Journey of 100
If one were to choose one single work that stands out among the rich repertoire for Solo Violin, generation after generation, it could well be the Chaconne by J.S. Bach. It is a piece that suggests endless depth and profundity.
I am setting out on a journey of discovery: I want to learn how my understanding of this work will develop through the process of performing it 100 times in a row. These performances will be in normal public venues (the first was at Lincoln Center in May 2012) but also they will be for small groups of interested listeners, colleagues and friends with whom I can explore deeper levels of communication and connectivity. [read more]
This performance was a home-coming for me – so many colleagues and friends from early on in my career, folks to whom I have looked up all my life. Although I wasn’t nervous, I do want to say that I had some trepidation about presenting to these superbly knowledgeable musicians my intensely personal artistic vision of J.S. Bach and his music. Somehow it seemed to go well and all were enthusiastic in their appreciation – phew!
In talking afterwards with my life-long friend Earl Howard – composer, instrumentalist – I started to get an idea of a new kind of sound that I might bring to the Bach works – one in which my particular violin and it’s unique sound would play a large part. More on this as the Journey of 100 continues.
At the Jr. B# Musical Club of Central New York, 7 pm
My performance tonight is part of an evening that includes Helden Tenor Jon Frederik West giving a talk about the role of Samson in Camille Saint-Saens’ Samson and Dalilah – a MET Opera HD world-wide theatrical broadcast this Saturday afternoon.
What a great night. My friend and colleague Jon Frederick West started the evening out with a super presentation on Samson and Dalilah – MET’s upcoming HD Theatrical Broadcast, this Saturday afternoon.
The tiny room was packed with young musicians, some of whom I have coached in the past – Jr. High and High School players all from within about 50 miles around Utica. Like this morning, I let the music flow where it would, and in the interests of making an early evening for all, I only took a few of the repeats. 🙂 . Thank you to Sar Strong, Senior Advisor/Coordinator of the Jr. B# Club, for inviting me.
This 39th performance in the Journey of 100 was a house warming concert for Robert, Deborah and their friends. Before starting, I described my intention through the series of performances to more deeply explore the rapport between a Divine musical work, the listeners and me the performer. After hearing some of the audience’s response to the music I began to feel in awe of the potential Music has to open connections between us as people because it was clear that folks felt moved, seemingly more connected with themselves and with the composer’s spirit.
It has been over a year since performance #38 and to be honest, I have not missed the piece. Yet as I write this morning, I am totally enthused about getting back inside it for the performances coming up this week.
Last night I continued to explore the balance between creative freedom in the timing of the phrases and liberties with the rhythmic pulse (for example how far I might move away from a metronome’s steady beat), and sticking with pulse – the powerful framework in all of Johan Sebastian’s music. Towards the beginning of playing I felt self conscious at times that I was manipulating the phrases rather than responding to the inner guidance of the music.
Another aspect that I must rethink is how to handle the repeats written in each of the two sections of the Allemande, Corrente, Sarabande and Gigs (the first four movements) – generally I take the first repeat and not the second. I wonder if this is somehow undermining the long-form flow of the work because the Ciaconna (the last movement) is a simple flow of variations, with no repeats at all.
Program opens with Schumann Sonata #1 in a, Op. 105, with Sar-Shalom Strong, Piano
Utica College Jackson Lunch Hour Series. 12:30P.M.
In my most recent post, I wrote about seeking the balance between pulse and freedom – between expressing Bach’s internal structure and the freedom of flow, in doing so.
I decided for today’s performance to allow my impulse for flow to lead the way. To be honest I am not certain how I feel about the results, there was a recording made and I will listen – I was deep into flow most all of the way through. I also made both repeats in the Corrente and Giga (this may sound really picky to some of you readers, but truly, it isn’t) and felt the results were “right”. There is another performance tonight, so I will see later where it all ends up.
3 Comments
I feel so blessed to have been at this mesmerizing memorizing performance. I went through all the seasons and struggles of life alongside the hope and tearful joy it also brings. Thank you for this journey, this condensed piece of living. Made even more special by not bringing in social media or recording of any sort.. just for us, bringing timelessness and unadulterated memories. So Powerful. THank you!
Shem, the music you played at Claudia’s and Mark’s flooded my mind with memories of my beautiful musical brother—as it soared and dipped and floated and surged, I traveled to places we’d been together. Thank you
Shem – it was fantastic! Wonderful to sit 5 feet away and hear this magnificent piece. I was hyper-aware of the struggle and determination in there. Beautifully played. I know you’re already in touch with Suzy Goodspeed, my wife, who couldn’t be there because she was sick, and there are plans to do this at our house in Setauket (near Stony Brook) in March. Very much looking forward to this! I want to hear it again!!!
All the Best,
Ray