Dmitry Badiarov is a violin maker and violinist.  He Lectures part time at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and teaches violin making at Daikanyama School of Music, Tokyo.  He is a fascinating convergence of violin making, teaching and professional playing.   It must be quite exhilarating to play music for people on an instrument that you took from a log to a work of art.    Dmitry says, “On one hand, I am devoted to the highest level of craftsmanship, on the other, I do not consider it the purpose: …

Romantic composer Felix Mendelssohn  (1809-1847)  was called the “Mozart of the 19th century” by Robert Schumann.   Shortly after his death however, Wagner wrote “Jewishness in Music”  an antisemitic essay which calls Mendelssohn’s music “sweet and tinkling without depth”  As a result Mendelssohn’s popularity diminished greatly after his death.  Later under the Nazis performance of Mendelssohn’s music was banned.  Many of Mendelssohn’s works had to be smuggled out of Germany just prior to World War II.
In recent years Mendelssohn’s music has enjoyed somewhat a revival and his importance as a Romantic …

With the intention of writing on post primarily about Rachel Barton Pine’s podcast and blog I visited her website and instead of collecting my thoughts on what to write I was instead transfixed by the recording which began to play of her tribute to Maud Powell. She plays so beautifully!  I am sure I will post more about her in the future, but this post is primarily about her podcast and blog.  But she plays so beautifully!