Beethoven - The Violin Sonatas (DVD)

Melodious Mozart, perfectly played

Advantages: Excellent performances in a perfect setting
Disadvantages: Very minor quibbles

's employment really did happen! By 1778, Mozart's composition style had developed to the point where his violin sonatas are much more of an equal partnership between violin and keyboard. During this year while he was in Mannheim and Paris, he composed a set of 6 sonatas which are featured on this DVD. They were dedicated to the German aristrocrat Maria Elisabeth, Electress of the Palatinate, but most importantly for Mozart, they were also published in Paris - his first major music publication. This was a vital step for Mozart. Not only was it a good source of income to have the works published, but it also served to spread his music around a much wider audience than would otherwise have been possible. So these works, while perhaps not the most widely known amongst the general public, are a vital stepping stone in Mozart's development ...

Maestrolover 26.02.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Mozart: Violin Sonatas (DVD)

Buying a violin.

Advantages: Well worth learning
Disadvantages: can be a bit of a minefield.

Whether it is for yourself or your offspring, buying your first violin can be a daunting prospect - how do you know what you will need? Hopefully, this will help. Before you go shopping, ask around - your teacher if you have one or anyone you know who plays the violin, if you can get a recomendation of a good shop, this will make your job easier. Better still, try to elicite the help of someone who alerady plays - the advice of someone who knows their stuff can be very reassuring, as well as useful. The violin - you can really spend as much or as little as you like - you can pick up second hand Chinese violins for very little (£40?) you can spend thousands. Obviously, if you are starting out, you won't want a hugely expensive instrument. Spend what you can afford. Make sure the body of the violin is in good shape - avoid anything ...

Bryn_Pearson 13.09.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Violin

How to help your child learn the violin

Advantages: Encourages self discipline, can be fulfilling
Disadvantages: can be expensive

I admit it- I am one of those responsible for teaching those little blighters to play the violin! The violin, it must be said has an unfortunate reputation. There are all those violin jokes about cats, earplugs etc. It is a shame. I actively encourage yougsters to try the violin. I always give a suitability assessment, and to be honest it is only very rarely that I find a child totally unsuitable.Most children can manage to achieve something if a few criteria are followed: 1: THE INSTRUMENT: Buy the best instrument you can afford. No, don't take out a loan on a strad- find out if your child is the next Nigel Kennedy first! However, there are some grim kits around for about £70. I refuse to teach on them. The bows don't play properly and they often break. The violins themselves mostly sound foul and are not properly set up ...

water-witch 30.11.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Violin