QUESTION
Have you ever looked for that elusive sound which you would like to produce from an instrument? For me, it is the ability to express oneself with energy and yet with tone.
Well, I have found that instrument.
INSTRUMENT
Recently, I purchased a new violin (model ASLH700) from Antonio Strings, Christchurch, New Zealand.
It is a brand new Chinese instrument made under the supervision of Ling Hua, Shanghai, with a marvellous setup by Antonio Strings.
WORKOUT
The violin was first played during an intense weekend of playing in the Warrnambool area of Victoria. A couple of friends, Mark and Lisa McDonnell, were presented with the Legend of the Lake Award for their services to the Koroit Lake Summer School over the past few years.
The music session after that lasted for about four hours, until 2am the following morning! The next afternoon, there was another session at the Victoria Hotel, Warrnambool, which lasted for another eight hours !
Not only did the violin’s sound carry beautifully, it also had the ability to produce a solid strong tone.
The sound of the violin complimented the instruments, both vocal and musical, present at each occasion.
In terms of accompaniment for singing, there is an even quality of response throughout the violin’s register from the low to the high range.
RECENT PLAYINGS
Over the past three weeks, the violin has been played at the Corkman Session, Melbourne, a lively Thursday night gathering of musicians, singers and regulars and with friends in a band called Taliska.
Taliska recently played at the Wyreena Café, Croydon. This is an acoustic venue which is also an art gallery.
Again, the violin beautifully accompanied the instruments and singing.
For songs, there was a more reserved responsive accompaniment and for the tunes, the accompaniment/ melody was strongly played with energy and tone.
MEMORIES
The instrument very much reminds me of my first full size violin, which belonged to my grandfather. Memories are of being able to play the violin with energy and yet with tone.
I very much look forward to the opportunities over the coming years to create memories, not just for myself, but with friends and fellow enthusiasts of Celtic music worldwide.
Colin MacLeod
Celtic fiddling with Scottish Lilt
Email : colin@roamingfree.com.au
Website : www.roamingfree.com.au
PS Thank you to Kim Bishop, a teacher with Suzuki Music Victoria for her original recommendation of Antonio Strings.
I am interested in your blog about playing for singers,do you play the melody while the singer is singing or do you play chords or accompanying notes that relate to the tune.
I like to play the melody because I play by ear and can’t think fast enuff to play an acceptable sound to match the given melody. I have never heard anybody play only the melody whilst the song is being sung.
Hi Frank
Thank you for your comment.
When playing for singers, whilst the singer is singing, I try and sensitively play some accompanying notes or chords to the song.
The accompaniment may be influenced by the key of the song e.g. D Major, the chords which are being played by other instruments or I may just play a rhythm based on chords.
One can also vary the level of sound i.e. sometimes play softly and sometimes play loudly.
There are also the options of not playing at all for a spell in the song or playing a melody solo between verses.
Alternatively, if the melody for the song has a hook phrase (a phrase which repeats itself a few times during the song) then this could form the basis of an instrument solo at selective places in the piece.