Violin Dreams Reviews, Ratings and Product Details at Halfvalue - Price

A rapturous, witty, and passionate memoir ... Violin Dreams is not only the story of a man becoming an artist, its a history of twentieth-century music. John Guare, Tony Awardwinning playwright

Arnold Steinhardt, for more than forty years an international soloist and the first violinist of the Guarneri String Quartet, brings warmth, wit, and fascinating insider details to the story of his lifelong obsession with the violin, that most seductive and stunningly beautiful instrument. His story is rich with vivid scenes: the terror inflicted by his early violin teachers, the sensual pleasure involved in the pursuit of the perfect violin, the charged atmosphere of high-level competitions. Steinhardt describes Bachs Chaconne as the holy grail for the solo violin, and he illuminates, from the perspective of an ardent owner of a great Storioni violin, the history and mysteries of the renowned Italian violinmakers.
Violin Dreams includes a remarkable CD recording of Steinhardt performing Bachs Partita in D Minor as a young violinist forty years ago and playing the same piece especially for this book. A conversation between the author and Alan Alda on the differences between the two performances is included in the liner notes.

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(5 stars) - Well written memoir
Great memoir! realistic and inspiring; a must read for aspiring musicians. Arnold Steinhardt narrates significant moments and thoughts of his musical career, from early violin lessons to becoming a consummate virtuoso violinist.

(4 stars) - Lovely book

This is a lovely book. Quiet. Respectful of tradition. Informative. The book is full of love for the violin and for the hard but fruitful life that mastering it has afforded the author. I note the five stars given by all the other reviewers, and while I share their affection for Violin Dreams, I withhold that last star because the book has only modest aspirations and consequently it is a shame to attempt to make too much of it. But I am really glad that I discovered it and that it sent me back to listening to Bach's compositions for solo violin.

(5 stars) - Beautifully written memoir
If you love the violin or violin music, you will cherish Violin Dreams. Arnold Steinhardt is as engaging an author as he is a great chamber musician. His memories of early violin experiences are a beautiful and inspiring musical tapestry.

(5 stars) - wonderful book
I just finished "Violin Dreams" and I would certainly recommend it to any music lover.
I really enjoyed Mr. Steinhardt's quest for a violin that would meet his needs as a professional musician, and I was fascinated by the look into this world of rarefied instruments.

On top of that, the book comes with a CD of Bach's works performed by Mr. Steinhardt. THAT was a great idea!

Buy the book, you will enjoy it.

(5 stars) - A lifelong dream
Violinist Arnold Steinhardt has produced a literary work that has the same richness and logic as a piece of classical music. Perhaps not strictly AABA, the work is organized nonetheless into a wonderful series of motifs, as the author follows - and recounts - the major dreams of his professional life. From early childhood to established career, the book follows Steinhardt's love affair with both music and the instrument that makes it possible. Reading it will be time very well spent.

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