Internationally renowned English violinist Tasmin Little regally entertained inmates at Maghaberry prison by treating the healthcare unit to a music recital called “The Naked Violin”.

“The Naked Violin” is part of the Belfast’s Music Society’s new summer recital initiative and during Tasmin’s whistle- stop tour she also visited Belfast’s School of Music.

During the hour long musical session Tasmin, who impressively needed no music sheets, introduced works specifically written for solo violin and demonstrated the many different faces of this versatile instrument. The works included music from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (Spring), Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances, Mozart’s Sonata in C and she also played the haunting theme tune made famous by the film “Schindler’s List”, by composer John Williams.

Tasmin encouraged the audience to ask her questions and she displayed her infectious enthusiasm by waxing lyrically about violins and highlighted how she loved, “the lyrically expressive quality of the violin.”

Commenting on the recital, Trevor Patton, Head of the Healthcare unit in Maghaberry said:

“Tasmin engaged with the inmates on their own level telling the story behind the music and what the various composers were expressing via their music. This had real meaning for the inmates and helped them appreciate what the pieces were actually saying to them. Music can be appreciated by everyone, anywhere. It is irrelevant whether the audience are behind bars or not. Music can be a wonderful creative outlet for prisoners.”

One of the inmates said he was impressed with how passionate Tasmin was about playing the violin and he admired her extraordinary talent and added that it was an honour and privilege to listen to such beautiful live music.

Tasmin received the 2008 Classic FM Gramophone Award for Audience Innovation for “The Naked Violin” and the project was featured on TV’s South Bank show.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Tasmin Little has played for violin for 36 years. “Partners in Time” was launched by Tasmin earlier this year and was named Classic FM’s CD of the week in February.
2. In addition to her regular solo performances, Tasmin plays in and directs orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic, European Union Chamber Orchestra and London Mozart Players.
3. In 2008 Tasmin made her fifteenth appearance at the BBC Promenade concerts.

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