Christ in Chicago, April 23 - master class for the Music Institute of Chicago's Academy program, April 29 - master class and heavy metal concert at North Central College in Naperville, IL, April 30 - recital "Liszt and Beyond" at North Central College in Naperville, IL Inquiries from my Inbox: Jean-Jacques asks, “Sounds fun to be on the road, but does it ever get to you?  I have lived a lot of places like Chicago, Milwaukee, Boston, Houston, L.A. and Philly.  Do you have a favorite other than Chicago?” Random Musical Thoughts: "I would vote for Bach, all of Bach, streamed out into space, over and over again. We would be bragging, of course, but it is surely excusable to put the best possible face on at the beginning of such an acquaintance." (Lewis Thomas) "Mozart tells us what it's like to be human, Beethoven tells us what it's like to be Beethoven, and

Episode 59: Interaction! A Revolutionary Approach to Connecting with and Captivating Your Audience Upcoming Events: April 2 - Trio Settecento in a program of 17th Century English music at the Presbyterian Church of Barrington in Illinois, April 9 - Clement Concerto with the Netherlands Radio Kamer Filharmonie at the Concertgebouw, broadcast live on www.radio4.nl at 2:15pm Amsterdam timeInquiries from my Inbox: Allison writes: “Knowing you are an awfully busy lady, I will get right to the point. I recently purchased your "American Virtuosa: Tribute to Maud Powell" CD, and absolutely fell in love with your rendition of "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen," by John Rosamond Johnson. I have looked and looked, but I have not been able to locate the violin sheet music. If you have a moment, could you possibly recommend a site at which I could buy that particular arrangement?” Donors555 writes: Amazing performance of Dvorak’s Humoresque on YouTube, it was very cool. :) Can anyone send me, or tell where to get notati

Episode 58: Can playing rock music on your string instrument actually be ... gasp ... good for you? Upcoming Events: February 11 - Tchaikovsky Concert with the Bilkent Symphony in Ankara, Turkey, February 13 and 14 - Trio Settecento at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, DC, February 23 and 24 - Glazunov Concerto with the Bournemouth Symphony, February 27 - recital for the Ladies' Morning Musical Club in Montreal Inquiries from my Inbox: Christopher asks, “My school is holding auditions for its annual Bach festival, and the conductor gave us the entire B Minor Mass to practice. However, practicing the entire thing front to back is incredibly time consuming, and I'm hoping there's a better, more efficient way to get this done.” Heather writes, “I am having my solo debut with orchestra coming up in March and am playing the Mendelssohn. I am a professional player, though not a soloist. How do you handle the endurance that it takes to get through a piece like this? I am exhausted for sure after playing a symphony conce

Episode 57: Scotland's Music - a radio program with John Purser Upcoming Events: January 22 - Beethoven Concerto with the Riverside County Philharmonic in California, January 29 - Brahms Concerto with the Springfield Symphony in Massachusetts, February 5 - Ravel's Tzigane and Mozart Concerto No. 5 with the Springfield Symphony in Missouri.  Inquiries from my Inbox: 9-year-old Abigail asks, "Would you please tell me some things about you and your violin that I could use in my school presentation?" Random Musical Thought: Maud Powell's record company urged her to record popular music instead of only classical. She responded that popular music was familiar music, and that the more familiar people were with classical, the more popular it would become! A BBC program hosted by Dr. John Purser, eminent musicologist and specialist in Scottish music, with guest Rachel Barton Pine. Includes music from Rachel's album "Scottish Fantasies" and examples of the folk tunes used in the symphonic works on that recording. total

Episode 56: When hard work and talent aren't enough - the Rachel Elizabeth Barton Foundation is here to help! Upcoming Events: January 15 and 16 - Beethoven Concerto with the Illinois Philharmonic, January 16 - appearance at the Chicago Music Awards. Please visit http://martinsinterculture.com/cma-nominees.html by December 31 and vote for me in Category 7 "Best Classical Entertainer" and vote for my band, Earthen Grave, in Category 3 "Best New Entertainer." Thanks! Inquiries from my Inbox: ViolaNerd6 asks, "Are you planning on arranging your Happy Birthday Variations for viola any time soon?" Random Musical Thought: As you consider your year-end charitable giving, please remember the Rachel Elizabeth Barton Foundation, which is enhancing the lives of so many young musicians. Visit www.rebf.org for more information and to make a tax-deductible, secure online donation, or to print out our donation form. An episode of WFMT radio's "Introductions" which aired in 2009, featuring Rachel Barton Pine talking about th

Episode 55: An American Masterpiece: The Samuel Barber Violin Concerto Inquiries from my Inbox: Michael asks, "Hi Rachel. Random question of the day... What type of violin case do you use?" Random Musical Thought: As you consider your year-end charitable giving, please remember the Rachel Elizabeth Barton Foundation, which is enhancing the lives of so many young musicians. Visit www.rebf.org for more information and to make a tax-deductible, secure online donation. A conversation with renowned violin pedagogues Almita and Roland Vamos about the Samuel Barber Violin Concerto, recorded on January 7, 2009. Includes questions posed by doctoral student Jessica Platt. total playing time: 01:09:13SUBSCRIBE 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.comwww.facebook.com/rachelbartonpineviolinistwww.you

Episode 54: Seven cool new pieces for unaccompanied violin! Upcoming events: November 27 - Barber Concerto with the Orquestra Sinfonica Brasileira in Rio de Janeiro, November 28 and 29 - Barber Concerto with the Orquestra Sinfonica Brasileira and Maestro Roberto Minczuk in Sao Paolo, December 2 - unaccompanied recital for Bargemusic in Brooklyn, New York: Bach D Minor Partita, Ysaye Sonata No. 4, works dedicated to Ms. Pine by Augusta Read Thomas, Jose Serebrier, Luis Jorge Gonzalez, Fred Onovwerosuoke, Yale Strom, Philip Pan, and Edgar Gabriel, Ballada Espagnola arr. Jesus Florido, Asturias by Albeniz arr. Rachel Barton Pine Inquiries from my Inbox: Penelope asks, "How many concerts  a  year do you play? Just wondering..." Random Musical Thought: Teaching artist Eric Booth writes: "Entertainment happens within what you already know. Underneath its many features that inspire, delight, frighten, sadden us, it confirms our sense of the way the world is. That's the whole point of entertainment- to stimulate and

Episode 53: The beautiful science of strings Upcoming events: January 24 - private performance in West Palm Beach, Florida, January 28 - private soiree in Chicago, January 30 - master class at Virginia Commonwealth University, January 31 - recital at Virginia Commonwealth University (works of Dvorak, Brahms, Corigliano, Bauer, Gilbert, and Sousa) Inquiries from my Inbox: A neighbor in my elevator asks, "Who is your dressmaker?" You can contact my wonderful dressmaker, Julia Needlman, at 773-750-2180 or julianeedlman@sbcglobal.net.Random Musical Thought: If I had to make an unbreakable vow, I would place my hand on the Bach Six Sonatas and Partitas.A conversation from November 3, 2008, with two representatives of Thomastik-Infeld in Vienna, makers of Vision strings: Wolfgang Weiss, Head of Marketing, and Franz Klanner, Head of Research and Development and Material Science.For more information about Thomastik-Infeld strings, please visit http://www.thomastik-infeld.com.total playing time: 49:09 SUBSCRIBE TO THI

Episode 52: Getting the scoop on Franz Clement from a renowned British musicologist Upcoming events: January 10 - recital at the El Paso Festival, January 15 - master class at Centerville High School in Dayton, Ohio, January 16 and 17 - Roque Cordero Concerto with the Dayton Philharmonic Inquiries from my Inbox: Vicki writes, "Later next month I am performing 'Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso' by Saint-Saens with my youth orchestra. However, I cannot find any information about the piece itself, only a biography of Saint-Saens. Could you please direct me to a source?" Random Musical Thought: Composer Ned Rorem says, "Arguably, no artist grows up: If he sheds the perceptions of childhood, he ceases being an artist." A conversation about Franz Clement and the classical period with British musicologist Clive Brown, editor of the modern performing edition of the Clement's Violin Concerto in D Major.  The Clement Concerto is on my new CD, "Beethoven and Clement Violin Concertos" with Maestro Jose Serebrier and th

Episode 51: Writing your own cadenza - don't be scared, it's fun! Upcoming events: November 11 - London debut - Brahms Concerto with the Royal Philharmonic, November 13-15 - residency at Morehead State University in Kentucky, November 23 and 24 - Saint-Saens Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso and Sarasate Carmen Fantasy with the Ars Viva Symphony in Skokie, Illinois Inquiries from my Inbox: Whitney asks, "Do you offer or recommend any classical workshops for the summer?"  For a searchable database of summer music programs, visit www.allthingsstrings.com/search/ssg/advancedsearch.aspx. Random Musical Thought: What if violin students brought bows with them to concerts like kids bring baseball gloves to baseball games? Writing your own cadenzas: list musical material from all of the parts of the orchestral score and number each excerpt; study others' cadenzas: count how many measures long they are to find a typical range, write out each cadenza's harmonic scheme to note progressions and how many keys are used, m

Episode 50: Fantasies on Beethoven's Violin Concerto (a.k.a. my cadenzas) Upcoming events: October 3 - private event honoring Augusta Read Thomas, October 9 – Ravel Tzigane and Sarasate Zigeunerweisen and Carmen Fantasy with the Iceland Symphony, October 11 – children"s concert with the Iceland Symphony Inquiries from my Inbox: Will asks, "Do you ever hang out with other soloists?” Random Musical Thought: Verdi says, “I adored and I adore this art; and when I am alone and am wrestling with my notes, then my heart pounds, tears stream from my eyes, and the emotions and pleasures are beyond description." My cadenzas to the Beethoven Violin Concerto – a complete walkthrough of my construction with musical examples.  Includes the first and last movement cadenzas from my new CD “Beethoven and Clement Violin Concertos” with Maestro Jose Serebrier and the Royal Philharmonic.  To purchase this CD, please visit www.rachelbartonpine.com. total playing time: 27:49 SUBSCRIBE TO THIS PODCAST ON I-TUNES! Would you like to

Episode 49: The Beethoven Violin Concerto's forgotten origins - introducing Franz Clement and his concerto - Upcoming Events: September 21 - unaccompanied multi-genre recital for Performers of Westchester in New York, September 25 - fundraiser for at-risk youth in Chicago suburbs, September 26 and 28 - Italian baroque music with the Callipygian Players in Chicago- Inquiries from my Inbox: Mark S. asks, "What other physical conditioning do you do in addition to practicing?" - Random Musical Thought: Music journalist Ken Smith says, "If playing a piece of music is like walking through the composer's world, then contemporary music offers you a chance to let the composer point the way. If you're particularly adventurous you can even have the composer take you down a fresh path." Conductor Christoph Eschenbach says, "Living composers are not monsters. What we get in the theater, museums and books is new. Why should it be the opposite in music?" - All about my new CD, "Beethoven and Clement Violin Concertos" wit

Episode 48: Woodworms and the Three S’s? Luthier Paul Becker discusses violin maintenance, restoration, and tonal adjustment - Upcoming Events: September 7 – master class for the PeakHarmonic Youth Orchestra in Colorado Springs, September 9 – Beethoven Concerto with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, September 12 and 13 – Tchaikovsky Concerto with the Boise Philharmonic - Inquiries from my Inbox: lilrose09 asks for advice about left-hand pizzicato. - Random Musical Thought: composer Paul Dukas says “There is no such thing as new music – there are only new musicians” and composer Igor Stravinsky says “Modern music does not exist.  We speak in a different language from that of our ancestors but say the same thing – or express them differently.” - A conversation with my own luthier Paul Becker.  For more information about the Carl Becker and Son shop, please visit www.carlbeckerandson.com. total playing time: 54:22 SUBSCRIBE TO THIS PODCAST ON I-TUNES! Would you like to be f

Episode 47: The second coolest family of string instruments - all about the viola da gamba.- Inquiries from my Inbox: Carlos Marquina asks, "I’d like to know if you’re gonna do more with the viola d’amore. Have you taken a crack at the viola da gamba?"- A conversation with early music specialist John Mark Rozendaal about the history of viola da gamba and his innovative method for teaching it to children.  Includes the Prelude in Bb from Christopher Simpson’s "Division Viol" from John Mark’s new CD, "Breaking the Ground, " http://jmrozendaal.com/music/index.html. For more information about John Mark Rozendaal, please visit www.jmrozendaal.com. total playing time: 33:07 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 you answer on Inquiries From My Inbox! Thanks for listening! visit Rachel online: www.rachelbartonpine.comwww.myspace.com/rachelbartonpinewww.youtube.com/R

Episode 46: More about the d'more: the fascinating 14-stringed cousin of the violin and its enthusiasts - Inquiries from my Inbox: Alise Svoboda asks: Do you do master classes in the Chicagoland area for violinists that are interested in exploring jazz and rock?- Random Musical Thought: James R. Gaines writes, "A world without a sense of the transcendent and mysterious, a universe ultimately discoverable through reason alone, can only be a barren place, and the music sounding forth from such a world might be pretty but it could never be beautiful."- A conversation with Dan Thomason, co-president of the Viola d'Amore Society of America, www.violadamoresocietyofamerica.org.total playing time: 32:04 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 you answer on Inquiries From My Inbox! Thanks for listening! visit Rachel online: www.rachelbartonpine.comwww.myspace.com/rache

Episode 45: The arts as a catalyst for American democracy - Exploring the world of arts policy - Upcoming Events: teaching at Mark O'Connor's Strings Conference in San Diego through August 1, including a performance with Mark of his String Quartet No. 3 - Inquiries from my Inbox: Ray Randall asks, "Do you have any suggestions for amateur violinists about how we can practice better and play better?" - Random Musical Thought: "Practicing is teaching yourself." - A conversation with arts policy guru Nick Rabkin.  To buy his book, "Putting the Arts in the Picture: Reframing Education in the 21st Century," please visit: http://www.amazon.com/ total playing time: 1:11:05 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 you answer on Inquiries From My Inbox! Thanks for listening! www.rachelbartonpine.com www.myspace.com/rachelbartonpine www.youtube.com/RachelBartonPine Violin A

Episode 44: Bringing sound to life - the violins of Jan Van Rooyen - Upcoming Events: Bravo! Vail Festival in Colorado - Hugo Wolf Italian Serenade for String Quartet on June 22, Raff String Octet and Mozart Duo for Violin and Viola in Bb on June 23 - Inquiries from my Inbox: Benjamin K. asks, "What are some of your latest repertoire discoveries?" - Random Musical Thought: How do you decide if your group is a "chamber ensemble" or a "band?" - A conversation with luthier Jan Van Rooyen.  For more information about Jan and his violins, please visit www.gainesvilleviolins.com/featuredinst/index.html. total playing time: 39:45 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 you answer on Inquiries From My Inbox! Thanks for listening! www.rachelbartonpine.com www.myspace.com/rachelbartonpine www.youtube.com/RachelBartonPine Violin Adventures with Rachel Barton Pine is produc

Episode 43: Violinist.com, an online community for violin enthusiasts- Upcoming Events: Bravo! Vail Festival in Colorado - Danzi Flute Quartet with Eugenia Zukerman on June 21, Hugo Wolf Italian Serenade for String Quartet on June 22, Raff String Octet and Mozart Duo for Violin and Viola in Bb on June 23- Inquiries from my Inbox: a recorded question about participating in Celtic jam sessions from Tim from Pennsylvania- Random Musical Thought: the music of Liszt can be considered "Revolutionary" Romanticism while the music of Brahms can be considered "Evolutionary" Romanticism- A conversation with Laurie Niles, founder of www.violinist.com.total playing time: 30:36SUBSCRIBE 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 you answer on Inquiries From My Inbox! Thanks for listening! www.rachelbartonpine.comwww.myspace.com/rachelbartonpinewww.youtube.com/RachelBartonPineViolin Adventu

Episode 42: Discovering the exotic flavors of Lalo's Symphonie Espagnole - Inquiries from my Inbox: Ron Gorthuis asks, "Do you give lessons?" - Random Musical Thought: Plato says, "Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything." - An exploration of Lalo's Symphonie Espagnole with Venezuelan violinist Jesus Florido. Jesus explains how to interpret the rhythms and where to put inflections. total playing time: 42:58 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 you answer on Inquiries From My Inbox! Thanks for listening! www.rachelbartonpine.com www.myspace.com/rachelbartonpine www.youtube.com/RachelBartonPine Violin Adventures with Rachel Barton Pine is produced by Windy Apple Studios www.windyapple.com