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SharonC said
Violinist Ellie Wilson from the UK has created a composition called, Moth x Human which features the violin and other instruments that incorporate sounds generated from moth flight data. Article that talks about it here in The Strad:
https://www.thestrad.com/playi.....rticle
If that kind of thing interests you, check out Peter Strickland's soundtrack to this movie (he is very big on sound - as you'll find out if you get heavily into him).
Andrew
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Gordon Shumway said
SharonC said
Violinist Ellie Wilson from the UK has created a composition called, Moth x Human which features the violin and other instruments that incorporate sounds generated from moth flight data. Article that talks about it here in The Strad:
https://www.thestrad.com/playi.....rticleIf that kind of thing interests you, check out Peter Strickland's soundtrack to this movie (he is very big on sound - as you'll find out if you get heavily into him).
One of the tunes on the soundtrack:
<a href="
This music reminds me of the Julee Cruse tunes (composed by Angelo Badalamenti) used in the Twin Peaks series:
<a href="
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Duets
I’ve created and posted videos for the 8th tune, Pierrot in the Moonlight, from the Applebaum Duet Bk1 in the Learning Thread:
https://fiddlerman.com/forum/l.....s/#p145575
A French folk tune, with the melody switches between Violin 1 & 2.
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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My grandkids have been watching the swallowtail caterpillars on the dill weed!
I used to see the big moths farther up north at my Grandparents' cottage when I was growing up, but not much here. I'm just grateful I've seen more fireflies than usual, this month!
Too bad the 'Moth x Human' trailer was so short. It's probably amazing from the info you linked, but that few seconds did nothing to entice me.
...can't wait for scientists to find a better way than currently available 'naturally', to eradicate disease-carrying mosquitoes & ticks - and still protect crops without pesticides.
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Practice
Getting hot down here in Georgia. Good reason to stay in and practice, though 
I was working on my Gliere duet piece earlier today. As I’m working through it, I’m deciding on fingerings. I had discussed some of this with my teacher at my last lesson, in which she made some suggestions. Also, the video I have in post #113 with the two people playing it has some good angles (some with a camera above them) so I can see what they are doing.
I decided to play the 2nd violin part. As I’ve probably mentioned before, the 2nd violin in a violin duet is not always a “lesser” part; as a matter of fact, it can sometimes be the more complex of the two. In this piece, they are equal parts.
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Violin Set up
Olaf video where he makes adjustments (fingerboard, bridge, soundpost, etc.,) to a young violinist’s instrument to optimize its sound.
<a href="
You can hear the difference—before/after comparison at around 11:26.
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Violin Playing in Films
I had planned to do yard work, but it was too hot again today. So, I decided to watch an old movie I hadn’t seen that I read about. Golden Boy (1939) – IMDB synopsis:
A poor young Italian man, who is a virtuoso on the violin, wishes to become a champion boxer to make a fortune for his family. But what is the road to success and happiness, and what is the price?
I had read that William Holden (main character) had done “intense” training in boxing & violin in preparation for the film. I then read that this training was one week (I think I said “HA” when I read that).
However, to its credit, there is an attempt to be accurate in the look of violin playing. I was unable to find the name of the violinist who’s playing is heard (what I found only indicated that it was a professional musician, no name). And there are only a few short snippets of violin “playing” (much more of the boxing).
Film is here:
<a href="
I remember that Meryl Streep spent several months, several hours a day practicing for the movie Music of the Heart (initially, they wanted to give her only 6 weeks to learn, and she begged for more time) – and she did an excellent job representing accurate playing.
<a href="
Then there are those films that just make a mess of it. TwoSet Violin guys have talked about this in several of their videos. One of them (in particular, around 06:00, violin has no bridge):
<a href="
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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pah, guitar and piano are just as bad.
Here's a politician pretending to play the guitar. It fooled people, that's all that mattered.
Andrew
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If you've got the patience to watch all of 'Allo 'Allo, Richard Gibson (Herr Flick) plays the violin quite sweetly, but it only gets three or four airings.
Andrew
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@SharonC -
That was Holden's 1st film - wasn't a stellar performance.
I read he studied boxing AND violin for a week prior, but also every day for 11 weeks during production - so 3 months.
With his back to the audience, then limited view of lower arms & hands - and knowing Hollywood... wouldn't be surprised if a double was used in the 1st instance, 2 extra violinists (outside the frame) in the 2nd - one supplying an arm for vibrato & the other an arm for bowing!
Btw, thanks for sharing these films! Sometimes it's been so long since I've seen a film I just don't remember much. Also, before playing the fiddle, I didn't have much interest in noticing anything about the violin playing (other than it sounded okay).
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Gordon Shumway said
If you've got the patience to watch all of 'Allo 'Allo, Richard Gibson (Herr Flick) plays the violin quite sweetly, but it only gets three or four airings.
I’m seeing that the Allo, Allo, series shows on our Tubi channel here (free streaming service) – I’ll try to give it a watch here this weekend
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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ELCBK said
@SharonC -
That was Holden's 1st film - wasn't a stellar performance.
I read he studied boxing AND violin for a week prior, but also every day for 11 weeks during production - so 3 months.
With his back to the audience, then limited view of lower arms & hands - and knowing Hollywood... wouldn't be surprised if a double was used in the 1st instance, 2 extra violinists (outside the frame) in the 2nd - one supplying an arm for vibrato & the other an arm for bowing!
Btw, thanks for sharing these films! Sometimes it's been so long since I've seen a film I just don't remember much. Also, before playing the fiddle, I didn't have much interest in noticing anything about the violin playing (other than it sounded okay).
The film is mediocre IMO--came across it, and saw Holden/Stanwyck were in it, and so decided to watch.
Seems the film creators should have given credit to the violinist(s) who actually performed the playing. By the time they completed the film, they should have come to appreciate that the skill required to create the music, and so it would be worthy of crediting the person/persons who was/were actually producing it.
It's a bit ironic – film is about a guy who decides to be a boxer because violin playing wasn’t going to get him much money. Wonder how much they paid the unnamed/un-credited violinist (or violinists) to play for this film.
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Music for the Group
I was updating music binders today for my teacher’s ensemble group. I put together the music from our playlist, post it (via site I created with secured links), and print hard copies of music that I put in these binders—I use the ones I talked about in post #13 here:
https://fiddlerman.com/forum/f.....2/#p144754
I always bring these binders as extra copies of what we play so that if someone forgets their own copy, or if someone just shows up to play (practice time/place is made known to folks in community, & open to anyone who wants to join in).
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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@SharonC -
🤣 The violinist probably got paid as much as he/she got recognized!
'Allo, Allo' is available on Amazon Prime (no adds). I watched the 1st episode (understand the premise), skimmed over the intro text for each episode of NINE seasons... some mentioning Herr Flick, but I don't see anything relating to violin in the ones I FFwd'd thru. Amusing, but the laugh track is a bit overwhelming (for me) - so asking me to watch them all is asking a little too much.
The 1940 film 'Broken Strings' - GREAT little short film, starts with a Classical Solo violinist who gets in an accident & hand is crippled, so teaches. The playing is pretty fake, but nice plot is really about his son & swing jazz. The father hates anything but Classical violin - son only likes to play 'swing' on the fiddle. The son gets punished, when he was only trying to make $ for the family, then gets sabotaged during a contest. It's only an hour long - available on YT in Blk & Wht, or colorized.
One 2008 film I've wanted to watch - 'The Brothers Bloom'. Rachael Weisz learned to play the violin, banjo, guitar AND accordion - supposedly played them all in one scene.
Robert Downey Jr. supposedly took violin lessons for a year to prepare for 'Chaplin'.
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ELCBK said
'Allo, Allo' is available on Amazon Prime (no adds). I watched the 1st episode (understand the premise), skimmed over the intro text for each episode of NINE seasons... some mentioning Herr Flick, but I don't see anything relating to violin in the ones I FFwd'd thru.
I'd have to find the exact ep number for you, I guess. Hard work.
Andrew
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Cross Training – Viola
I usually play 2nd violin in my teacher’s ensemble group; sometimes, if someone shows up that can play the 2nd violin, I’ll play viola instead. Might play viola this next meeting, so I took out the parts to look at them.
I haven’t practiced on the viola for a while, but not so bad. Alto clef does not seem as unfamiliar as it was, especially after not looking at it for a while.
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Gordon Shumway said
"Here's a politician pretending to play the guitar. It fooled people, that's all that mattered."
I see Boris is using the little known and practically forgotten ancient behind the capo chording technique!
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Practice – 2 pages vs 3 pages
Just practicing on my Gliere duet piece today. I ordered a printed copy of it from Alfred Music since IMSLP copy does not have copies of the parts separate, and the two parts together are 3 pages.
For duets, I like to read with the two parts together as I learn it. However, for this piece, when I play it all the way through, I’d prefer to play it as a single part with two pages rather than both parts on 3 pages.
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Duets
I’ve created and posted videos for the 9th tune, At the Playground, from the Applebaum Duet Bk1 in the Learning Thread:
https://fiddlerman.com/forum/l.....s/#p145653
Like the recent previous tunes, this tune continues focus on alternating whole bows & half bows (above middle, below middle) for both Violin 1 & 2. The tune is attributed to Wohlfahrt.
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Practice
Working on the Gliere Duet. Just working through some fingerings – the accidentals make for some challenging combinations, across strings in 3rd position; it’s all good—just need to do all the repetition to get it smooth.
Also ran through sections of the Yanshinov – can play through slowly, so just doing it faster in sections (like doing sprints!).
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
