A Cadenza Sample

Hard to believe it's been 2 years since the 5 string violin was finished (and the last time we touched this blog too).  I've been playing it regularly for church since then and some special events by request. I've been pretty pleased with the rich sound, and the wood we chose definitely resulted in the tone I was hoping for.  Playing on the low C took a while to get used to, but I've now trained my brain and left hand to think and operate in the lower notes.  

I did promise to post a sample of the violin being played once I got used to it, and I guess I should be used to it after a couple of years!  Here is an .mp4 file of The Swan by Saint Saens which I recorded a couple of months back.  

While it sounds like I'm playing with an orchestra, I'm actually being accompanied by an iPad!  I found an app called Cadenza by Sonation.  It has orchestral accompaniments for a variety of instruments and their standard repertoire.  The unique part of the app is that it is actually listening to the soloist play and will adjust the accompaniment to the tempo and expression of the soloist rather than forcing the soloist to play at the recorded tempo of the accompaniment.  It is a phenomenal tool for practicing since how often do you get to rehearse with an orchestra?  And recently the Cadenza software update enabled saving the recordings, so that is what I am sharing now.  Enjoy!