Introducing: David Garrett, Ann Fontanella, Giora Schmidt, Lucia Micarelli, Jun Sung Ahn
Somebody broke the world record for playing "speed violin". Congratulations to Mr. David Garrett on playing "The Flight of the Bumblebee" in an astoundingly crisp 1:06:56 minutes. He now holds the world record for speed violin in the Guinness Book of World Records. Let it also be known that he plays an extremely valuable 1716 Stradivarius (original!) violin. Antonio Stradivarius was a master luthier (or maker of instruments), specifically a violin-maker. Some 8 originals still exist in the world and they are worth millions of U.S. dollars. But enough about Strads. Let's talk about David! A child prodigy and virtuoso violinist, David hails from Aachen, Germany (the hometown of other famous persons). He came to America to the Julliard School of Music to further his theoretical studies in musicology and composition (good move, I say). He now tries to make classical music accessible to the masses, by writing rock symphonies and performing around the world with his unique, highly technical and impressive arrangements of popular music. Needless to say, I am impressed.
The next two fiddlers - or violinists, as is the proper term for a classical musician - are also reaching out to a broader community. Ann Fontanella is another young prodigy, though a quite serious and mature young woman who is well studied in music history and exceedingly proficient in her technique. She also branches into composition, with a well-developed structure to her pieces that is faithful to the classical period. Her YouTube Master classes, program notes and demonstrations are quite helpful to the budding virtuosi who scour the Internet looking for how-to's on a difficult passage or inspiration for interpreting a period piece. Similarly, Giora Schmidt keeps the classical world laughing with his music jokes and rare finds of vintage advertisements for musical instruments and various types of apparatus for improving technique. I follow his Facebook page and find myself doubled over with laughter at each new absurdity and typification. Giora also makes videos to demonstrate to violin students how to produce different sounds, and answers questions about rosin, concert tuning, variations in stylistic expression on a particular piece, and critiques or comparisons of different interpretations of the great masters of violin.
Lucia Micarelli has been a favorite of mine since I heard her gorgeous solo on a Josh Groban song a few years ago. I have tried to learn this solo simply by watching and rewatching the video over and over, and experimenting with my violin. Her expression is exquisite and her affection touching, appropriate to the tenderness of the song.
I heard rumors that she went on tour with rock musicians, playing electric violin. Her classical accomplishments are just as impressive as any great virtuoso who branches out into popular music, fittingly, as it happens. David Garrett stipulates that any classical musician wanting to play crossover must also be well established in the classical community (so since I began this post with him, I think it only fair to reference his credible opinion), and I think Lucia accomplishes this satisfactorily.
Lastly, I would like to introduce you to Jun Sung Ahn, known online as Jun Curry Ahn [read: Korean]. A violinist from Korea studying at Northwestern University in America, Jun is a talented and creative youngster who likes to make videos of himself covering popular songs on his violin, and blending the parts into the same view, layering his own playing. He also dances on a team at his University, an outlet also suited to the crossover style, when considered alongside his reputable classical talents.
That's all for now, folks - my next update will tell tales of fiddlers near and far in the folk world. Until then, my friends, keep living well.
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