Violin and viola books
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There are many violin and viola books around (actually, mostly violin books). Here you'll find some books (I also translated them into Italian) that I think are very good. They are:
Kató Havas' books can be applied to violin and viola playing. William Primrose's book is his autobiography. I translated it and published it. You can find Primrose's book in English. Kató Havas' books can be found in several languages. Although their titles refer to violin, their principles and practice apply to the viola as well and also to all string instruments. Indeed, they deal with how to use our body (and not only the fingers!), particularly all the upper part (shoulders, arms, back) to play in a natural way, to prevent or eliminate various physical injuries and emotional problems (there is also a teaching DVD on this) caused by an incorrect use of the body in playing and at the same time, facilitate the performance and make it more enjoyable for the performer. Well, who plays knows what the problems are, right? That's the meaning of "New approach"; the violin is always referred to because Kató Havas is violinist and started with the violin (the first book, the New approach, was published in 1961!), but there are other people and books who apply this method to other instruments. I found them very useful and that's why I accepted to translate them when I was asked. If you have any doubts about how to solve some problems and so far you haven't found answers, I warmly recommend them to you! Here you can see the original book cover and my Italian version cover. Soon you'll be able to read here a description of them. I've added a link to a website where you can buy them in several languages, since quite often people asked me where they could find them (especially the Italian ones).
With Kató Havas when the Italian
version of the book |
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A new approach to violin playing |
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new approach to violin playing Kató Havas This was the first book published in 1961, when nobody was talking about physical injuries caused by playing an instrument. Nowadays everybody is well aware of this issue, there are even clinics for musicians' injuries. |
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To use the
words of Kató Havas herself, “The aim of this approach is not
so much the imparting of knowledge. The aim is rather the elimination
of all existing obstacles, both physical and mental, so that through a
relaxed control and co-ordination, the player may be able to release
the full force of his musical imagination.” Buy A New Approach to violin in English or German or Italian Also check Kato Havas teaching DVD |
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Stage fright - Its causes and curesAnother book I translated with, again, a comment by Yehudi Menuhin.Stage
fright “Dear Kató Havas, I would like to write
you a second fan letter, as I believe I have already done so some years
ago, to congratulate you on your book "Stage fright". It is the most
realistic and practical approach imaginable. It stresses the real
reasons and not the false ones... a book that should be worth its
weight in gold to every student and many a performer.”
Yehudi
Menuhin
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Walk on the North SideMemories of a violist |
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but not least... The autobiography of William Primrose, "the first star of the viola" Walk on the North Side Memories of a violist William Primrose William Primrose (1904-1982) was the first international star with viola. Great virtuoso and fine interpreter, he played with the best musicians of his time, such as Toscanini, Heifetz, Kreisler, Piatigorsky, to name only a few. He caused the viola to be definitively recognised as a solo instrument with a neatly distinct personality than the violin's. Thanks to him, viola repertoire enriched with many works commissioned by himself or composed for him: the most famous ones are Bartók's Viola Concerto and Britten's Lachrymae. A very lively account of Primrose life and career, his many interests (including chess and cricket playing, airplane piloting and more...), full of anecdotes. A very encouraging book for all players, a very interesting and enjoyable reading for any music lover. Find out why it has this strange title... Here are the chapters:  The cover of Walk on the North Side The North Side of the 57th Street
Buy it in ENGLISH : Walk on the North Side -
Memories of a violist More
books by William Primrose: Playing the Viola - Conversations with
William Primrose By the way, I did these translations because I love translating. To me, translating and playing are similar in a way. The performer/translator is the medium to make something understandable to somebody who doesn't know the language (music too is a language): he/she has to understand what the author/composer meant to say, keep the style and then transform the idea from an idiom to another one, from written notes to your ears and your soul. For communications go to this page Go from Violin and viola books to Home
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