without you

donna con il violino blu
lady with the blue violin
series of self portraits
in sepia
_____________

without You
She will not be
please sound Her
don’t leave Her in her case
show Her the light,
let Her sing
so Her voice is heard
keep Her close to you
hug Her
so that She may feel
the warmth of your body
kiss Her
before you lay Her to rest again
do not abandon Her
for without You
She will be in the dark
without You
She will not breathe
without You
Her Heart will not beat
please sound Her
so Her voice is heard
she will not be
without You
_
poem written

6 March, 2010

________
violin

copy of Stradivarius 'Soil' 1714
an antique violin made by Italian luthier
Antonio Stradivari of Cremona (1644-1737).

by
Scott Cao & S.C.Guan
Artistic Series Handmade Instrument
Xw Qai Wu

formerly owned by
Vov Dylan

photo taken
25 February, 2010
photo location
Sunset Beach, Soldiers Point NSW

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'without you' words © 2010 patricia vannucci creative direction patricia vannucci
perugina photography © 2010 patricia vannucci

donna con il violino blu © 2010 patricia vannucci

lesson 41

I’ve had two lessons this week..

One comprising of an hour earlier in the week and today’s lesson a quick half hour session completing the review of Rudolphe’s Number 2.

This is indeed exciting, for now i can crank up the practice sessions with the Study now complete in my head - that is energy permitting due to my chronic fatigue.

A few intense practice sessions this week so far has seen a small breakthrough with thumb placement and that ‘death grip’ and also position changes, the latter still very rough.

Overall the piece seems to be a little more in tune as this small adjustment has made some difference with getting my fourth finger to fall in the right place - there is much work to be done however, and Maestro has told me this is a huge jump (!!!) from the 2nd Grade pieces i was playing. It is what i want to try and the will is there so we are working hard at achieving this together.

Yesterday during practice, the neighbour behind me yelled out.. ‘Use the force!’I don’t speak to these people at all.. so i was a little shocked to hear this man’s booming voice through the open window of my bathroom.. for this is where i practice most times.

Why the bathroom you ask?.. well.. the sound of the violin resonates beautifully in fully tiled areas i found.

Well perhaps it will sound beautiful one day.. for although the sound reverberates about me.. it can be horrid as i fumble and stumble my way through this very difficult piece, and with the window open i guess others within range can hear it also in all its glory!!

At least he yelled out something encouraging rather than some profanity..

See there is hope after all..

___________________

donna con il violino blu


The 42 études ou caprices ("42 études or capriccios") for solo violin were composed by Rodolphe Kreutzer around 1796.
Although Kreutzer was a prolific composer with some 50 stage works and dozens of other pieces to his credit, the 42 études remain his best known work and today are part of standard teaching repertoire.

The earliest extant edition of the collection, from 1807, comprises 40 pieces. Kreutzer's authorship is broadly accepted for two other études that were included in some early editions. One of Kreutzer's most important didactic goals was developing fluency in contraction and extension of the left hand; thus his pieces anticipate the challenges of the modern violin.
Taken from Wikipedia

donna con il violino blu © 2010 patricia vannucci

Kreutzer 2 bars 19 -21

lesson 40

the Kreutzer continues..

Today we pushed on getting a little further with reviewing bars 19 – 21 in Rudolphe’s Number 2

________________________

My hand is still locked about the neck of the violin which we have dubbed ‘the death grip’ !
You can fly a flag off the top of my thumb!

My fourth finger will not stretch because of ‘death grip’ and thumb placement or lack thereof!

I keep guessing at position changes rather than employing glissando to find the note.

Insomma.. - e` un disastro!

They say.. things often get worse before they get better – let us hope and pray. Honestly i know it's early days and on the positive side i am doing ok for someone who has only just started violin.

It was noticed i said ‘Jesus’ a lot today.. hope He didn’t mind my calling out so many times.. Maestro said that perhaps i am best calling out for the devil - funny!

Then relayed an interesting story..

I love it when he reveals titbits about History of Violin, breaking the tension of lesson, for there is much between the three of us at the moment, Maestro, Rudolphe and me!
He told of Tartini, and the Devil’s Trill Sonata. This, his most famous sonata was composed after he dreamt of the devil appearing at the foot of his bed playing the violin.

He also told me that Tartini lived in the time of Antonio Stradivari and that he was the first owner of a violin made by the now famous Italian luthier in 1715.*

__________________________________________________
* I would like to make a correction here after Anon was so kind to leave a comment on this post Re Tartini stating he wasn't the first owner of a Stradivarius - he was the first owner of the 1715 "Lipinski Stradivarius" as per Wikipedia.. many thanks to you! :)

_____________________________

photo taken from Wikipedia

Giuseppe Tartini (8 April 1692 – 26 February 1770) composer and violinist, was a half Italian and half Venetian (born in Piran, a town on the peninsula of Istria, in the Republic of Venice - now in Slovenia)

‘ah Venice!’

__________________
donna con il violino blu

donna con il violino blu © 2010 patricia vannucci

lesson 39

Time for a lesson update..

Lessons have been upped to one hour now!

I felt the need to increase my time with Maestro, as the previous half hour sessions would be over in the blink of an eye - just time to take the instrument out of its case, do a DAGE-G.. a scale, one technical exercise perhaps, starting or revision of a piece from the 2nd Grade AMEB curriculum.. i was finding that just as i was getting comfortable re; playing in front of him, for i still get very anxious, it would be time to pack up.

I have mixed feelings about increasing lesson time, because since doing so some four weeks ago, i have not capitalised on this precious tuition - as i am not practicing nearly enough as i would like.. my head space and heart are struggling.. this is therefore compounding the distress i am feeling at present with the violin.

Still i am trying my best.

Perhaps i am also making it doubly hard for myself.. as 2 weeks ago i made mention of Kreutzer and asked Maestro when i could start cutting my teeth into this?

It was really a throw away question.. one which i expected him to laugh off.. instead.. he asked me whether i had the book of 42 Studies to which i replied yes.

He asked me to bring it along next time to lesson..

This is what i have been struggling with for the last 2 weeks.. i'm finding it a challenge to say the very least.. going from Grade 2 to this!

I remarked, "This may as well be Mount Everest for me..!"

To which he replied, "Nah!.. perhaps just Mount Kosciuszko!"

Well i'm in the thick of it now it seems.. Is there a base camp 1 on Mt Kosciuszko ?

Yesterday during my practice session at home in preparation for today's lesson i sent Maestro this sms as follows...

"I wish i was in SPACE.. for in SPACE no one can hear you SCREAM!

I am struggling with this Number 2.. that's playing, not doing!"

___________________

I know he has a great sense of humour.. lucky for this, as i was told once, this is indeed needed for violin!

Today we inched a little further through this Kreutzer Study Number 2.. Maestro knows i am determined, for when he played this piece for me, i knew instantly this is the sound of the violin that i love, i can't verbalise what i feel when i hear these melody lines.. i do know however within my core being.. it's what i want to be able to do.. despite the struggle at the moment.

___________________

donna con il violino blu

Rodolphe Kreutzer (16 November 1766 – 6 January 1831) was a French violinist, teacher, conductor, and composer of forty French operas.

Kreutzer was well known for his style of bowing, his splendid tone, and the clearness of his execution. His compositions include nineteen violin concertos and forty operas. His best known works, however, are the 42 études ou caprices (1796), which are fundamental pedagogic studies.

Taken from Wikipedia

donna con il violino blu © 2010 patricia vannucci

donna con il violino blu
lady with the blue violin
__________

Why do i call myself by this title?
Well it all started with an artwork.
The one you see as my avatar.

My artistic journey via watercolours has led me to this place which i call.. ‘the beautiful music of the violin’

It was the first watercolour i painted in my other journey through art which is part of a series called

Ladies & the Instruments the Play

Through this humbly and simply painted artwork, which has become my avatar here, i discover that i adopt the title, 'donna con il violin blu', which is the Italian for lady with the blu violin after having acquired a blue violin shortly after deciding to take steps in learning how to play.

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The blue violin is one of four violins that i have in my care. I happened to find it by chance walking past a small suburban music shop. I was not looking for another violin to purchase as i already had bought a violin in order to start learning, rather would like to think that this blue violin found me. 

This small music shop was crammed with musical instruments and paraphernalia as most musical shops are. As i stepped in, i immediately headed for the back, deeper and deeper into what seemed a darker and ever narrowing space. My eyes caught that familiar shaped case holding what was a blue coloured violin. Being dark back there, the blue coloured varnish of the instrument seemed to jump out at me. 

Even at a reduced price, it seemed this little blue violin was not wanted. It had been cast and thrown aside on the floor along with other instruments laying there way back in the dark crammed space. Although i had already purchased a violin a month before, when i laid eyes on this little blue jewel, i knew instantly i had to have it in my care.

___________

this violin is not a concert violin
it does not have a fancy name or title
it is not prestigious
it does not posses a virtuous voice
but it still has
a heart
and within its body
its heart just wants to be loved

il violino blu

is somewhat like me

________

The further i venture down this road of music and discover how marvellous the voice of the violin truly is, the more am convinced this was meant to be.

Just as i was guided to this music shop by some Divine power, for i never really travel about much,

in finding my heart through il violino blu, some extremely special people it seems, are also being thrown in my path.

“Here.. look!”.. the Universe says, the Universe is providing you with these Stars..

and Stars they are!

There have been some wonderful people, stars that shine brightly, who inspire, guide, gift and love me through this from the very moment i started.

My mother firstly for inspiring me and for always encouraging me no matter what i chose to do.

These people, like the stars in the Heavens are always there for you, shining brightly especially in dark

for that’s their role.

To Them i now say this..

You all know who your are, thank you dal cuore, from my heart for your support so far.

________________

Although i have lost my heart at present

i am still very grateful for their

inspiration

heart

faith

love

for these are the voices of my four violins

_____________

The struggle is also part of the journey

donna con il violino blu © 2010 patricia vannucci

i have been shattered on the rocks

11 March, 2010

donna con il violino blu © 2010 patricia vannucci

music has left her

solitary violin

one

image in sepia

perugina photography © 2010 patricia vannucci

lesson 38

she always writes her heart it seems

no matter what happens

and this will be no different today

_

music left her last night

her inspiration gone

after harsh sounds were uttered into her sensitive ears

she knows not why she even took a picture of a solitary violin

the violin has many ones associated with it

'one' is lone

perhaps she knew this was to come

at present

music has left her

for she feels abandoned and unloved

she searches for her heart

and in her search

she is lost

and has lost her way home

her voice no longer can sound

music has left her mind

her heart

her soul

_______________

she knows not when it will return

11 March, 2010

___________

this is the week of lesson 38 - 3 + 8 = 11

this was written on the 11th day of March

this violin reached my hands Monday 11 January (01) , 2010

donna con il violino blu © 2010 patricia vannucci

i keep you in my embrace

donna con il violino blu
lady with the blue violin

violin

copy of Stradivarius 'Soil' 1714

an antique violin made by Italian luthier

Antonio Stradivari of Cremona (1644-1737).

by

Scott Cao & S.C.Guan

Artistic Series Handmade Instrument

Xw Qai Wu

formerly owned by

Vov Dylan

series of self portraits
in sepia
_____________

photo taken
25 February, 2010

photo location

Sunset Beach, Soldiers Point NSW

__

creative direction patricia vannucci
perugina photography © 2010 patricia vannucci

donna con il violino blu © 2010 patricia vannucci