Doublestop Magazine

Kim Kashkashian (viola) and Robert Levin (piano) were not intending to make it so in producing this collection of songs. Rather, they were attempting to translate song—even the singing voice, the words of music—into a collaboration for piano and viola. Their partnership, over the course of several years, writing, crafting and performing songs on Asturiana, has resulted in an effort where neither instrument takes center stage. And that is the magic in the music.

Doublestop Magazine talks with violinist Swil Kanim, the “Violindian.” Swil Kanim explores his career and Native American musical traditions: “There are hundreds of tribal nations in North America. Each with their own way of being. Each with their own songs to sing at their own special times. These are new times. Maybe, the time for a new song and a new way to sing is now and on the violin.”

Here’s a few links that have been kicking around my browser for a while now:

• Corner Violin Shop on Weird Instruments: Viol da Gamba — the post includes a few nice photos and a bit of history on one of the more unusual stringed instruments out there.
• The Project Gutenberg eBook, Music Notation and Terminology, by Karl W. Gehrkens. This is an ebook version of a 1914 book. You may find it handy if you have a notation question…
• TED loves classical music — links from the Technology, Entertainment, and Design conference. (No, this isn’t some guy named Ted!)

You know those stories about the musician who leaves a million-dollar instrument in a taxi? The latest story features Philippe Quint leaving his 1723 Kiesewetter Stradivarius in a cab. Never fear, for this one has a happy ending. The cabbie, Mohamed Khalil, tracked down Quint and returned it. As a thank you, Quint gave “a private 30-minute performance on Tuesday in the cab waiting area at Newark Liberty International Airport” (plus tickets to an upcoming show).

My shoulder is a bit sore. It could be because I played for a couple of hours this morning. (Or it could be because I held an increasingly heavy infant this afternoon.) Anyway, the twinge in my shoulder reminded me of an NPR story I heard yesterday: Treating the Ails of Musicians.

Pianist Leon Fleisher is perhaps the most well-known case of a musician being sidelined by a debilitating injury. After being unable to play with his right hand, he re-invented himself as a left-handed player and conductor. Leah Fleisher, his daughter and a physical therapist, tries to make sure that doesn’t happen to other musicians.

The story isn’t solely about violinists, but it does touch on the unique challenges faced by string players.

Speaking of the physical challenges of playing the violin, if you have any great resources on the subject (stretches, exercises, training, etc), shoot ‘em my way. Or, if you’re a professional in this area and you’re interested in writing an article for us, that’d be most welcome, too.