Making Waves

At the same time I was asked to write an article on a string topic, I attended a concert featuring a well-known pop artist. Accompanied by a symphonic orchestra and rhythm section, the string arrangements from the 1950's washed over me like a wave. I grew up watching weekly televised orchestra performances. Today, string sections are seen on late shows, voice competitions, and aired specials. Strings are beautiful. They're what we love about lush movie scores. Every genre of music has its own history and every style speaks differently. Respecting those differences matter in the ability to perform the music properly. It's easy today to listen to multiple performances of the same work by various artists. From classical performers flawless in concert halls to fiddlers who know their instrument so well that positions are friendly tools ("Why don't you play that in 2nd; it's a lot easier") transposing effortlessly to any key. Jazz violins or a rock cello line become another voice through musical choices or improvised solos. Rules vary also. Seeing consecutive down bows in classical literature moves one to the frog for a heavy determined sound, while two down bows that "kick off" a country song are played down, down staccato. I've seen players grab a pencil saying "Let's do that down, up. No. Down, down is the sound", and taking a pencil to charts that have traveled the road marked by original members (and should be mostly left alone.)

While accents in classical literature are strictly observed, accents in "The Orange Blossom Special" give it its familiar tune with added string crossings and double stops. As a classically-trained violinist, I played with a country artist whose road band opened every show. When it was time for him to take the stage the string section entered first, took our place, and played him on. He reserved us for himself and his memorable ballads. Cam Mullins' beautifully-written arrangements for strings became his signature sound. The string section was controversial at the time because of its bold move from traditional country, but he and his music are legendary. Play and learn from everyone. Yo-Yo Ma is a perfect example. I'm determined to listen for strings -- the horizontal line in a sometimes vertical musical world. A beautiful contribution to our soul where music moves us -- like waves.