Fiddle talk - VIOLIN DISCUSSION FORUM - Playing the violin

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Sibelius Violin Concerto

Topic Rating: 5 (2 votes)

PopFiddle

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September 12, 2014 - 11:48 pm

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I've been looking around for a student violin and watching the FM demo video for the Fiddlerman Concert violin, I got hooked on the piece played by our Fiddlerman. I was going to post the video with a request for the name of the piece, when on a hunch I looked at the comments to the demo video for a clue and found FM had posted the name of the piece. Another quick search of YouTube for "Sibelius Violin Concerto" and I found this at the top of the list.

Enjoy.

I was thinking it might be fun to try playing it. ... Uh, maybe later.

PopFiddle

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September 13, 2014 - 12:36 pm

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Here's another performance of the piece by Joshua Bell near the top of the list at YouTube:

Chinafiddler

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October 1, 2014 - 9:53 am

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Hi PopFiddle,

So you like the Sibelius Violin Concerto, well give yourself a treat and listen to the recording by Jascha Heifetz.

Heifetz owned this concerto his whole life. Nobody played it as well then or now, so go listen.

I guarantee you will be moved to a different world, and realise how pale the modern performances are.

Regards

PopFiddle

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October 3, 2014 - 6:02 pm

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Here's one of Heifetz's performances from YouTube:

He really is all over it, no question about it. I actually prefer the modern performances. I think Heifetz uses too much vibrato and I think he rushes it a little. But I don't think the two others above match him at all in terms of technical brilliance.

Fiddlerman

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October 4, 2014 - 9:30 am

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I agree that the tempo that he choices is faster than my preference. Even the orchestra lags big time in the beginning. Of course the recordings were not done the same way back in the day and quality makes a big difference.
I've been involved in about 100 CD recordings with the orchestras that I've been employed in and can tell you that we play over and over to get it as perfect as possible. It can take several days to a week to record one symphony or concerto. Also, the soloist sometimes comes back to record some parts on his or her own. The producers then spend at least an additional week to mix it. I'm pretty sure that this recording was not done that way.
Heifetz was a technical genius but not the warmest player or guy around.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

coolpinkone

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October 4, 2014 - 1:23 pm

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Good observations Pierre and Popfiddler. I find it very interesting to hear what others hear from different performances. My ears are just learning to hear these kinds of issues. I am now listening to Sibelius and trying to find my favorite performance. I am doing it all by ear first, eyes closed. Then I will go back and watch for fun.

Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato