re: #130 Gus

After all these years, I have yet to come across an instrument capable of producing more emotion or color as the violin.

A very small selection of my favorite recordings:

Example 1: Itzhak Perlman playing Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, 3rd Movement

Youtube Video
Words fail to describe the overwhelming feeling one gets listening to section 2:45 to 3:20 or its repeat in the recapitulation section.

Or how about this one:
Example 2: Yehudi Menuhin playing Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, 2nd Movement

Youtube Video
Can any other instrument produce such sound of longing?

Or what about the sound of crushing sadness?
Example 3: Ginette Neveu plays Gluck Melodie

Youtube Video

Or how about these other favorites?
Example 4: Josef Hassid plays Massenet’s Meditation: Youtube Video
Example 5: Maxim Vengerov plays Saint Saens’ Havanaise: Youtube Video
Example 6: Jascha Heifetz plays Ponce’s Estrellia: Youtube Video
Example 7: Jascha Heifetz plays Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy, 3rd Movement: Youtube Video

Finally, here’s an example of how a violin, in the right hands, can yield magic even with a melody so stunningly simple:
Example 8: Fritz Kreisler plays Bach’s Mineut: Youtube Video