Contemporary Violin Caprices: Defining and exploring a new technical approach

- In Collaboration with Simon Smith

This project will create several caprices for solo violin: new performance pieces revisiting the traditional study but exploring the vocabulary of contemporary music. These will be accompanied by corresponding exercises. It is a collaboration between me and contemporary violinist and lecturer Simon Smith, who will commission the work. We will provide a resource for young performers and teachers to help familiarise students with a wide range of styles and techniques, while at the same time providing a series of performance pieces.

Output for the project will be through various routes: primarily this specially designed interactive website/blog to host video performances and discussion as well as downloadable scores; lectures and performances at various conservatoires and universities; and potentially a printed volume and commercially released recordings.

SIMON SMITH has performed as a soloist with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the Philharmonia, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and the Orchestra of St. John's Smith Square. Recitals throughout the UK have included the Wigmore Hall and the Purcell Room in London. In 2014 he completed an extensive tour of recitals and concertos in Russia, including his Moscow debut. This year performances include concerto performances in Beijing and Hong Kong, and another complete Bach unaccompanied Sonata and Partita series. Recording projects include the Bartok Solo Sonata and works by Kurtag, for Resonus in July 2015.

Simon has been a professor at the Birmingham Conservatoire for 11 years. He has given masterclasses throughout the UK and internationally. Future plans include further teaching in Russia and Kazakhstan, and at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music in London.

Visit Simon's Website

Photography © Sara Adams

Video Master Classes with Simon Smith

Study 1 - Glissando

Study 2 - Rhythm

Study 3 - Spectral Microtones

Study 1 - Glissando

Study 2 - Rhythm

Study 3 - Microtones

Scores Edited by Simon Smith