http://selectviolins.com/blog Historical notes about violins, their makers, and violinists. Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:01:57 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en THE FIRST VIOLIN IN CHAMBER MUSIC VERSUS THE ORCHESTRA CONDUCTOR The comparison which I asked Mr. Kneisel to make is one which he could establish with authority. Aside from his experience as director of his quartet, he has been the concert-meister of such famous foreign orchestras as Bilse's and that of the ... http://selectviolins.com/blog/archives/87 "ENSEMBLE" REHEARSING "You ask what are the essentials of ensemble practice on the part of the artists? Real reverence, untiring zeal and punctuality at rehearsals. And then, an absolute sense of rhythm. I remember rehearsing a Volkmann quartet once with a new second violinist." [Mr. Kneisel crossed over to his bookcase ... http://selectviolins.com/blog/archives/86 THE FIRST VIOLIN IN THE STRING QUARTET "What exactly does the first violin represent?" Mr. Kneisel went on in answer to another question. "The first violin might be called the chairman of the string meeting. His is the leading voice. Not that he should be an autocrat, no, but he must ... http://selectviolins.com/blog/archives/85 "THE ARTIST RANKS THE VIRTUOSO IN CHAMBER MUSIC" "The artist, the Tonkünstler, to use a foreign phrase, ranks the virtuoso in chamber music. Joachim was no virtuoso, he did not stress technic, the less important factor in ensemble playing. Sarasate was a virtuoso in the best sense of the word; and ... http://selectviolins.com/blog/archives/84