Music To Reach Your Soul - Wieniawski Violin Concerto No 1

Last time I posted some dancing with a definite "Wow" factor.

Today I am posting some music which is not very well known but which I think reaches our souls in terms of sheer beauty and lyricism.

I am playing Wieniawski's Violin Concerto No 1.

Henryk Wieniawski (1835-1880) was considered a genius and was a great virtuoso violinist and composer, born in Poland. His writing is noted for great technical difficulty as well as highly melodic phrasing.  I just love it and in my humble opinion his works rank with the great composers we all know and love.

For those who wish to learn more about him please press HERE.

I became aware of this great man when my Polish mother-in-law brought an LP back from her holiday in Poland in 1976 and I loved this music ever since.  There are two Violin Concertos but today I shall deal with Concerto No 1, although both are equally great.  These works have become more popular in the UK in recent years. 

I found a wonderful Youtube video of SoYoung Yoon playing an excerpt from the third movement, so you can get the flavour of it.  Isn't she lovely and a joy to watch her play -  and her expression at the end bears testimony to the difficulty of the concerto. 


For anyone who wants to hear more I then have set up the entire concerto for you to enjoy. Unfortunately it is in three parts but this does not mar the enjoyment too much. So, get some cheese and crackers and a glass of vino and 'drink in' this wonderful music.  Both concertos are readily available on CD and I for one think they should be in everyone's collection.

And now the full version if you wish.

C'est Magnifique, n'est ce pas?

Strictly Come Dancing Professional Jive

Now for something definitely with the Wow Factor.

For those who don't know it we have a TV programme in the UK called Strictly Come Dancing. For non dancers like myself, who definitely have two left feet, I for one am always amazed and wowed watching these wonderful dancers.  I have great admiration for those who can dance really well like these folk but for me this would be Mission Impossible.

Anyone for a Jive?  Isn't this fantastic? Does anyone know the song?
And thank you Monica at "Creative Beast" - she identifies the song as "Land of a Thousand Dances".



And this is even better!! Quite amazing!!



And the music?  "Rebel Yell" by Billy Idol.  . . . . . very catchy and lively.

Just how these ladies dance like that in high heels without tripping up beats me!

Hang on a minute!! I know someone who may be able to dance this!! Marguerite at Cajun Delights perhaps - are you dancing today, cher? LOL. Perhaps you might be the lady with the long brunette hair! . . .  and the redhead might be one of your dancing pals perhaps.

I wish I could do it - boy, it looks great fun.  But I expect all these dancers worked extraordinary hard to reach this standard and as the saying goes, "Yer get out of this life what yer put into it - nothing comes for free!"

I wonder if I take up Jive dancing whether I will appear as young , fit, energetic, handsome, happy, rich, gorgeous chap LOL . . . . like these highly professional dancers! - aren't they fantastic?  Oh well, perhaps in the next life.