Professional Musician: Joshua Bell

By: Evelyn Bleu

I have chosen to write about Joshua Bell, a very talented musician who is widely known around the world and has played with major orchestras on all six continents. This made me want to learn more about his career to explore how he has grown to become the artist he is today. Additionally, I wanted to research Bell because he is not only a violinist but also a conductor, director, and recording artist as well. It is interesting that he was able to master many different occupations in the same industry.

Joshua Bell was born on December 9, 1967, in Bloomington, Indiana. Joshua’s mother, Shirley, was a therapist, and his father, Alan, was a psychologist. His parents were not specifically musically inclined, but they were the starting point that enticed Bell into the musical world—Bell’s mother was the one that motivated him to begin his journey in music by playing the piano. When Bell heard his mother play the piano, he became interested in making music; at the age of four, he stretched rubber bands between drawers and plucked them like strings. Bell’s parents decided to enroll him in music classes when they observed his great interest in becoming a musician. As a child, Bell studied music under Donna Bricht, Mimi Zweig, and Josef Gingold. After turning twelve, Bell began taking violin more seriously and placing more and more importance into perfecting his playing. At the age of fourteen, he performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra as a soloist. He then studied at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and received an Artist Diploma for Violin in 1989 and went on to be named an “Indiana Living Legend.”

One of Bell’s albums that I have listened to is “Ladies in Lavender.” The album was recorded by Sony Classical Records and released on November 1, 2004. “Ladies in Lavender” features many musicians including Nigel Hess, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. This soundtrack was recorded specifically for the movie “Ladies in Lavender,” which tells the story of a Polish violinist who washed up from a shipwreck and met two sisters. The soundtrack consists of several beautiful classical pieces of music along with original songs. This album is significant because it takes the feeling behind the movie to a whole new level and helps portray a story in a different light.

I also enjoyed Bell’s album “Ladies in Lavender” because it offers a large variety of songs that evoke many emotions ranging from happy, upbeat songs to sad and more dramatic pieces. I really loved the dynamics Bell incorporates into all these pieces and how he is able to quickly make sudden changes going from piano and then crescendoing to forte. He also does a great job of playing double stops without making the piece sound muddy and executes the notes cleanly. Furthermore, the music created vivid imagery that allowed me to easily follow along with the story of each song. For example, the song “Ladies in Lavender” gave off a calming feeling, and I could envision someone strolling through nature taking in the breathtaking scenery. The legato phrasing in this song was a very important factor in setting up a light-hearted and graceful piece. Another piece of music that stood out to me was “The Carnival of Venice” because it was different compared to other songs. It sounded playful and had some call-and-response parts in the piece; the song sounded as if two kids were running around playing tag, and it was quite cheerful.

Joshua Bell has a very well-developed style of playing and is an excellent example of how hard work can result in success. All of his songs are exquisitely performed and are wonderful to listen to because of how he uses musical elements to create a sense of reality for the listeners. Bell uses a lot of legato and incorporates a full bow to achieve a beautiful tone quality, even on higher notes. He also knows how to skillfully use dynamics to maintain a balanced sound. Some of Bell’s musical elements I am able to incorporate into my own playing is to use a shorter bow to clean up my tone while crossing strings. I also noticed that he uses less bow and keeps it close to the strings when he does quick lifts and double stops. Another element I wish to add to my playing is how Bell adjusts his dynamics when he is hitting very high notes which improves intonation. Joshua Bell is an exceptional violinist with his mastery of these musical elements and the ability to connect with the audience through a message in his music.