Author Archive: nick
Smetana From The Homeland (Z domoviny, Aus der Heimat)
Moderato Andantino – Moderato Completed in the spring of 1880 shortly after Smetana finished his nationalistic tone poem cycle?M? vlast, From My Homeland?is a two movement work for violin and piano and one of only two works written by Smetana for this combination of instruments. He had by this point completely lost his hearing and […]
Continue readingDvo??k Four Romantic Pieces, Op.75
Allegro moderato Allegro maestoso Allegro appassionato Larghetto In January 1887 Dvo??k?was living in Prague with his family and a young chemistry student named Josef Kruis. Kruis was an amateur violinist and?Dvo??k?took it upon himself to write a trio for 2 violins and viola so the young man, his teacher Jan Perlik?n and?Dvo??k could play together. […]
Continue readingElgar Sonata Review
Here is a lovely review from MusettaStone.com of our performance of the Elgar Sonata at The Banff Centre at the beginning of January: It was simply magical!? The duo brought to the stage so many different moods, colours, and atmospheres.? I was particularly impressed in how unified their performance was, and how they moved with […]
Continue readingJoining the dots…
As performers we spend hours worrying about?perfecting the notes & rhythms, clarifying articulation and refining dynamic shading, diligently slaving away our practice hours in the hope of improving our capacity to realise the dots and symbols representing the composer’s elusive intentions. ?Teachers spend hours on techniques to improve?sound quality, rhythm,?articulation, balance, and so on, all […]
Continue readingMozart Sonata for Piano & Violin in D, K.306
I Allegro con spirito II Andantino cantabile III Allegretto In August 1777, the 21 year old Mozart, frustrated with the limitations of his court employment and the musical environment in Salzburg, sought leave to undertake another European tour, his first as an adult. The archbishop released him from his post as concertmaster of the court […]
Continue readingSaint-Sa?ns Sonata for Violin & Piano in D minor, Op.75
I Allegro agitato – Adagio II Allegretto moderato – Allegro molto Saint-Sa?ns was born in Paris in 1835 and spent much of his professional life in the city.? Like Mozart before him, the young Saint-Sa?ns was a prodigious talent, composing his first piece for piano at the age of 3 and making his formal debut […]
Continue readingFranck Violin Sonata in A
I Allegretto ben moderato II Allegro III Recitativo – Fantasia: Moderato – Molto Lento IV Allegretto poco mosso Born in Liege in 1822, C?sar Franck?s early life was haunted by a rather over-bearing father who had great ambitions for his undoubtably talented son. Seeking the fame and fortune such talent could bring to their family, […]
Continue readingElgar Violin Sonata in E minor, Op.82
By 1918 and the end of the Great War, Elgar was in poor health and deeply disturbed by the tragic events that had befallen Europe. He and his wife rented a beautiful cottage near Fittleworth in Sussex called Brinkwells where Elgar enjoyed what was to become his last major creative period. In these wonderful surroundings […]
Continue readingA few thoughts on nerves…
Over the last few weeks we have hosted two concerts for our pupils, one for school-age learners and the other for adults. I have also been travelling around the UK, examining for ABRSM, and watching these hoards of relatively inexperienced, budding musicians perform has got me thinking about nerves. All of my pupils complain of […]
Continue readingKickStarter Success
We are absolutely thrilled that after 30 days on KickStarter we have managed to attract enough support to fund our forthcoming debut CD for Nimbus. We have been deeply touched by the support we have received and we are amazed that it has come from all four corners of the globe, Germany, Canada, USA, Australia, […]
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