Bach Double

 
 
 

with Keith Pascoe

Bach treble

 

Spot the difference ....

 
 

Notice the two different violins. The first one, with the snow (resin) is the one Kennedy uses for rehearsals. It was made in 1990 by a French maker. The other, is a Guarneri del Gesu, made in 1730's and is the violin on which the Tchaikowsky violin concerto was first played on December 4th, 1881 in Vienna by Rudolph Brodsky, a Russian violinist who studied in Vienna and Leipzig before going to USA then finall settling in Manchester after an invitation by Halle.

On-stage refreshments ...

 
 

Earl Grey tea

Dress rehearsal antics

 
 
 

Kennedy connected in different ways with each member iof the orchestra. He was likely to pounce on you, in fun, for any reason - be it what you were wearing, how you were sitting ... anything. My moment of fame came in the live dress rehearsal (with audience) when he mentioned Suzuki and someone pointed out that I was head of the Suzuki programme in Cork. No to be outdone, I stood up and raised a huge cheer from the audience!

Close encounters with the master!

 
 
 

Kennedy has been sooooo generous with his time. He is very impressed with the orchestra and has continuously urged us on to more and more articulation and interpretation. His imagination is bottomless. His energy is unflagging. HIs technique is flawless. His memory is completely reliable and he constantly is thinking! Must have something to do with the sushi and green tea! He is at all times hilariously funny - in a raucous kind of way! No place for the genteel! He has opened up the dress rehearsal to friends of the orchestra since the concert is completely sold out. He could sell out 5 concerts in Cork!

The Kennedy Way ... internet quotes.

Known for stretching the boundaries of classical music, Kennedy espouses the need to take on new technical challenges -- "If you're playing within your capability, what's the point?" he asks. "If you're not pushing your own technique to its own limits with the risk that it might just crumble at any moment, then you're not really doing your job."

He also considers it part of his job to take risks musically. "Even if you're playing Brahms or a Beethoven concerto, you've got to have a different vantage point, slightly, each time," he says. "Jimi's music is all about that, I think -- you know, he was out on the edge a lot of the time. When he was playing, he was taking it and stretching it."

The result of all this technical and creative stretching? A sound that at least one critic has said has "shattering intensity," and as an added bonus, some simple pride in his work. "Maybe it's egocentric or whatever," he says, "but when I'm playing Beethoven, Bach, Hendrix, or whoever it is, in the end, it just feels like my own music and I'm making it up as I'm going along."

CSO is with him all the way!

Kennedy directs

 
Kennedy has grown very disillusioned with orchestras as he does not get enough rehearsal time with them. He even gave up playing classical music because of this problem. He is very excited about playing with us because we are willing to give him the time he wants to dissect every phrase and inject every nuance he wants. Could we be his dream orchestra? Have a look at http://picasaweb.google.com/suzukipat for lots of photos taken by George.

Kennedy rehearses

 
 
 
Today was the day we've been perparing for. We waited with great anticipation in the Aula Maxima, UCC for the great man to arrive. What a musician! He played through the Beethoven violin concerto, first movement, listening intently to every note we played and then gave us his opinion. 'Fucking top shit, mate' - his highest compliment! We knew than that the gig was go! He put us through a fantastic day of rehearsal. Our playing has developed beyond all anticipation ... and our vocabulary of expletives is fxxxxxxxxxx brilliant!

 
 
 

 
 
 

CSO 'group therapy' sessions ...

 
 
 
take place in Annie's Bar after the rehearsals.

Murphy's all ....

 
Jackie and John Murphy, from Scotsman's Road, Monkstown, (left and right this photo)were my very first students. Their youngest brother, Bernard, in the centre, came on-stream a few years later. They are all playing in the CSO for the Nigel Kennedy concert, along with Jackie's two children, David (cello) and Sarah (violin). It's a family affair!

The other game .....

 
... involves lots of clothing for inclement weather. G and I played golf in the annual Christmas Mixed foursomes outing on Sunday. It required all the heavy weather gear to withstand the single-figure temperature, howling winds and the occasional thunderous outbursts of rain! We deserved the bottles of wine and box of chocolats that we won.

Kennedy spoofing

 
 
 
Guess the genuine musicians.... if you´re a young, hippie, K-look-alike you don't need a bridge?

Rehearsal hellos

 
 

Hello to Charlie from friends in CSO

The orchestra

 

 

 

presentation of a silver baton to our conductor, Keith Pascoe, at the final rehearsal before we meet Nigel Kennedy. Keith said how much he appeciated the gift and was looking forward to getting the gold baton. We said we'd give him a wand!