dirty music

Before we started work on Prokofiev’s first violin concerto, I told Mr. Galimir that I didn’t know the piece at all, and had in fact never heard it. He wanted to keep it that way, to make sure that I had no damaging influences. “Good!” he exclaimed. “No recordings, and don’t buy the music and [...]

April 3rd, 2009 | Tags: , , , , | Category: stories | Leave a comment

borrowing the Prokofiev

When Mr. Galimir’s part to Prokofiev 1 did appear the next week (although not before causing me much pain), it nearly crumbled in my hands. It looked as though it should have been kept under glass! He must have had it for 70 years, and it contained all of his valuable bowings and fingerings. Before [...]

April 3rd, 2009 | Tags: , , , | Category: stories | Leave a comment