ELIZABETH BOUDJEMA IN VIOLINO VERITAS

A MUSICAL PROJECT BORN IN ITALY!

BY ROBERTO SIRONI

Who is Elizabeth Boudjema?

I was born in Bordeaux, in France in 1963. At six years I started studying music in the Conservatory in Bordeaux and after a few months I started study Violin! After “regular” studie I have been interested in other musical genres beyond classical music ... So I playing Irish music that a violinist requires another type of technique use of the arch ... Then the lightning shot, revelation: jazz, known during a stage I made in Dordogne, in the Southwest of France, if I remember correctly in 1984!

At that point I decided to deepen the studio and went to Paris to follow a professional course With, among others, Jean-Luc Pino and Andy Emler. Later, I played in different jazz musical formations and classic participating at the same time at numerous studio recordings especially with French artists and African: Didier Lockood, Thomas Fersen, Manu Dibango, Arthur H, Ismael Lo, Vincent Delete, Jospheh Racaille ... From about twenty years, I live and work in Italy, in Milan where I continued my career as a violinist By collaborating with many Italian musicians and doing concerts throughout Europe ...

What were your musical influences, yours “Masters?”

In classical music Certainly David Oistrakh, Itzak Perlman, Jehudi Menuhin, Anne-Sophie Mutter and Ivry Gitlis I also knew ... all immense violinists! In the jazz certainly Stéphane Grappelli, Joe Venuti, Jean-Luc Ponty and Didier Lockwood ....

As musical genres have always fascinated me, as jazz, but also tango and ethnic music like the Indian, African ... while for musicians, those who have mainly contributed to my culture Musical, I like to remember Django Reinhardt, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Mac Coy Tyner - which I particularly appreciate for the writing of “Big Band” - to I “Weather Report” with Joe Zawinul e Wayne Shorter passing by Pat Metheny, Keith Jarett, Chick Korea, Bill Evans, Carla Bley and many others ... they are figures that mark by force when studying jazz ... they all contributed to the evolution of this music, each one with theirs own style.

In the field of pop music I very appreciate Sting ... in the cinemas of Ennio Morricone, Bernard Herrmann, Nino Rota, John Williams, Hans Zimmer ... in the field of tango, inevitably, Astor Piazzolla ...

I must also say that I have to do a lot to my teachers and especially to what the writing taught me Musical to the Conservatory, in Paris. He made me discover the great classic composers “from the inside” analyzing the scores and writing techniques that I have a great help now in my project “in violin Veritas “. These studies have made me aware that modern jazz is the prolongation of the music called “Classic” and in particular that of the 20th century of the French school (Gabriel Fauré, Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel and others) who already used extended harmony ... For me, Georges Gershwin was the link between Classical music and jazz. And classical music?

Classical music will always remain at the heart of my life; even after attending different music styles, always return to those that I consider my musical origins. Classical music gives me deep emotions that no other music gives me. He speaks to the heart and not to his head, as they can make current music, even Hello Jazz.

Having attended and studied jazz ... what it has brought to you?

The desire to play and have fun with notes and harmony. For me the essence of jazz is swing and improvisation. I also think that the swing cannot learn it ... you have it or you don’t have it! ... as for Improvisation is really great fun, (but I think more for the instrumentalist who for the listener!)

Especially when you are masters of harmony and agreements ... and the instrument! In some ways, one must take some risks and this is very stimulating!

Tell us about your project “In Violino Veritas”

In Violin Veritas was born in Italy, but now it’s a violinistically international project considered it. A “One Woman Show” Performance.

The project was created for two violins and to be presented in Live, then with a traditional violin and a violin tuned as a content (a lower octave) accompanied by a Voice, mine, all supported by a “Loop Station”. I use the violin content in two ways: using pinched for the agreements - a bit like a guitar - and in a way we say “classic” with the bow. I can then compose Arrangements and improvise on these “bases”. All live, on the stage with the help of the “loop Station “which as the name indicates, allows you to record” on loops “the live parts that run in a continuous cycle.

For the moment I composed and arranged 12 pieces, an ambitious and very challenging job! Given the current context, very complicated to organize concerts, I decided to record the pieces and make it a official album by entering it in the world musical market!

In this age there is still room for “great music” or everything has been solved in a single commercial fact?

Unfortunately, I think the “great music” has become a niche music that is always reduced with the Time, even if I think there will always be an audience to appreciate the “classics”. Currently the multinationals of the musical industry, with the complicity of the media, manage the market, even the digital one! There is also that the way to listen to music has changed, and it is also changed its use ... it has become a very large consumption product especially in the universe Youth, so the artistic mission is reduced to quickly listening, fleeting and light ... Art has no longer plenty of space in this context.

What do you think of the today’ s music ? And above all what is, if there are, the music that influences you the most?

Iespecially listen to classical music, jazz and some pop singer ... So, it’s hard for me to give an opinion on music we can call “today’s music” ... rap, trap, house music, etc ...

Ilike the harmony, the game with the agreements. As a violinist, I feel a bit ‘limited by my instrument. I miss the harmonic dimension. Maybe that’s why he really like Bach ... he has in a written full for such instruments solo arched “melodic” sonatas and games ... In fact I used apart from a few “Bach” technical violin in my project regarding the arc use ...

It may seem a trivial question but what a violin for a violinist? It’s just a musical instrument or even more?

When I was little and I began to study the violin put me a bit ‘in awe ... I speak of “physical means” ... It seemed so fragile! ... I was even afraid to change the strings,fear of having something go wrong or break something. By the time I realized that I had in the hands an invention wonderful, very precise construction of which implies a great know-how and know how this great is the ancient tradition recognized in the world of Italian violin making! If you think that there are only in Cremona one hundred and fifty violin makers, understand the immensity of the work and talent!

For what is the instrument I have to say that I had a relationship a bit ‘mitigated ... It was one object / subject that, for better or for worse, has always been close to me, at times, gave me desire to overcome myself, in others, has tested me, making me doubt to my abilities ... It is a tool extremely difficult when you want to do good sound work “classic” ... You cant’ with any instrument. It forces you to be rigorous, to be patient, to be confident of your talent. It is probably so for all instruments when you want to reach a certain level, but I would say that the violin is really particular!

In general, people always think the violin forgetting his alter ego, his true accomplice, is that the arch! But what is really an arc? As far as I’m concerned it has become an extension of my right arm, must-have item to embrace the sounds ...

What kind of musicien do you consider yourself today?

I think I am an eclectic musician not particularly “specialized” in one style. I feel more musician violinist. I like writing music. Some musicians are identified with their instrument, I’m not.

What does it mean for you to be a soloist?

On stage, a soloist is a central figure and has no right to make mistakes!

Next project?

First, the release of my album “In Violin Veritas”, testimony of the project! It will be distributed on digital platforms ... “. At the same time I am very dedicated to the composition, trying new ideas with or without violin. I will develop my musical activities on the web and in parallel, dedicate myself as much as possible to publicize my performance, created to be heard and seen live ... It’s just a concert? I would say no!

Seeing for believing!