William Fitzpatrick - violin expert

The Many Stories of Bill Fitzpatrick: Bach Double

A funny story involving Bach's Double Concerto

In this video, Prof. Fitzpatrick tells a funny story about the beautiful Bach's Double Concerto.

Released on February 23, 2022

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DISCLAIMER: The views and the opinions expressed in this video are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Virtual Sheet Music and its employees.

Video Transcription

Back in the 70's Marion Gibson and I were rehearsing the violin and oboe Bach double with orchestra for a concert at the Aspen Music Festival when suddenly Pinchas Zukerman and Ray Still walked in the tent and sat down. When we stopped I left the stage to ask Pinky what he thought and he said "You know, I know we play it starting on a down bow but I've thought a lot about it and really believe it should start on an up bow." I nodded approvingly and then went back on stage. I of course played it starting on an up bow and when they left I went back to playing it as I had before starting on a down bow.
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Comments, Questions, Requests:

Tosh Hayashi * VSM MEMBER * on February 23, 2022 @1:47 pm PST
Always, it should be "whatever works best" for oneself, not what some else says is the correct/best way, no matter who they are.
No doubt, if one asked a number of great violinists how they start the concerto, I reckon that some do it one way and others do it another. Playing the violin is, to me, similar in many ways to playing golf....which I do often....and it's been documented many times that there are as many different ways to swing a golf club as there are different great golfers.
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