Pure, strong violin music!
352893
I owne two other albums by Taylor Davis. You can hear her musicality in this early album, and feel good about it.
2970937
yes, the more i hear martinu music the more i love his music, in fact all the 4 cds of the serie are indispensable hearing if you fell any intrigue about this great composer, good violin player and also very good suport of orchestra and conductor, the sound is a bit resonance for my taste, not in the demostration class, but the music is.
if you like this music don't hesitate and go for the complete music for violin and piano on supraphone by the same violinist.
4054419
Great set of Violin strings, it replaced the old set I had on my violin. It makes a good, clear and crisp sound, which I prefer on my instrument... With three tension(s) to choose from, you won't be disappointed with the sound and quality!
3646260
Sorry that no one else doesn't come to praise it yet. By no mean lacking fantasy in style and execution, with two premiere recording pieces, it's one of my favourite violin sonatas albums - both for the composer and the artist(s). And I listen mainly to baroque music hip. Deeply adviced to own.
2945031
Viktoria Mullova is in my opinion one of the very finest classical violin performers in the world today. She has also been exploring world, jazz and pop music since at least 2000, when she released the album&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Through-the-Looking-Glass/dp/B00004XMXR/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Through the Looking Glass</a>&nbsp;(unfortunately not currently available).

This latest CD can perhaps best be introduced from its own notes: "Viktoria Mullova's rural origins in Ukraine are reflected in this eclectic album, which combines elements of classical music and jazz and reflects the phenomenal influence that the gypsies have had on swathes of music in the 20th century".

The other performers on the CD are the members of the Matthew Barley Ensemble: Matthew Barley, cellist (and Mullova's husband); Julian Joseph, piano; Paul Clarvis, drums and percussion; and Sam Walton, marimba, vibraphone and percussion.

The program consists of seven Bartk Duos, together with two tracks of music from Bratsch, a French band "who play gypsy music incredibly well even though none of them are actually gypsies", jazz improvisations from Joseph, Clarvis and Walton, and culminating in a performance of Zoltn Kodly's three-part Duo for violin and cello, op. 7.

This is wonderful music, well worth exploring if you enjoy fine performances and the playing of Mullova along with the outstanding ensemble joining her.
2446989
I've been fortunate enough to own most of the performances of Paganini's 24 Caprices for Solo Violin that are frequently mentioned as the best sets available, and for me, this cd by Itzhak Perlman from EMI's Great Recordings of the Century is the clear first choice to add to any classical music library. The playing is technically brilliant, full of passion & fire, and the recording is top notch. No other performance I've heard quite matches this one for all the elements one would want in a great compact disc of these pieces. The James Ehnes offering on Telarc is stunningly played, but he lacks Perlman's artistic passion, and the recorded sound is just a bit abrasive. Midori gives  a wonderful performance (a close second to this disc) as well, but she lacks, to a very small degree, Perlman's fire. Salvatore Accardo is legendary in the Paganini caprices, but I find the sound of his DG recording to lack the pristine brilliance of this Perlman set from EMI. When I carefully consider all the angles in recommending a fine performance of Niccolo Paganini's 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, I always find myself returning to this Izhak Pelman release. If I could only own one disc of these spellbinding violin works, this would be the one I would keep.
1140277
Came on time and exactly as described! I am very happy with the sound of the instrument as well as the visual appeal. Definitely a great violin for someone wanting to dabble in the world of electric instrumentation. One thing I would recommend is getting new/good strings on it and a shielded amp cable. It came with a cushion that takes place of the shoulder rest and that works great! Very hard to find a shoulder rest to fit this shape.  Other than that, it's perfect.

Update: has held up very well. I'm a beginner, so don't play very hard. This instrument has done everything I've needed it to do, and more. Only piece of advice is to have it professionally restrung. The strings that come with it are a little on the flimsy side. Other than that, I love it!!
4076793
Eric Ewazen teaches at Julliard, and his music has the simple beauty and accessibility of Karl Jenkins.  In this album the International Sejong Soloists play Ewazens Concerto for Violin and Strings, Down a River of Time (Concerto for Oboe & Strings), and Sinfonia for Strings.  Each are three-movement works.  Each is a refined, well-played work of considerable interest.  Most of all, each work is a pure delight.  Is Ewazen really a modern-day composer?  The question is at once appropriate for his music is heaven sent in a day usually filled with dissonance and atonality.  Not so with Ewazen.  While not quite music that you hum after listening, this (like Jenkins) is almost too accessible to be 21st century products.

I very much enjoy listening to and reviewing modern music with its often times difficult-to-describe sonorities.  I was surprised by the sheer beauty of this music.  It is truly a breath of fresh air.  I compose piano music without major dissonance and sometimes feel like I am in the wrong century.  Ewazen quells my self-doubt. It IS possible to write serious music that doesnt attack the listener after all.  I don't typically enjoy concertos other than piano, but both the violin and oboe concertos are splendid creations.  His Sinfonia is a sublime work of music.

Ewazens music has considerable poignancy infused throughout each work.  I don't know if Ewazens music will stand the test of time, but I can assure you that his music will fall favorably and easily on the ears of our time.  I strongly encourage you to take the opportunity to hear this wonderful music.  VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
4760360
Violin is lovely. Bow, case, etc. all of good quality for beginner to intermediate player, and the price is amazing.
1988341
Enthralling!  Leoncarlo embellishes raw violin with electronic techniques to compose music that, far from mainstream, challenges preconceived ideas of what the instrument can do. Ranging from meditative acoustic solos to full-on symphonia, Leoncarlo's created sounds take us to soaring heights and resonant depths and all the complexities in between. This is a gift for musical purists, a rethink for traditionalists. And everybody in between!
1962897
I am a period instrument enthusiast; I'm not going to get into that discussion. All I know is that this is one of the first recordings of classical music I've bought and it's still my favorite in my collection. The playing is very exciting, the phrasing is meticulous and very audible to the listener. You can never go wrong with Harmonia Mundi for recording quality; the sound is really exquisite. I personally tend not to like the sound Andrew Manze gets out of his baroque violin; sometimes it sounds nasally and constrained. However, this CD is a nice exception. Generally, his playing sounds more like a normal violinist, without any of the covered sound I'm used to. The Academy of Ancient Music playing is pristinely clean, and pristinely in tune, especially on some of the slower movements in which intonation is more risky. My favorite movements are the rollicking 5th movement Allegro of the 5th concerto, the noble, poignant 1st movement Larghetto of the 2nd concerto, and the tuneful, catchy, dancing 4th movement Allegro of the 4th concerto. If you are a fan of high baroque music, particularly the baroque concerto grosso, these two discs will excite you day after day, month after month, year after year. Bravo AAM, Andrew Manze and Harmonia Mundi for another wonderful production!
3395488
This violin is so awesome! I love it! I can not stop playing it! It has such a good tune, you can adjust tune settings and volume. Good rosin, bow, violin, awesome headphones(theater sound), great tuner works for all string instruments, and good cable!
3598003
This is a lovely album. Delightful Italianate duos played by two performers clearly taken by the music. Violin duos are comparatively rare, and one hopes that with music and performances of this quality we may hear more of the genre. A real pleasure!
1484595
I can picture the artist in a large bullpen with the surrounding crowd cheering Ole` as he works furiously through these six pinnacles of the Romantic violin.  The object of anyone playing the Ysaye sonatas is not to make it appear difficult but it is nearly impossible to pull that off due to the extraordinary demands placed on the artist.
The individual sonatas differ as to style since they were written and dedicated to individual violinists of his day based on their playing characteristics.  The first sets the tone (pardon the pun).  It is alternatively wild, lyrical, furious, poetic and amazing in the sounds it evokes.  A perfect start.  And what can one say about the famous Obsession (#2) and in particular the final "Les Furies", perhaps the most outstanding movement in the string literature.  Shumsky seems to become the designated artist, assuming seering, shocking and wonderfully Ysaye-like qualities in his technical brilliance and that elusive "longing".
These pieces are extremely showy but always within the framework of the piece itself.  Several have an almost hypnotic quality that seems to mesmerize after a minute or two.  The sound here is exquisite, as nearly perfect as possible.  I have other records of the set but this one takes the Grand Prize.  Bravo!!
3460805
Have you realized the combination of good music, a good sounding recording and a good violinist is hard to find? Search no more!  Gil Shaham is the "best" violinist. The superb sound is simply awesome from  this CD if you have a "transparent" stereo system.  If you have Classe Omega CDP with HCA-2 Amp, they are not transparent enough, many details and dynamics are gone with Omega and HCA2. Finally, I can put some decent CDs to my  stereo system. All the details from "all" his CDs are relentless  with flamboyant accuracy and heartbreaking emotions. I can go on and on...and  then I will start to cry...."Just buy one of his CD even if you are not  a fan of classic" I know I wasn't.  Many thanks to Gil Shaham, the  king of violin. I selected two CDs from Gil in my top ten records to die for list, and this is one of them!! 'Wieniawski: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2' is another best of the best from Gil and a record to die for. 'Sibelius/Tchaikovsky: Violinkonzerte' and 'Prokofiev: Violin Concertos 1 & 2/Sonata for Solo Violin' are the others I love from Gil...
1386110
Stirling is a very good violinist. I enjoy her music, especially the enthusiasm with which she plays.

The only reason I don't rate the album as 5 stars is that a full album of violin music can begin to sound the same from song to song. Even so, there is enough variety in this album to keep me listening.
3516743
Five INNOVATIVE Stars! Challenging, imaginative, innovative modernist classical music starring the 4-time Grammy-winning grand diva of classical violin, Anne-Sophie Mutter. "Motivated by the desire to keep on rediscovering the violin", she challenges herself through a program of modernist pieces which she commissioned from living composers and performs with a Mozart-ian sized New York Philharmonic, under musical director Alan Gilbert and featuring maestro MIchael Francis directing one work. In addition, there are 2 violin/bass violin duo pieces which feature Ms Mutter and the rising star of the contrabasso, Slokavian virtuoso Roman Patkol&oacute;. Anne-Sophie has transitioned thru the years from a hot young award-winning rising star, to a certified glittering multiple Grammy-winning virtuoso conquering all of the meaningful multi-period violin pieces in solo, chamber, and orchestral formats; to having works written for her; to an in-demand artist-in-residence for major conductors and orchestras. Now as one company is releasing a 40 CD box set of her great career (<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Asm-35-The-Complete-Musician/dp/B004SEXBAK/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Asm 35: The Complete Musician</a>) and a 2 CD "career highlights" summary, she sidesteps talk of retirement and begins commissioning and performing/conducting her own challenging works by some of the leading living modernist composers, performed with great orchestras. A truly incredible career.

Wolfgang Rihm's "Lichtes Spiel: Ein Sommerst&uuml;ck"-(Light Game: A Summer Piece), with the Philharmonic under the baton of Michael Francis with concertmaster Glenn Dicterow, is a single 17-minute movement work that features Mutter's blazing bow work, sometimes double- and triple-stopped, often in the lovely altissimo register of her violin, framed against flowing orchestral backgrounds of suspended notes or staccato splashes that rise and fall in interesting supportive sonic textures. The work alternates between serene and stately, but building to intense power points in and around the 9 minute, 12, and 16 minute points: eschewing recurring themes, but instead giving off snippets of attractive nuanced phrases which tantalizingly flourish and fade along the way, like sunlight plays on a Summer day through breaks in the clouds. The jagged, intense, "Duo Concertante" is  a 5-minute one-movement virtuosic work of wonder by one of Poland's greatest composers, triple Grammy-winning maestro Krzysztof Penderecki, featuring Mutter and Patkol&oacute; setting off arco and pizzicato fireworks over a 10-note motif and lyrical beauty over a 4-note lyrical motif with Mutter multi-stopped or with single string intensity, echoed by the flying fingers and bow of Patkolo. "Dyade" is also by Wolfgang Rihm: a 12-minute musical excursion and exploration of the "relationship" between the instruments and the players. The 7-movement "Time Machines" by Sebastian Currier features Anne-Sophie again with the Philharmonic and really does take 'time exploration' through a wide variety of sonic scenarios and emotions that run from a minute and a half up to 8 minutes in length, such as "Fragmented Time", "Time Delay", and the longest, "Harmonic Time". They go from reflective lyricism to dazzling pyrotechnics, with my favorites being "Overlapping Time", the truly weird "Backwards Time", the drama and urgency of the awesome "Entropic Time", and the frenetic velocity of "Compressed Time". This is challenging modernist 'avant garde-ish' music that is best listened to as separate powerful and beautiful works, which reveal more and more detail and beauty with each listen. A great legacy for future violinists to enjoy. Five CHALLENGING Stars. Highly Recommended. (4 Works: 10 Tracks; Time 63:50)