"This practical, comprehesive, and well-organized book by an experienced conductor and educator is the very first to concentrate on this type of performing group and its special needs. . . . Valuable appendixes give IRS rulings, suggested auditioning material, addresses of publishers and rental libraries, and more." Library Journal

This book provides a history of what has been termed the monumental orchestra in America. It traces the growth of the symphony orchestra to its roots in European traditions, recounts the crises which it has overcome, and describes the musical repertoires with which it has regaled its audiences during the past century.

The collection includes exclusive, one-on-one interviews conducted over the past six years with 27 of today's best-known violinists (plus one conductor/composer): Hilary Hahn, Joshua Bell, Sarah Chang, David Garrett, Anne Akiko Meyers, Ruggiero Ricci, Maxim Vengerov, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Gil Shaham and Adele Anthony, Rachel Barton Pine, Nicola Benedetti, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Zachary DePue, James Ehnes, Simon Fischer, Augustin Hadelich, Janine Jansen, Leila Josefowicz and Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philippe Quint, Tasmin Little, Elmar Oliveira, Stanley Ritchie, Lara St. John, Philip Setzer, Clara-Jumi Kang and Judy Kang. It's a celebration of one of the world's most enduring instruments, and the people who are helping carry forth the violin's legacy into a new generation. "The Violinist.com Interviews: Volume 1" includes a foreword by Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn, who writes, "Laurie addresses topics that are comfortable but all-consuming, such as current projects, and delves into the delicate nuances of creativity. She captures specific moments in time. I love that. In this collection, you can observe her at work, but you will also travel along with her interview subjects."

Preus chronicles the development of the Santa Fe Community Orchestra, founded by a couple of amateur musicians, who didn't know that starting an orchestra might be difficult. (Music)

Excerpt from The Community Orchestra, Its Formation and Maintenance The popularity of the community orchestra has reached a stage where it would seem that every small city and town laying claim to any musical talent whatsoever aspires to have one of these organizations of its own. The writer, for many years actively interested in amateur musical affairs, conducting and playing in various organizations, having been- the recipient of numerous inquiries from parties about to organize community orchestras aims in this article to anticipate similar questions. It is also written in response to and prompted by the remark made to us frequently by out-of-town parties: "We wish that we could have a community orchestra in our town but we have no one to organize or conduct it" Although many of these places have their town band still they realize that an orchestra is an entirely different proposition requiring a treatment of another kind owing to the diverse elements that enter into its composition. For years we have endeavored to find a book that we could suggest which would answer inquiries on the subject of the organization and conducting of the amateur orchestra, but strange as it may seem, we have so far been unable to find such a one dealing with the subject in a manner that would be of any real service to the conductor of the community orchestra. True there are many most excellent books treating on special subjects in the line of orchestral work which, while they are of value to the advanced music student or for reference to the musician, would be of but limited use to the amateur in his step by step advancement in the formation of his orchestra. Therefore it is our aim to give in this article the essential information which the amateur conductor of the community orchestra needs to attain musical excellence which should be his ideal. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

The Book aims to be a guide through the little universe which is the working place of the man who writes music. As such it talks predominantly to the layman, although the expert composer may also find some stimulation in it... From the center of basic theory our discussion will spread out into all the realms of experience which border the technical aspect on composing, such as aesthetics, sociology, philosphy and so on... We must be grateful that with our art we have been placed halfway between science and religion, enjoying equally the advantages of exactitude in thinking... and of the unlimeted world of faith. Paul Hindemith, from the preface