Violetta's books and musical merchandise

Clare Corban-Banks (viola) and Alexandra Harris (violin).

Pierrette le Bon and all the Magic of the Universe. A whimsical and somewhat peculiar tale accompanying the middle-grade musical adventure, Violetta and the Paganini Poltergeist. To find out more visit: https://www.alexandralouiseharris.com. To purchase the book visit: https://www.alexandralouiseharris.com/shop This video features Satie's Gymnopédie no.1 mixed with the La Campanella theme from Paganini's violin concerto no.2. In Paganini's concerto there is a handbell, inspiring Franz Liszt to nickname the tune ‘La Campanella,’ or tiny bell.Classic FM recommends watching Rousseau's 'visually stunning video of a performance of the work using a reactive visualizer. We are… really very hypnotised by it.' You can find the link to his La Campanella here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1Dvg2MxQn8 Pierrette le Bon lived a lonely life, tucked away in her father's antique store in Montmatre. over the years, her finances dwindled as she gave away all she had to help others. Face with her last franc, she had almost given up help until... magic appeared on her doorstep. When a stranger leaves behind four enchanted violins, Pierrette is thrown into and extraodinary adventure. A quest for find All the Magic of the Universe. This is the second in a seris of unexpected musical tales accompanying the Violetta books. Violetta and the Paganini Poltergeist begins right where this tale ends; in Paris in 1890. Illustrated music videos accompanying this story can be veiwed on Alexandra's YouTube channel. Within the ebook, the golden frames also lead directly to each one on Alexandra's website. You can find the Violetta and the Venetian Violin album here on YouTube, or to stream below. http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1590665103?ls=1&app=itunes http://itunes.apple.com/album/id/1590665103 https://open.spotify.com/album/3auU1gNVW4BBIdldtNjize Oh, and if making your own Venetian-style masks is up your alley, then you’ll find some kits on the Violetta shop too. In the meantime, happy reading and playing! #violin, #paganini, #musicforchildren, #classicalmusicforchildren, #animatedstory, #classroommusic, #musicalstories, #inspiringyoungmusicians, #creatingstoriesthroughmusic, #violinteacher, #violinvideo, #musicvideo.

This video features a version of Ondine that combines both Ravel and Debussy's compositions for piano. Debussy's version was inspired by Arthur Rackham's beautiful illustrations that accompany the tale of Ondine the water nymph. Ravel's version is from Gaspard de la Nuit, inspired by the following poem by Aloysius Bertrand. 'Listen! - Listen! - It is I, Ondine, brushing with these drops of water the resonant lozenge panes of your window lit by the moon's bleak rays; and here, in her gown of watered silk, is the lady of the chateau gazing from her balcony at the fine starlit night and the beautiful sleeping lake. Every wave is a water sprite swimming in the current, every current is a path winding its way to my palace, and my palace, with its flowing structure, lies at the bottom of the lake, in the triangle of fire, earth and air. Listen! - Listen! - My father is beating the croaking water with a branch of green alder, and my sisters caress the fresh islands of grass, water-lily and gladiolus with their briny arms, or mock the deciduous, bearded willow, fishing with rod and line." Her murmured song over, she begged me to receive her ring on my finger, to be the husband of an Ondine, and with her to visit her palace, to be the king of the lakes. And as I answered that I loved a mortal, she became angered and hurt, wept a few tears, burst out laughing, and fainted in sudden showers that rustled white down my blue stained-glass windows.' (The above translation is from https://www.euroasia.org.my/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Poem.pdf. This musical video is from the short story 'Pierrette le Bon and All the Magic of the Universe'. It's a tale set in Paris, inspired by enchanted antiques, violins and Paganini's music. To find out more, and to download the sheet music for this version visit, https://www.alexandralouiseharris.com/paganinipoltergeist #violin, #debussy, #musicforchildren, #classicalmusicforchildren, #animatedstory, #classroommusic, #musicalstories, #inspiringyoungmusicians, #creatingstoriesthroughmusic, #violinteacher, #violinvideo, #musicvideo, #ravel

This video features Paganini's Witches Dance. Paganini's birthday is around the time of Halloween or All Hallows Eve, hence the inspiration behind this video. Some people seem to walk on stage full of confidence, every time. Nicoló Paganini (1782-1840) was one of those superhuman individuals. In fact, he was so good, many believed he was possessed. Like Faust, people believed he made a pact with the devil. He acquired magical powers and was gifted the ‘musical diablerie,’ with tricks like left-hand pizzicato, up-bow staccato; and, of course, playing an entire piece on a G string. Yes, that always gets a laugh, particularly with teenagers. You can listen to the entire 'La Streghe' here, and view a very nice painting of Niccolò Paganini at the same time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndTEXV3JB_A This musical video is from the short story 'Pierrette le Bon and All the Magic of the Universe'. It's a tale set in Paris, inspired by enchanted antiques, violins and Paganini's music. To find out more, and to download the sheet music for this version visit, https://www.alexandralouiseharris.com/paganinipoltergeist #violin, #paganini, #musicforchildren, #classicalmusicforchildren, #animatedstory, #classroommusic, #musicalstories, #inspiringyoungmusicians, #creatingstoriesthroughmusic, #violinteacher, #violinvideo, #musicvideo.

This video features Saint-Saëns The Swan from The Carnival of the Animals. Although Saint-Saëns was said to have banned performances of this work, this piece has become a staple in the classical repertoire, more commonly for cellists. Why didn't he want it to be played? Well, apparently he composed the Carnival of the Animals as a joke and he worried it would ruin his reputation. Fortunately for us, other people liked it. In this version, you'll see a glass slipper and a carriage like Cinderella's. The Carnival is also narrated, and in one version I found there was a reference which went something like this; 'ask the swan if fairytales do come true.' Unfortunately, I know can't find it so if you happen to know the source, please do get in touch! For now it remains a mysterious breadcrumb of inspiration. This musical video is from the short story 'Pierrette le Bon and All the Magic of the Universe'. It's a tale set in Paris, inspired by enchanted antiques, violins and Paganini's music. To find out more, and to download the sheet music for this version, www.alexandralouiseharris.com #saintsaens #theswan #classicalmusicforchildren #creatingstoriesthroughmusic #violin #animation #bedtimeclassical #classroommusic #musicforchildren #carnivaloftheanimals

This video features Paganini's Carnival of Venice. The characters of the Italian Commedia dell'Arte include Harlequin, Pierrot and Pierrette, pictured in this video and you can read more about them below. https://www.italymask.co.nz/About+Masks/Commedia+dellArte+Characters.html It is Carnivale time in Venice as this video goes live. The word 'carnival' or 'carnivale' in Italian has similarities to the word carnivorous. The season of Carnivale is a preparation for Lent, traditionally meaning an abstinence from meat, and it begins in February each year, ending on Shrove Tuesday. That day is also known as Mardi Gras in French or Martedi Grasso in Italian. I would certainly recommend viewing some of the wonderful masks captured on Pinterest. https://au.pinterest.com/ideas/venetian-mask-photography/950388746514/ This musical video is from the short story 'Pierrette le Bon and All the Magic of the Universe'. It's a tale set in Paris, inspired by enchanted antiques, violins and Paganini's music. To find out more, and to download the sheet music for this version, www.alexandralouiseharris.com #paganini #sheetmusictoplay #violin #classroommusic #venetianmask #venetiancarnivale.

Pierrette le Bon and all the Magic of the Universe. A whimsical and somewhat peculiar tale accompanying the middle-grade musical adventure, Violetta and the Paganini Poltergeist. To find out more visit: https://www.alexandralouiseharris.com. To purchase the book visit: https://www.alexandralouiseharris.com/shop This video features a slightly abridged version of Sarasate's Zigeunerweisen, or 'Gypsy Airs'. I certainly recommend checking out 12-year violinist SoHyun Koh's amazing performance in this Heifetz Institute recording at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmV2hj-I7Xo Pierrette le Bon lived a lonely life, tucked away in her father's antique store in Montmatre. over the years, her finances dwindled as she gave away all she had to help others. Face with her last franc, she had almost given up help until... magic appeared on her doorstep. When a stranger leaves behind four enchanted violins, Pierrette is thrown into and extraodinary adventure. A quest for find All the Magic of the Universe. This is the second in a seris of unexpected musical tales accompanying the Violetta books. Violetta and the Paganini Poltergeist begins right where this tale ends; in Paris in 1890. Illustrated music videos accompanying this story can be veiwed on Alexandra's YouTube channel. Within the ebook, the golden frames also lead directly to each one on Alexandra's website. You can find the Violetta and the Venetian Violin album here on YouTube, or to stream below. http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1590665103?ls=1&app=itunes http://itunes.apple.com/album/id/1590665103 https://open.spotify.com/album/3auU1gNVW4BBIdldtNjize Oh, and if making your own Venetian-style masks is up your alley, then you’ll find some kits on the Violetta shop too. In the meantime, happy reading and playing! #violin, #paganini, #musicforchildren, #classicalmusicforchildren, #animatedstory, #classroommusic, #musicalstories, #sarasate #inspiringyoungmusicians, #creatingstoriesthroughmusic, #violinteacher, #violinvideo, #musicvideo.

Pierrette le Bon and all the Magic of the Universe. A whimsical and somewhat peculiar tale accompanying the middle-grade musical adventure, Violetta and the Paganini Poltergeist. To find out more visit: https://www.alexandralouiseharris.com. To purchase the book visit: https://www.alexandralouiseharris.com/shop This video features my version of Paganini's Moto Perpetuo combined with Tartini's Devil's Trill Sonata, a piece inspired by a dream. The following is from a story told to French astronomer Jérôme Lalande. You can read it at https://interlude.hk/on-this-day-8-april-giuseppe-tartini-was-born. It's worth checking out as you'll also find “Tartini’s Dream” by Louis-Léopold Boilly (1761-1845). Beware, it's not for everyone. “One night, in the year 1713,” Tartini reports, “I dreamed I had made a pact with the devil for my soul. Everything went as I wished: my new servant anticipated my every desire. Among other things, I gave him my violin to see if he could play. How great was my astonishment on hearing a sonata so wonderful and so beautiful, played with such great art and intelligence, as I had never even conceived in my boldest flights of fantasy. I felt enraptured, transported, enchanted: my breath failed me, and I awoke.” Tartini continues, “I immediately grasped my violin in order to retain, in part at least, the impression of my dream. In vain! The music which I at this time composed is indeed the best that I ever wrote, and I still call it the “Devil’s Trill,” but the difference between it and that which so moved me is so great that I would have destroyed my instrument and have said farewell to music forever if it had been possible for me to live without the enjoyment it affords me.” Pierrette le Bon lived a lonely life, tucked away in her father's antique store in Montmatre. over the years, her finances dwindled as she gave away all she had to help others. Faced with her last franc, she had almost given up help until... magic appeared on her doorstep. When a stranger leaves behind four enchanted violins, Pierrette is thrown into and extraodinary adventure. A quest for find All the Magic of the Universe. This is the second in a seris of unexpected musical tales accompanying the Violetta books. Violetta and the Paganini Poltergeist begins right where this tale ends; in Paris in 1890. Illustrated music videos accompanying this story can be veiwed on Alexandra's YouTube channel. Within the ebook, the golden frames also lead directly to each one on Alexandra's website. You can find the Violetta and the Venetian Violin album here on YouTube, or to stream below. http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1590665103?ls=1&app=itunes http://itunes.apple.com/album/id/1590665103 https://open.spotify.com/album/3auU1gNVW4BBIdldtNjize Oh, and if making your own Venetian-style masks is up your alley, then you’ll find some kits on the Violetta shop too. In the meantime, happy reading and playing! #violin, #paganini, #musicforchildren, #classicalmusicforchildren, #animatedstory, #classroommusic, #musicalstories, #inspiringyoungmusicians, #creatingstoriesthroughmusic, #violinteacher, #violinvideo, #musicvideo.