Word: violine
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...that is his reason for playing. His notes are choppy and quick, and he plays in phrases. This style is adopted by Jerry Goodman the violinist. Goodman exploits his instrument's traditional use as a lilting, lyrical stringed instrument, and also the complete range of options opened when the violin is electrified. Therefore he's able to play both lyrically, and acidly, and he can also use the violin as a rhythm instrument under McLaughlin's guitar. Jan Hammer, the keyboard man, plays the piano in the same style, with short, choppy notes, and an emphasis on phrases...
...these techniques, adding to them the use of increasingly complex tempos with frequent changes. The result is music composed of an initial theme, over which each member plays short phrases, or frills, over that theme, or a variation. The continued emphasis is on speed, and on ensemble playing: guitar-violin, or guitar-violin-piano, resulting in a fusion of musical minds that is spiritual. Above all, each member exploits the possibilities of his instrument to the fullest...
...Kiss. The opening night's Violin Concerto turned out to be Balanchine's finest work since his 1967 Jewels. Stravinsky's music is less assertive, less obviously heroic than most violin concertos. Instead, it offers a rich conversation with the soloist as a sort of Socratic anchorman. Balanchine's two principal dancing couples follow this dialogue, and sometimes invoke the unexpected by concentrating on minor or secondary themes. All to the point of producing a ballet that is mod, sexy and elegant-vintage Balanchine...
...most unusual pieces were the Davies In Nomines. They ranged from the most conservative (scarcely discernible from Purcell's style) to the far more exotic. The fifth one was a screeching duet of violin and clarinet whose tessitura was in no way balanced by the later addition of piccolo. The players maintained a remarkable faithfulness to pitch, extremely difficult in view of the ranges they were forced into. The fourth In Nomine was a beautiful Debussy-like flute and harp duet over viola and cello accompaniment...
...singers were superbly backed by John Miner's orchestra. The overture was done with a speed and precision that puts to shame the student orchestras in the vicinity, which this definitely was not. The violin section was outstanding, playing presto sixteenth-note runs with a remarkable unity. The strings never covered wind solos, among them the beautiful clarinet and bassoon accompaniment to Don Ottavio's Il Mio Tesoro Intanto. An important detail was the size of the harpsichord: mercifully, it was large enough to cut through the heavier scoring, avoiding the distracting jangle that is the fate of a small...