Fiddling with Life

by Thane Lewis

Part autobiography, part biography, and part memoir, Fiddling with Life is not just about playing the violin. It is also about playing on the great violins- from Stradivari to del Gesu.about making... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0889626138
• ISBN13: 9780889626133
• Release Date: January 2010
• Publisher: Mosaic Press
• Length: 247 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.2" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

insightful

Thane Lewis' writing is insightful, full of details about the historical times. Far more information about the politics of music than I was ever aware of before. The typeface and print set-up is a bit challenging for older eyes, were the book to be re-set in a different font and with a bit more spacing, it would make an easier read. I learned a great deal about the 1950's and 1960's, and the CD included with the book is a wonderful extra.

fiddling with life

The topics covered in this book give a great insight into the world of the orchestral musician. I found the chapters on various conductors and performance techniques quite educational. The writing style is fluid and stylish while imparting a wealth of information.

A review of Fiddling With Life

What a story! What a life. Why? Because for this reader, the excitement of discovering a musical genius of our time is a peak experience. This is a world class violinist who somehow managed to escape the public eye, yet he was concertmaster of not one, but four world class orchestras: the Royal Philharmonic, the Concertgebouw, the Chicago Symphony, and the Toronto Symphony. His discography reads like a summary of the violin literature. His students are in professional orchestras throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America. And, unlike most violin virtuosi who find one great instrument, he has owned many in his 50 year career. Documenting them in detail in this book! Although tarred by McCarthy politics in the 1950's he went on to become the concertmaster of the Royal Philharmonic by the age of 24, earning the title"king of concertmasters" from the Strad. magazine. The book documents in realistic detail the real world of a professional violinist. If you are even remotely interested in the shadowy side of the classical music business, the roiling dynamics of a professional orchestra, unrealistic academe, great violins, and the vagaries of a professional career, you'll want Fiddling With Life. What a story!