No.80
Violin Masterpieces and Great Performances to Listen to in Autumn

September 1, 2024

By Masamichi Okazaki

This summer has been exceptionally hot. Now that September is here, we want to relax a bit and immerse ourselves in the music world. At such times, you might suddenly want to listen to the beautiful sound of the violin. This time, I picked up albums that are sometimes passionate and sometimes nostalgic.

#262 Album that Shows Depth of Feeling for Melodies

Naoko’s / Naoko Terai

Naoko’s / Naoko Terai
(Saku Music SKMU-0001)

First, the melancholy and romantic violin sound of the opening track, <Esperanza,> captivates the listeners. “Naoko’s” is the title of this album by Naoko Terai. It is her latest work in four years, released on Saku Music, a label she founded herself while the COVID-19 pandemic restricted all activities. The variety of music selections is to be noticed, and each performance is filled with the colors and techniques of jazz, Latin, pop, classical, and many other types of music, which are beautifully expressed through her sensibility. Particularly moving is the second piece, <Emmanuel,> a sad yet beautiful melody written by Michel Colombier, a genius in the French music world. His own performance of this piece is on the 1970 album “Wings.” Although it has recently been in the repertoire of trumpeter Chris Botti, it is not a popular piece that everyone is familiar with. Terai’s emotional playing of such “hidden gems,” immersing herself in the melodies, is so wonderful that it is hard to put into words.

Another highlight is Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor. She featured the first movement of this classic masterpiece, performed by a jazz quartet. Its composition is enjoyable, with the first half utilizing the atmosphere of the original piece, followed by a free cadenza and then a more jazzy development. Even in her original ballads such as <Ashita He> and <The Way Of Dream,> she makes her violin sing to the fullest. Again, what is felt firmly is the deep feeling that leader Terai has for the melodies, and in the performances, it is as if that feeling has been transferred to the violin. It is an album that powerfully demonstrates her passion for music.

#263 Romantic <First Song>

First Song / Sara Caswell

First Song / Sara Caswell
(Double-Time Records DTRCD-166)

The album’s title track, <First Song>, is a masterpiece written by bassist Charlie Haden, and although several fantastic performances remain, few have been performed on the violin. On this album, female violinist Sarah Caswell plays the melody of this piece calmly, exuding romantic scents.

After formally studying classical music techniques, Sarah also studied jazz at Indiana University and has continued to play mainly in New York since 2000. She participated in Esperanza Spalding’s “Chamber Music Society” and then in the chamber music band “9 Horses.” She was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Improvised Jazz Solo in 2018. This is her debut album, recorded in 2000. Her latest work is “The Way to You,” which should be mentioned as her mature play there. However, due to the charm of <First Song,> I dare to choose the debut album here.

#264 Masterful and Dashing Performance by Young Gil Shaham

Wieniawski: Violin Concertos Nos.1&2, Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen, etc. / Gil Shaham, London Symphony Orchestra, Lawrence Foster

Wieniawski: Violin Concertos Nos.1&2, Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen, etc. / Gil Shaham, London Symphony Orchestra, Lawrence Foster
(Universal Music UCCG-5363)

Henryk Wieniawski (1835-1880), a Polish-born composer and renowned violinist, was mentioned in my column #221, “Legend” in which Adam Bałdych approached Wieniawski’s works. Wieniawski had performed in Europe, Russia, and the United States since his teenage years. Among his works, the two Violin Concertos are particularly well known. Although these two violin concertos are not frequently performed, they are truly fascinating, with melodies imbued with Slavic melancholy appearing one after the other. The orchestration of <No. 1,> which he composed in his late teens, shows some immaturity due to his youth. Still, it is well worth listening to, with abundant violin technical elements incorporated into the dramatic development. <No. 2> has more pathos and attracts us from the opening theme of the “first movement.” The poetic world of its “second movement,” which continues without interruption, is also filled with lyricism and is very beautiful.

Gil Shaham, who plays these intricate pieces, is one of the finest contemporary violinists. He visited Japan last fall, but this is a recording of his younger days. This album was recorded when he was 19 years old, and without flaunting his technique, he performs the melodies with plenty of expressions, and it’s terrific to listen to the music flowing naturally with calm expressions. The melancholy <Legende in g minor, op.17 > is also excellent, evoking paintings of Slavic landscapes where the composer was born and raised. The final piece, Sarasate’s <Zigeunerweisen, op.20 ,> was also a masterful performance, depicting the passion and pathos of the Gypsies with beautiful tones.

About the Author

Masamichi Okazaki

Masamichi Okazaki

Surrounded by various kinds of music from his childhood, Masamichi Okazaki joined Waseda University Modern Jazz Club. He started contributing articles to music magazines when he was a student. He covers wide range of music not only trad, modern and contemporary jazz, but also from pops to classics. He writes liner notes for CDs and LPs, and is a regular contributor to “JAZZ JAPAN,” “STEREO,” and others. He joined a big band, “Shiny Stockings,” as a saxophone player. He is a director of The Music Pen Club Japan (MPCJ).