My Favourite Violinist

Do you like Classical Music?

Yes? No?

When I first learn to play the piano at the age of 8, I was trained in classical music. I learnt about the music of Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms, Debussy and many more. Since then, I have always loved classical music.

Surprised? Me, a huge fan of Mariah Carey, love classical music? Well, why not? In fact, I love all types of music except heavy metal.

Midway, during my teenage years, I started to become interested in modern music or what you call popular music which include all kinds of music ranging from pop to jazz to hip hop. I got interested in playing the electone. That was the time I learnt about modern pop chords. It was really a good thing because I could then relate what I learnt in classical music and applied it to modern music.

The only problem was I was so fond of the electone I started to neglect my piano practice. That was something I really regret because I found that I could not play the piano as well ever since.

Later, in my late teens, I decided to take up violin. However, I found playing the violin one of the toughest things in the world! Maybe I did not practise enough, or probably I did not have a flair for it, but somehow I just could not play the violin very well. Because of that, I did not enjoy playing it although I love listening to songs performed by good violinists. To me, violin is such a tough instrument to master I really admire anyone who can play it well.

I'm sure you have heard of the name Vanessa-Mae, who became famous playing mostly pop songs on her violin. However, she is not my favourite violinist.


Vanessa-Mae

Instead, I am a fan of a classical violinist by the name of Sarah Chang. Ever heard of her?


Sarah Chang

Last month, I went to Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (Petronas Philharmonic Hall) in KLCC to watch Sarah Chang perform with our Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO). She played Bruch's Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor (Op.26).

For those of you not well versed in classical music, a violin concerto generally means a work or performance by a solo violinist and the orchestra. In this case, the solo violinist is Sarah Chang and the orchestra is our very own MPO.

I was blown away by her performance! She was really good! The concerto by Bruch was no easy feat, yet she played so effortlessly. The audiences loved her so much she was cheered back on stage at least four times to take her bows!

Born to Korean-American parents, Sarah was recognised as a child prodigy early on. She made her first record at the age of nine, possibly the youngest violinist ever to do that!

I searched YouTube for her performances and found this. She may have put on a little weight here (compared to the photo above) but what matters is she did a very good rendition of Jules Massenet's piece called "Meditation" from his opera Thais. Enjoy!!