Now With Video!

Just a quick post to point out that I have added a video page to the website. This is an ongoing project to post as much video from performances, masterclasses, and more that I can. Once each new offering is uploaded, I’ll post the video here.

If you have any suggestions or requests, please leave them as a comment.

Go to the new video page.

Dealers And Stealers

There are violin dealers out there who scour the schools and prestigious music festivals in search of innocent young very promising string players for the purpose of cultivating a prospective sale of one of their fine instruments that they may own or have “on consignment.” This I have no problems with since, as a string player, one of the great joys of a life in classical music is to own a great instrument from one of the masters of the Cremonese or Venetian or Brescian periods.

What I take issue with is the implied necessity of one of these priceless masterpieces in making a career. So a young player before he/she is near full potential musically or technically or earning power is led to believe that without that Stradivari or Guarneri they will not be able to compete and their very career will be in jeopardy. Throughout the entirety of my more than 50 year playing career I have yet to encounter a string player under the age of 20 with enough knowledge, musicality, and technique to bring everything out of a master instrument. (more…)

A New YouTube Channel

Although I’ve had a YouTube channel for awhile, I’ve recently started to upload new content. I’ll be posting select items in an upcoming media page but in the meantime you can view the new videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/lynnharrell.

And please accept my apologies for not posting anything new for a short while, the travel schedule has been full but I’m putting the final touches on a new post about the differences between performing on an instrument from the Cremonese or Venetian or Brescian period as opposed to one from a living maker.

Photos From The Road: Memphis

My latest recital performance took place on Thursday, October 22nd in Memphis, TN at the Germantown Performing Arts Centre. It was a wonderful event and it gives me the chance to introduce Victor Asuncion, a wonderful pianist I frequently collaborate with.

Caught in mid performance.

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Some Photos From The Road

I recently had the pleasure of performing with Shanghai Quartet at the La Jolla Music Society’s 41st season opening concert. Here are a couple of pics from that concert.

LtoR: Ji-Wen from the Shanghai Quartet, Christopher Beach of La Jolla Chamber Music Society, and me

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Early Influences, Part 2

When we left off in Part 1, I had just traveled to Cleveland to play for George Szell and a short while thereafter, I was offered a position in the Cleveland Orchestra. Well, a few weeks into my first season Szell was frustrated with my ensemble sense and knowledge of the music.

“Your father was such a good musician- what happened to you?” He continued, “ You don’t know the music, you are staring at your part, as if seeing it for the first time, you don’t know how to play with the conductor or your colleagues and the other choirs of the orchestra!”

I, of course, at 18 was in tears. But I recognized that he was right. And the greatest journey of my education began. (more…)