Mini Series Part I: Joshua Bell

Joshua Bell with the Tulsa Symphony, and Maestro Dan Hege

This past Saturday Joshua Bell performed at the Tulsa Symphony Gala event. I can tell you that at least EVERY violinist in the orchestra was excited for his performance not to mention all of the music lovers of Tulsa and the surrounding area.

A little background:

Joshua Bell was a child prodigy – as in he’s been performing as a soloist since roughly Middle School age. Some people in the orchestra remember his early performances, when he was just a young boy. My teacher, Sally O’Reilly, remembers seeing him perform in Josef Gingold’s studio class at Indiana University when he was just a child.

On a more personal note, his was the first real violin CD I ever owned. I used to listen to it over and over again when I was around 9 years old. It was my first introduction to some of the standard virtuosic violin repertoire and obviously it had a lasting effect (hello – I still play the violin)

this was released in 1991. So many of my favorite violin hits are on this album. I wonder if I love them so much because of this CD?

Since then Joshua Bell has just gotten bigger and better. I’m pretty sure he’s done just about everything you can think to do as a soloist.

When I lived in Minnesota, I worked where the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra played. My time there overlapped with Bell’s time as an artistic partner meaning I was fortunate enough to watch him perform 3 or 4 times every season. He even signed that very first CD for me. My boss, knowing that I was a violinist, used to schedule me to sell CDs for him (at his signing table!!!) at those events and I can’t even describe how excited I used to get. This was pretty much as close as I thought I would ever come to him. He was always nice to everyone and it was interesting to see the same people come through his line night after night (typically 3 times per weekend). He would greet them so graciously and sometimes remembered other recent performances they had attended (aka he knew who his stalkers were and was still nice to them – a feat I’m sure).

That was about 8-10 years ago and I was content to assume this would be as close to ‘working with Joshua Bell’ as I would ever get. I never EVER would have hoped to share the stage with him. I mean, obviously every violinists wants to be employed and hear great music, and be involved from time to time but it comes with the understanding of how competitive this gig is and how high the odds are stacked against you. I always hoped to see him perform again but never from my front row seat.

do you see me staring in amazement?

When the Tulsa Symphony announced his performance I think we all jumped for joy! It is not often we get guest artists of that caliber in this area. And a violinist – Woohoo!

Bell played Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major: One of ‘the big ones’ in violin repertoire. Being the general badass that he is he couldn’t make it to Tulsa until the morning of the performance (a performance in Lubbock, Texas the night before had him a bit held up it seems). When he arrived at the dress rehearsal it was a different beast. We all sat up a little straighter, watched the Maestro a little closer, and took much more detailed notes. He arrived on our scene as a demanding musical force. I wasn’t ready for it. Part of me just wanted to sit back and watch in blind amazement and the other part wanted to dive in and make some music.

A pretty great view, right? That's my ponytail - pretty cool!

It is pretty amazing how expressive he is both physically and musically. His body language portrays exactly what he wants the orchestra to do, where he wants the music to follow him, what notes he wants to emphasize, and the excitement he wants to instill in the music. I guess his time as a music director, artistic partner (he often ‘conducted’ the SPCO from the concertmaster’s seat), soloist, and chamber musician really taught him how to use his entire body as a tool for expression. When he wanted something different he was very courteous and polite with both the conductor and orchestra. His feedback and requests were more about the mood  and feel he wanted to conjure and the articulation he found worked best.

After rehearsal many of us lined up to take photos and greet him. I always get so nervous to talk to famous people I admire (I was also a wreck with the famous runner, Bart Yasso) and have all of these things I probably SHOULD say –if only for my own sake- but never end up saying it because I get so flustered and self-conscious standing in line with other fans whom also want to share a special moment with the star. I didn’t even introduce myself – he had to ask for my name. Whoops! – add photo-

trying not to look too star struck

Anyways, he was so gracious and kind to each of us, waiting patiently for each of us to take photos, listening to us gush about our admiration for him, catching up with orchestra members he knew previously, and chatting with kids. It was nice enough of him to show up for a rehearsal and blow our musical brains but he’s kind, respectful, approachable, and funny. Who is this guy!? He certainly was under no pressure to be a real person – we were all content to stand awkwardly with a non-human superstar!

The concert began with a pre concert performance by the Harmony Project. I just started working with this afterschool program and am a huge fan of what they do. These kids are so cute and enthusiastic! They came to rehearsal and saw Joshua Bell play and were totally blown away. What a great way to conjure enthusiasm in young students! Their little bios can now include ‘performed on the same concert as Joshua Bell’ – not bad for just a few years of training! It took me decades (literally) to cross this off my bucket list. 

Some of the most advanced students from the program joined the orchestra on stage for the National Anthem. They are way cuter than we are so I think the audience and orchestra were very appreciative of their inclusion in the festivities. 

The Program

I thought the musical program was excellent.

The night kicked off with Richard Strauss’ tone poem Don Juan– a virtuosic piece for full orchestra jam-packed full of fireworks. If you’re a violinist you are probably a little too familiar with the first page of this piece as it is included in probably every single orchestra audition in the country.

It is hard, no doubt about it, but much more manageable as part of an ensemble than alone behind a screen with overwhelming nerves, and an intense desire to run away. The slower, romantic love themes are gorgeous and it truly shows the range and sensitivity of the ensemble. A pretty darn impressive way to start the season! 

The Three Cornered Hat, Suite No.2 by Manuel De Falla was up next. It was originally composed for the ballet but was arranged for orchestral performance. The three dances in the second suite are really fun, for both the orchestra and audience, and full of Spanish flavor. They are a funny mix of ‘very difficult to play if trying to read the music exactly as written’ and ‘if you get into the groove it makes much more sense.’

After intermission it was the Joshua Bell show. Obviously we had to save the best for last.

Joshua Bell wore a simple, all black ensemble consisting of waistcoat, dress pants, and black shirt. It was tasteful and discreet and not flashy whatsoever. He even did a twirl to really show off his outfit (just kidding).

The virtuosity of the violin concerto is first hinted at in Don Juan by the entire ensemble and the Spanish feel and dancing energy of the De Falla foreshadow Tchaikovsky’s exhilarating violin concerto (interesting to note that Tchaikovsky admired Édouard Lalo’s violin concerto Symphonie Espagnole written a few year previously because of the Spanish themes and melodies. Another popular Spanish piece from around the same time is Carmen by Georges Bizet). You can hear a little bit of the every so trendy Spanish influence sprinkled throughout Tchaikovsky’s grueling violin concerto.

Back to Bell

Joshua Bell moves quite a bit but tends to stay close to the second violins. I’d like to pat myself on the back and say it is due to our flawless and musical playing but most likely because it is easier to hear the winds and see the different sections. Whatever the reason it was particularly exciting for my stand partner and I manning the front stand of the seconds. I could have sworn I locked eyes with our soloist a few times throughout the performance.

His performance was awesome. Not in the typical overused sense of the word, more in the astounding, otherworldly sense. He plays so furiously it dazzles and not a rough edge was heard in his entire performance. Nothing but a beautiful sweet sound no matter what articulation, phrasing, theme or flashy passagework was at hand. As violinists, it is easy to play too aggressively on the G string we all would have excused a crunch or two (just to cinfirm that he is in fact human) but not a single scratch, crunch, non-gorgeous sound could be found.

His first movement cadenza elicited an audible inhale of wonder from the audience when he hit the first harmonic. The cadenza was flat out fantastic and breath taking (and crazy!). What a treat to see it from so close up. I just love when a crowd of 2000+ is completely silent and totally absorbed watching a performer. The energy in the room is so alive and tangible.

The audience gave his first movement a standing ovation before they allowed him to continue with the 2nd and 3rd movements. His finale was so quick it had many of us tripping to keep up with him in rehearsal. But holy moly was it exciting! The transition from beautiful Canzonetta to Allegro Vivacissimo definitely made everyone wake up.

He closed with the theme from Ladies in Lavender, composed by Nigel Hess a film starring Dame Judy Dench and Maggie Smith. It is charming and very reminiscent of Meditation by Massenet: Tasteful and elegant (and not overplayed), beautifully melodic, nostalgic, lyrical, and lush. This relatively short piece was a great way to offer a bit more music without adding any additional fireworks to the program.

I think every musician onstage was impressed and proud of this performance. It was a great way to start the season. I feel so inspired and motivated to be a better musician and violinist. Without sounding like a cheesy #hashtag I feel pretty darn grateful for the opportunity to take part in this performance and determined to work harder and get better so I can be part of performances of this caliber more often, or dare I say it, all the time.

Leave any comments below. I hope you enjoyed this!

Mini Blog Series Announcement!

This season is pretty special.

My performance schedule includes not 1, not 2, but several (I’ve already lost track!) violin soloists.

I thought, being a violinist myself, that it might be cool to blog about each concert from my up close and professional perspective as a member of the house band.

My goal is to make a mini series of blog posts regarding these concerts, covering rehearsals and performances and offering a glimpse of how some of the magic comes together and what it is like to work with a variety of violinists.

I remember the experience of going to concerts when I was younger - before I was a (somewhat) gainfully employed musician - and marveling at a soloist’s technical abilities and musicianship almost indiscriminately. It could have been anyone and I’m 99.9% positive I was impressed with the performance. I remember being so green to the whole experience, that everyone was just awesome and I wanted to be like that too. I had not yet formed my own opinions regarding musicianship (tempos, phrases, tone, poise etc.) nor had I committed a single thought to what TYPE of performer I would want to be:

a champion of new music and premiers?

Chamber music?

Classical music’s greatest hits?

A period performer?

….the options are endless!

When you’re blissfully young and naive you don’t think about what it means to be a soloist. All of the unglamorous parts of being famous like travelling non stop, being alone in hotel rooms almost everyday, where to find healthy food, what about a workout schedule?

I still don’t think I fully understand what it means to do this but I definitely have a firmer grip on this whole violinist thing.

I know the repertoire now. I’ve played enough recitals and concerts to appreciate and respect the amount of work, discipline, and focus it take to be a soloist (aka A TON) and I finally have some of my own, hard won aesthetics.

This season, I hope you will learn just a little bit from where I sit (literally) or at least find these posts enjoyable.

The soloists run the gamut from international superstars, to up and coming talent, and local concertmasters.

Posts will cover the following topics:

Who is it?

What piece are they playing?

What else is on the program?

What orchestra am I performing with?

 …and with which conductor? (So much to get straight!)

What is their rehearsal demeanor like?

Personal anecdotes?

Cool stuff?

Encores?

Standing Ovation?

Things I didn’t particularly care for?

What did they wear?

Yes, this applies to the Women AND the Men

First Up

Joshua Bell performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Tulsa Symphony and Maestro Daniel Hege on the podium.

Stay tuned for my reports from the field!

The Traveling Violinist - Eaux Claires

Eaux Claires, WI + Justin Vernon + Aaron Dessner = The newest, coolest music festival in the land.                    

This is the second year of this festival. We went last year, and then when we saw the line up for this year we hopped to and bought tickets again. I would never consider myself an avid festival attendee. I'm more of a 'here I am playing, and look at these cool other musicians I accidentally got to see because I'm already here'. This is the only festival I have ever wanted to go to as an audience member. I morph back into a version of myself that is geeky and excited about music in all shapes and sizes and wants nothing more than to hang out, listen, and watch.The variety of music, the diversity of performers, the collaborations that are encouraged are just so cool. This year they were even bigger and better than last year, which was a feat in and of itself because last year was AWESOME! 

Here is my festival story. I didn't get to see everyone or everything but there were so many great performances, art, performers, food, refreshments, you name it.

FRIDAY

We arrived promptly at noon. I really wanted to see So Percussion but I was pleasantly surprised to see and hear an organist sitting on the main festival grounds and played regularly throughout each day. Hark! Is that Bach I hear blaring between rock ‘n’ roll sets?

So Percussion 12pm (with Buke and Gase)

I was so excited to see these guys! They were in NYC when I visited a few weeks ago but I opted out of seeing them because I knew I would be able to soak them in NOW. And what a great surprise to see Buke and Gase with them! I can’t think of a better way to start a music festival!

Here is a quick excerpt from their bio -

With its innovative multi-genre original productions, sensational interpretations of modern classics, and “exhilarating blend of precision and anarchy, rigor and bedlam,” (The New Yorker), Sō Percussion has redefined the scope of the modern percussion ensemble.

Their repertoire ranges from “classics” of the 20th century, by John Cage, Steve Reich, and Iannis Xenakis, et al, to commissioning and advocating works by contemporary composers, to distinctively modern collaborations with artists who work outside the classical concert hall. 

So Percussion with Buke and Gase recording preview

So Percussion, Buke and Gase

My Brightest Diamond

I have loved this band for years. Shara Nova (new name) is a true talent. The My Brightest Diamond cover of “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITES EVER

In fact, here it is…

And from their website...

Not many people can front a rock band, sing Górecki’s Third Symphony, lead a marching band processional down the streets of the Sundance film festival and perform in a baroque opera of their own composing all in a month’s time. But Shara Nova can.

Her multi faceted career as My Brightest Diamond, which began with an acclaimed independent rock record, has reflected her journey into the world of performing arts. Born in diamond rich Arkansas and then raised all around the country, Nova came from a musical family of traveling evangelists. She went on to study operatic voice and then classical composition after a move to New York City.

Shara began issuing recordings as My Brightest Diamond in 2006.

Be Brave

My Brightest Diamond

S. Carey on a tiny stage in the woods

-He is not my type. I want to like him so badly! I don’t know what it is that just makes me think ‘meh…’ but the setting was perfect for his sincere and soft musical stylings.

Senyawa

By far one of the weirest most unexpected performances I saw. Very very cool! Glad I stopped at the Foxy Falafel and was accidentally enthralled with their exotic and totally captivating sounds

Here's a little bit about them...

Jogjakarta’s Senyawa embodies the aural elements of Javanese music whilst exploring the framework of experimental music practice, pushing the boundaries of both traditions. Their music strikes a perfect balance between their avant-garde influences and cultural heritage to create truly contemporary Indonesian new music.

Their sound is comprised of Rully Shabara’s deft extended vocal techniques punctuating the frenetic sounds of instrument builder, Wukir Suryadi’s modern-primitive instrumentation. Inventions like his handcrafted ‘Bamboo Spear’; a thick stem of bamboo strung up with percussive strips of the animal skin along side steel strings. Amplified it fuses elements of traditional Indonesian instrumentation with garage guitar distortion. Sonically dynamic, the instrument can be rhythmically percussive on one side whilst being melodically bowed and plucked on the other.

Since then they have gone on to perform at MONA FOMA Festival in Tasmania, the Adelaide Festival with Korean singer Bae Il Dong, toured as special guests of Australian supergroup Regurgitator, performed at the Glatt und Verkert Festival in Austria along side Japanese guitar master Kazuhisa Uchihashi, as well as the Malmo Sommarscen Festival in Sweden, Salihara Literature Festival in Jakarta, CTM Festival in Berlin, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Clandestino Festival in Norway and Oct Loft Jazz Festival in China. Senyawa was awarded a one month residency at AIR Krems as part of the Krems city wide festival in Austria where they were the star guests.

yMusic and The Staves

This was my absolute favorite performance from last year’s festival. The eerily haunting vocals of the staves blend perfectly with yMusic’s sound. They said they reworked some of their music and also reworked traditional English folk tunes for this performance. I cannot gush about this collaboration enough!

Art in the woods and rain

It started to rain, thank goodness we brought ponchos! We headed into the woods to see some of the installations, hide under the tree canopy and tromp around in the mud a little bit. We made some fellow festival friends but did not manage to stay super dry. My pink TOMS turned brown. Lovely

Sarah Neufeld

Sarah Neufeld is a violinist and composer based in Montréal, Canada. Best known as a member of Arcade Fire, she is also a founding member of the acclaimed contemporary instrumental ensemble Bell Orchestre, and most recently as half of an exciting new duo with renowned saxophonist Colin Stetson.

Neufeld began developing pieces for solo violin in a formal sense in 2011, though she has made improvisation and solo composition part of her process and practice since first picking up the instrument at a young age. Neufeld counts Bela Bartok, Steve Reich, Iva Bittova and Arthur Russell among the formative influences for her solo work, in tandem with an ear for the textures and sensibilities of contemporary electro-acoustic, avant-folk and indie rock music.

Vince Staples

A rapper in the middle of the WI woods? What? I'm not too savvy in this genre but he certainly put on a great show and used really provocative video footage and installations in his performance.

James Blake in the Rain

I have never seen so many people want to dance while the performer sits behind a keyboard. He didn’t stand up once and yet people were dancing and jamming out in the rain. Also, he composes and records everything electronically but performs everything live with a band. All of those beats are recreated in real time with an actual drummer. It is incredible

Also, I ate the most amazing cheese curds in the rain and have been craving them ever since. The Curd Girl A true love of my life…..I will never forget those curds (swoon).

Bon Iver

The Debut of new music. WOW. Just wow.

I love that every time I hear Bon Iver perform his songs have been reworked and reorchestrated, incorporating new instruments and arrangements every time. That is so special! I cannot gush enough about how awesome that is. Do you know how hard it is to continually breathe new life into ‘old’ works? Not everyone can do it and certainly not everyone wants to.

You know what else I love? That this is a great show to watch because of the music. No dancers, no (super) crazy light show, no videos just a dude from Eaux Claires and his band rocking out to some soulful, heartfelt, from the heart rock (if you can call it that) music.

I got back to the hotel, looked in the mirror and realized I resembled a drowned rat and I didn’t even care. Guys I’m telling you – music! Whoa!

Saturday

We had breakfast with friends AWAY from the festival before heading back for round 2. Our feet were sore and needed a break....and some coffee. 

Then off we went!

Coffee, Sunshine, and Eighth Blackbird playing Bryce Dessner’s Murder Ballads

Here is a little bit about them....

Eighth Blackbird’s “super-musicians” (Los Angeles Times) combine the finesse of a string quartet, the energy of a rock band, and the audacity of a storefront theater company. The Chicago-based, four-time GRAMMY Award-winning sextet celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2016: two decades of performing for audiences across the country and around the world with impeccable precision and a signature style.

A winner of the 2016 MacArthur Award for Effective and Creative Institutions, Eighth Blackbird has been described as “one of the smartest, most dynamic contemporary classical ensembles on the planet” (Chicago Tribune). The group began in 1996 as a six entrepreneurial Oberlin Conservatory students and quickly became “a brand-name…defined by adventure, vibrancy and quality….known for performing from memory, employing choreography and collaborations with theater artists, lighting designers and even puppetry artists” (Detroit Free Press).

Filament centers around a live recording of Philip Glass’s early masterpiece, Two Pages, and includes world premiere recordings of works by Bryce Dessner (Murder Ballades), Nico Muhly (Doublespeak), and two remixes by Son Lux, whose tracks gather sounds from the other compositions on the album, stringing together the album’s musical ‘filament’ and adding the voice of Shara Worden (of My Brightest Diamond). Filament was selected as Album of the Week by WQXR/Q2 Music, Seattle’s Second Inversion, and the Chicago Tribune. The San Francisco Chronicle called it “wonderful…a fine release…comprising both restless energy and reverence.”

Eighth Blackbird’s mission—to move music forward through innovative performance, advocacy for new music by living composers, and a legacy of guiding an emerging generation of musicians —extends beyond recording and touring to curation and education.

I love their most recent album Filament! Seeing this ensemble on the festival lineup was definitely an incentive to buy tickets. They performed several times each day. I am so happy we caught ‘Murder Ballades’ – an historical musical trend that I can get behind (traditionally songs written about famous murders and murderers but with a catchy upbeat vibe….dark, dark, dark, right?)

Anyone who thinks classical music is dead/dying/no longer relevant clearly needs to spend a weekend in the woods of WI! 

Mavis Staples

Mavis Staples will doubtlessly go down in history as one of the greatest gospel singers of all time, the breathtaking voice powering one of America's great family bands, The Staple Singers. From the traditional gospel music of the 1950s to the 1960s protest songs that underscored some of the decade's most dramatic social changes, from the self-empowerment anthems of the 1970s to the soulful love tunes and mature Americana of more recent years, Staples and her family have consistently created some of the best and most inspirational music of the past half-century.

And although Staples is now more than 70 years old, she has no intention of giving up the calling that has consumed her since she was a child. "Ain't no stopping me, I will sing," Staples declared in a recent interview. "You know, you'd have to come and scoop me off the stage. I'm gonna sing till I die."

What a great show! She has so much energy! She also brought Lucius on stage to sing some back up vocals and made it known that if Justin Vernon asked her out ‘She’s available!’

It was great fun!

Next up was Shabazz Palace.

Filling time before the yMusic performance (one of my ‘Can’t miss this!’ performance of the weekend)  Somebody recommended we check this one out. I had never heard of them but hot diggity they sound good with a meal of Cauliflower Steak with Saffron Aioli (Foxy Falafel needs to open a branch in Tulsa!)

That cauliflower.....perfect!

yMUSIC

Fan girl moment! I love this group! I love the music written for them, the collaborations they choose to take part in (pretty much everybody). Nadia Sirota hosts one of my all time podcasts “Meet the Composer”

Hailed by NPR’s Fred Child as “one of the groups that has really helped to shape the future of classical music,” yMusic is a group of six New York City instrumentalists flourishing in the overlap between the pop and classical worlds. Their virtuosic execution and unique configuration (string trio, flute, clarinet, and trumpet) has attracted the attention of high profile collaborators—from Ben Folds to Dirty Projectors to Jose Gonzalez—and inspired an expanding repertoire of original works by some of today’s foremost composers, including Nico Muhly and Andrew Norman.

In addition to performing their own repertoire, yMusic serves as a ready-made collaborative unit for bands and songwriters, and have lent their distinctive sound to dozens of albums, most recently, Ben Folds’ 2015 release “So there.”  Other recent collaborations include recording and tours with José González, The Tallest Man on Earth, Dirty Projectors, The Staves, Bon Iver, and Blake Mills.

Buke and Gase

I have friends who know these people. I have friends who have admired their music for years. Although not the most captivating live performers (I think what they have to do a whole bunch of very complicated things that I totally don’t understand but sound really cool) there music is really awesome! I walked away from their performance excited to listen to more (so did Jeff). I also really liked that the singer’s mom came to the show and her daughter enthusiastically greeted her from the stage. How cute is that? Who cares about being a ‘cool’ rocker? What’s cooler than having your mom in the audience for your show.

We tried to get into the Grateful Dead cover performance that featured pretty much every famous person they could get their hands on but none of us are really ‘Dead Heads’. I didn’t grow up listening to it, I’m not a super fan of tie-dye and I’m pretty sure I’ve never done the amount of drugs needed to get on ‘that level’ so we headed up the hill to catch a little bit of the Har Mar Superstar set

Here we are briefly ignoring the Grateful Dead cover.

Har Mar Superstar

Sounds like Justin Timberlake, moves like Jagger, looks like……ratatouille. Just kidding (kind of)

A crooner who likes to get naked and has not one bit of body shame. Always a good time. I’ve seen him live several times and seem to keep going back for more.

Erykah Badu

She may have been 30mins late to her own set.

But when she showed up she slayed.

She is an artist through and through. She clearly has a vision for herself, her music, and her performance.

Even though it was almost half as long as it was supposed to be, her performance knocked everyone’s socks off. No offense to Beach House but it would be hard for anyone to follow this act. I could seriously gush about how awesome she was, her band was, the performance, the vibe. I'd go again in heart beat!

Beach House

This was the last night of the festival. We were staying to the end NO MATTER WHAT!

Beach House is a band that I always enjoy and always forget to think about. Is that bad? I feel bad saying that because I would never want to be described that way.

I have to say that their website is delightfully elusive.

http://www.beachhousebaltimore.com

Francis and The Lights

The very last act of the festival. SO much pressure? I really didn’t know this guy or his music before looking into the festival line up. There isn’t a ton of current music available to listen to, some EPs that are a few years old, some collaborations etc. but he totally got a bunch of buzz due to this video:

So guess who everyone was assuming/hoping/expecting to show up? Kanye West.

This guy has the stage presence of Kramer and Edward Scissorhands rolled into one dancing, singing machine. It is amazing what one performer can do sometimes to keep a crowd’s attention.

For the very last song of the very last night of the festival he was joined onstage by Justin Vernon and……

Chance the Rapper.

Perhaps a stand in for Kanye? I know, after doing a little research, that they have worked together. They did the dance from the video (see above) and the crowd went wild. It was a great dance party to end the night and festival.

My feet were tired, my shoes were covered in mud, my legs ached from the walking and standing but it was another great festival. Music, man…..it is just the greatest.