We're two sisters who are craft book publishers and found ourselves in the midst of an avocado grove. We bought this house where we planned to conduct our publishing business and in the deal got 4 acres of avocado trees thrown in. Now we're not only publishers but ranchers as well! This blog is all about avocados and anything else that strikes my fancy.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Sepia Saturday 99 - Violin Mania

From the sublime:




To the ridiculous


I'm trying to keep with the theme this week. But I had no family photos of any kind that featured a musical instrument. It seems not one member of my family, extended family or friends were ever caught on film playing an instrument.  So instead I'm featuring two photos of women with violins. I don't know who these ladies are but I sure love the juxtaposition - the first woman so lovely and the second one so silly.

When I think of violins, I think of a scene from the most panned movie of all time - Heaven's Gate.



Have you seen it? It's pretty awful. But there is one scene that is so wonderful that I suffered through the film twice just to see it. It's maybe 4 or 5 minutes long and worth every minute. I thought, if I could just watch this every morning, it would start my day off right because it's so fun and catchy and happy.

The violinist is David Mansfield, a very talented musician and composer. He also composed the score of the film. I emailed him once and asked him if he knew how to roller skate before taking on this very difficult role. Can you imagine skating and playing a violin at the same time? He very graciously emailed back and said that, no he wasn't much of a roller skater, but Michael Cimino (the director of the film) had a roller skating camp set up to teach all of those involved how to skate. Imagine how much time, money and energy that must have taken. He also had the roller skating rink built especially for the film at huge cost. No wonder the film lost so much money!!  Anyway, here's the scene (be warned, it's almost 4 minutes long). Enjoy.


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22 comments:

  1. I just wonder whether the sublime lady can actually play the instrument.

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  2. splendid photographs and I did enjoy that video clip you added.
    :)~
    HUGZ

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  3. Bob,
    I kind of have my doubts if either of those ladies could actually play the violin.
    Nancy

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  4. Hi Ticklebear,
    glad you enjoyed the clip. Isn't it just too much? Too bad the film was so bad. Such a waste of talent, energy and money.

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  5. was this the only place he was ever featured? if indeed so, indeed it was too bad, though there was great energy in this scene.
    :)~
    HUGZ

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  6. This is fun! I enjoyed your pictures and am going to watch the video clip in just a minute. I tried to play the violin for a little while in grade school, but when we moved I had to walk a long way to the middle school to keep it up and I quit. Dang.

    Happy SS,

    Kathy M.

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  7. That was awesome, thanks! Is that Kris Kristopherson? I haven't heard of this movie.

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  8. Ticklebear,
    i think the roller skating scene was the only one he was in. But I'm not sure. But he seems to have gone on to a very successful musical career.
    Nancy

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  9. Hi Kathy,
    Yes, that was indeed Kris Kristopherson. Jeff Bridges is also in this scene.
    There's an excellent book called "Final Cut" that gives a whole history of "Heaven's Gate". They call the film "the movie that brought down a studio." It was a real disaster.
    Nancy

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  10. The young lady violinist was certainly a beauty, whoever she was...

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  11. Excellent Nancy - I've no photographic evidence of any family musical talent either, but you were a bit more imaginative than me :-) Jo

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  12. I have no idea what the movie was about, but that's a great clip.

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  13. The woman in the first photograph looks quite angelic, and the clip is very uplifting.

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  14. I think the young woman in the first photo is so pretty. I can't say the same for the second but she probably had a great personality. :)

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  15. That was amazing. I had never heard of this movie but as a violin player I can appreciate the talent. Like patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time. The first picture is beautiful. Great post.
    QMM

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  16. I love the juxtaposition of those wonderful static sepia prints and the movement and energy of the film clip. I have never seen the film : from the sample I can't understand why it was a flop (but I am not noted for my appreciation or knowledge of movies)

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  17. Now that clip was fantastic! I had heard so many times how bad the movie was I skipped it, but wow the roller skating-dancing was sublime! I wonder how many bumps and bruises went into the making of that scene?

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  18. I really enjoyed that music and the scene, despite its improbability, is pretty magical - thank you. As for the woman with a violin on her head, one has to ask, "Why?"

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  19. Oh my! I can't imagine skating and playing at the same time. It is hard enough to do either one! Fun post - loved the pictures and I do get the feeling that the first woman played. There is a sense of familiarity in the way she holds her violin. You really do become quite attached to your instrument.

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  20. We just watched Transatlantic Sessions, with Alison Krauss, who is a superb Blue Grass fiddle player, but we particularly loved her singing Bob Dylan's "I Believe in You"

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  21. Nice choice Nancy. The first lady is beautiful and the second one is obviously, well...........highly strung :)

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  22. Little Nell,
    Highly strung!!! excellent. That says it in a nutshell.
    Nancy

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