Violin Dreams by Arnold Steinhardt Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Violin Dreams
Book Review: Violin Dreams, a marvelous book
Summary: 5 Stars
I read Mr. Steinhardt's book in almost a single sitting. His explication of Bach's D minor partita, and particularly its final movement "chaconne" should be required reading for every serious, classical violinist. Despite my many years of involvement with the instrument, both as a dealer and amateur player, I was fascinated with Mr. Steinhardt's search for a suitable violin. Having heard the Budapest Quartet, it was a revelation to me that he acquired Joseph Roisman's fiddle; so appropriate that it would pass from one great quartet leader to another. A small error in the book was the date given for Jascha Heifetz's memorable Carnegie Hall debut; it was in October of 1917, not 1918. Aside from that
the book is a page turner, beautifully written and very personal.
Book Review: Violin Dreams... A dream of a book.
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been a chamber music fan for over 50 years, and Arnold Steinhardt's playing has contributed to my enjoyment of the art over many of those years.
His first book gave me an appreciation of the challanges faced by chamber musicians. This new book is so much more! Here he puts into words just what music does for the soul, and (who thought it possible) greatly increased my appreciation of what I was hearing.
An added bonus is the CD! It amplifies much of the discussion in the book, though the book itself is a virtuosic performance! Thank you Arnold Steinhardt, for again enriching our lives!
Book Review: a valuable, ennobling book
Summary: 5 Stars
Violin Dreams, on the surface, is a simple book, recounting Arnold Steinhardt's life as a violinist from his first days of playing, up to his career as first violin of the Guarneri Quartet - the quartet, by the way, from whom I first "learned" the Beethoven quartets. The book also tells of Steinhardt's lifelong quest for the "perfect" violin. But this is only the surface of the book. Intentionally or not, Steinhardt's very simple prose conceals a sub-stratum of deep feeling, musical insight, and a man's search for meaning in his own life.
As a sports professional, I found Steinhardt's confrontation of the possible loss of his ability to play at all deeply moving. What are we, when the thing we have lived for is taken away? If we are nothing without our profession and our tools, then we are nothing with them - as Steinhardt points out.
Arnold Steinhardt, it turns out, is a great deal more than just his violin. He grows increasingly curious about the music behind the music - repeatedly, we return to the Bach Partita for Violin solo No. 2 in D minor, from which the chaconne becomes a touchstone of Steinhardt's "journey towards music", as Victor Gollancz once memorably put it. He travels to wonderful places such as Machu Pichu (on foot, which says something about the man). He pays homage to the luthiers of Cremona. He grows through friendships with some of the world's great musicians, and from friends less musically exalted. And each journey brings Steinhardt, and the reader, closer to music, and to something both basic and ennobling.
At the end the book, I was taken by surprise at how emotionally engaged I had become. John Steen has pointed out that the real purpose of the critic is to make us hear music better and to lead us to deeper engagement with it. Away from his violin, this is exactly what Arnold Steinhardt has done with this book. I loved it, am buying multiple copies to give to musical friends, and recommend it heartily.
Now back to practicing, with no hope of every playing at Mr. Steinhardt's level, but with an increased love of the instrument, and of making music.
Book Review: the life of a violinist
Summary: 5 Stars
As an old friend and colleague of Mr. Steinhardt, it was a special treat to read this, his second book. He combines the autobiographical story of his development as a top-notch violinist, with interesting facts about the violin.
One can glimpse the wonderfully good-natured, modest person behind the scenes, and place him both with the long line of great violinists on whom he drew, and the current generation of great musicians with whom he interacted.
I just sent the book to a good friend to read, and recommend it to anyone who is interested in music.