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Sunday, October 6, 2019

Day 345- Black Violin:Impossible Tour-Dream- Show the World What's Possible



My Blog inspiration book, “Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Little GoldeBook” reminds us to “be unique” and unique is  just what  you get with Black Violin. Classically trained violist (Wil B) and violinist (Kev Marcus) fuse classical music with hip hop, pop and rock. They call their new musical genre “Classical Boom”. Their music is not just about a unique sound but as Wil B said during their show, it is about “breaking stereotypes” and “showing the world that what’s impossible is possible.”


Reflection
 I have always enjoyed the symphony and even a little country fiddle but I have had limited exposure to hip hop. After experiencing Black Violin two years ago, I became an instant fan of their skilled blending of so many different musical genres and their combined positive message.

 Impossible opened with a slow wave of  the classical violin to a sun rising backdrop. Adding a  layered  rock beat by picking the violin strings, the music built to a crescendo that mixed  rock and classical sounds. These two guys know how to bring a party to the stage.  

A Black Violin show explodes with energy. You can definitely pick out bits and pieces of familiar classical music as they play. They then mix in beat boxing rhythms, use song hooks by using a DJ and add a rock beat with their phenomenal  drummer.   

The violin and viola were fused with pop songs from Ed Sheeran (The Shape of You), Marvin Gaye (Let’s get it On), Imagine Dragons (Believer) and even Billie Eilish.  The audience was often on their feet scything an arm through the air in time with the beat and/or singing. 

I particularly enjoyed their original "A Flat " which seemed to take off like an airplane (listen here). “Dreamer” (from their new album Take the Stairs) was heavier on the pop sound and celebrated the dreamer: "Here's to the dreamer, cheers to the dreamer, I am a dreamer." 

Black Violin encourages youth to “dream” and “take the stairs” with their commitment to school music outreach programs. Impossible  ended in a collaboration with enthusiastic students aging 7 to 17 from Hope Academy. These two guys sure created their own enjoyable musical  path and by doing so, encourage others to show the world that what’s impossible is possible. 

(Black Violin kicked off the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's diverse entertainment programs of music, comedy and dance offered in the 2019-2020 season of the Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents Series. For more on this series go here).

Spiritual Reflection 
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

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