Man of musical messages

TBSO begins another season of unforgettable sound discovery next week with its first Masterworks concert themed Fast Forward.
The title has nothing to do with electronic devices or recorders; though studio recordings do make up just one component of the amazing musical career of Canadian violinist Mark Fewer.

And fast forward could be an apt description of this man’s artistic abilities in so many ways: soloist, classical and jazz violin; chamber musician; recording artist; university professor (McGill), artistic director; mentor at The Banff Centre; radio host.

Fewer is TBSO’s guest soloist next Thursday evening. He performs a contemporary wistful lightest-to-meridian-blue skyward reverie entitled Air by Aaron Jay Kernis (1996). Also Pablo de Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen (Gypsy Airs, 1878): the rich intense colours of sunrises and sunsets. And offers his own interpretation of jazz legend Miles Davis: Nardis.

Contacted at McGill, Fewer shared a bit of his past and how it shapes his outlook today. Calling himself fortunate because “so much talent comes from this place,” he left his home in St.John’s Newfoundland at age 15 to study violin.

“I was able to float around because of my parents’stability; they are my bedrock.”

Critics and reviewers praise Fewer for his “honesty and relaxed style.” He answers that by saying anxiety isn’t the way to go.

“I don’t take my place on earth for granted. First and foremost for me is classical violin, and I’m only the messenger. When playing music written by great composers, the best position one will ever be in is that of a servant. I consider myself a happy servant for Bach, Mozart and Beethoven.”

As for why great music endures and what he hopes to impart to audiences, “if people are in a relaxed state of listening they may take away more enjoyment from exposure to the art itself. I find myself continually enriched by it and believe the concert experience is capable of being entertaining, but that it should always strive to offer enrichment to the listener as well.

In the jazz, I’ve inserted a famous soundbyte from Mendelssohn’s E minor violin concerto. It is not entirely meant to be tongue in cheek, but rather a tip of the hat to great jazz musicians who quote other great jazz musicians during their improvised solos.”

Perhaps every virtuoso is only as good as his instrument. Fewer shared a bit about his violin, and yes, a bit of tongue in cheek.
“This is a great time to be in the violin ‘market,’ as there are numerous concert-level instruments being made around the world. One person has called it the Golden Age of violin making, and I quite agree. I own three modern violins, have made recordings with two of them so far. My favourite instrument is by Feng Jiang from Ann Arbor Michigan. It is a direct copy of the Guarneri del Gesu (1742) played by Yehudi Menuhin called the Lord Wilton,” he said.

“I love to play the old Italian instruments; I’m lucky enough to do so regularly at the Smithsonian in DC, where they have a collection of Stradivaris. But if I had to decide between a house on the beach in Malibu or a Guarneri (neither of which I am capable of affording), I’d choose the house in Malibu!”

Curtain rises on Fast Forward at the Auditorium next Thursday, Oct.13, at 8 p.m. sharp.