Musical Polish Roots

Musical Polish Roots

Seekers of musical genes recently received another argument for treating Poland as their valuable source. American classical music star, violin virtuoso Rachel Barton Pine, who will perform in the country of her ancestors for the first time in February. - Thinking about Poland, I think about my heritage - she says.

- I am half Polish from my father's side. My great-grandparents emigrated to America when they were teenagers - reveals the award-winning artist, who is considered one of the most esteemed and charismatic violinists in the USA. She adds that her great-grandparents wanted their children to become true Americans, so they did not allow their grandparents to learn Polish. - That's why my dad didn't pass on any family traditions from the Old World that he could have passed on to me - Rachel Barton Pine admits with regret. On February 9-11 in Krakow, Wroclaw, and Warsaw, at the invitation of the Bielecki Art Foundation, the extraordinary artist will perform in Poland for the first time.

Non-classical Wonder Child

Born in 1974, Rachel Barton Pine started playing the violin at the age of three and was quickly recognized as a 'wonder child'. At the age of 10, she made her debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. At 17, she became the youngest and first American winner of the J.S. Bach Competition in Leipzig. As a teenager, she also won important awards in Budapest, Montreal, Genoa, and Brussels. She performed as a soloist with the most important world orchestras and prominent conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Placido Domingo, and Erich Leinsdorf. Her musical interests go far beyond classical music; she played with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin, performs in a heavy metal band, and collaborates with guitar virtuoso Steve Vai.

She has 18 albums to her credit, including one Grammy-nominated, one of her favorite rock and metal tracks, and many classical pieces with demonic undertones or variations of the New Zealand anthem. Depending on the style she performs, she chooses the violin, but her favorite instrument is a violin considered one of the most important and valuable in the world, made in 1742 by Guarneri - the creator of Paganini's favorite instrument. She has experienced mastery not only in music. She participated in the Olympic torch relay in 1996 in Atlanta and also performed at the opening of the Paralympics in Atlanta. She performed the US national anthem at Chicago Bulls games, for which she received a kiss from Michael Jordan. The uniqueness of her person is complemented by a difficult experience, after which she triumphantly returned to music. In 1995, when her career was gaining momentum, she had a serious accident. The train doors trapped the case strap of her violin, pulling her outside the train, which severed one of her legs and damaged the other. After a two-year break for many surgeries and rehabilitation, she returned to the stage. She founded a charitable foundation whose task is to promote classical music and help young people with musical genes.

Anyone Can Play?

A musician doesn't need to be convinced that genes are not everything. - The fact that someone loves music and has talent does not guarantee being a good performer. The technical requirements of playing the violin are like an Olympic sport - admits Rachel Barton Pine. What does the scientist think about this? - Everyone is capable enough to sing or play an instrument because everyone has music in their genes. Just as we are programmed to learn a language, we are also programmed to learn music - says Dr. Barbara Kamińska, professor at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw. - However, if we do not use this program, it will be deleted. If we make sure from the beginning that this program is being used, then we can develop our musical abilities - she adds.

An American violinist with Polish roots, who used her program for 8 hours a day thanks to homeschooling, certainly helped her musical genes. Asked if she could develop them at a different time and place, she is not eager to leave her native Chicago, but she has dreams related to great musicians. - I am very happy to live in the 21st century because today we can enjoy so many types of music. However, I would like to visit centuries where there were no recordings yet to hear the true sound of Bach and Paganini - she says. She adds that she cannot wait for her first visit to the country of her ancestors and to reconnect with her own heritage.

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Famous with Polish Musical Roots

Leonard Cohen - comes from a Jewish family, his father was Polish
Jack White (The White Stripes) - his mother is from Poland
Ray Manzarek (The Doors) - his parents are children of Polish immigrants
Axl Rose (Guns N' Roses) - his grandmother is Polish
Jan Garbarek - son of a Polish prisoner of war and Norwegian
Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi) - his grandparents are from Poland.