Recording of the week and an update...

J.S. Bach-- Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin
Rachel Podger

It's shameful that I haven't kept up on this blog like I should, and the irony lies in the fact that I'm too busy being a musician to blog about being a musician! School has literally taken over all of my once limited extra time, and much to the annoyance of my family, is causing more stress than it should. I am trying to remedy that by adopting an "I simply don't give a shit" attitude, but that never works for me!

This week will be filled with excitement! I have 2 concerts coming up on the 20th and 21st, a masterclass with the KUSS Quartet on the 18th, and I am literally cramming for my upcoming masterclass with Joseph Silverstein on the 25th. I basically have learned the Bach Chaconne in a about a month. It will be a miracle if I can get through it next week! So for my recording of the week I decided to post Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for unaccompanied violin. This is an interesting recording because Podger plays with much more Baroque authenticity then say Pearlman or Milstein. The poor girl is in dire need of a makeover, but man can she play Bach!

Recording of the Week

Joshua Bell

Voice of the Violin

Now, I am a little infuriated with myself because I just discovered this album a few months ago while I was browsing around Barnes and Noble. It came out in 2006! Those of you who are really my friends know that I love Joshua Bell and I will take any criticism you have on that matter very personally! No one (since Kriesler) SINGS it like he does, so how fitting that he made a record filled with famous vocal pieces arranged for violin. This album features works like Schubert's Ave Marie, Rachmaninoff's Vocalise, Debussy's Beau Soir, and even Orff's In trutina from Carmina Burana.

Let me take this opportunity to apologize to the 2 or 3 people who actually read this blog. I know it's been a long while since I have posted anything. In case you care, here is a run-down of what's happening musically in my life: 3 concerts this summer with the Utah Symphony (see upcoming performances for details), recording gigs here and there, and the big news: DMA program at the U in the fall. Right now I am studying for my placement exams and practicing the Barber Violin Concerto, still teaching 11 private students and will be back teaching at SLCC in the fall, at least until my head explodes!