Holberg Suite by Grieg. Arranged for violins by Joe Williams.

[@hirochannelpiano]

Very beautiful 🥰👏👏

[@TheNjsb]

Sounds amazing! Great work. Hopefully Grieg is smiling down from above.

[@JoeWilliamsViolin]

Thank you Nathaniel.

[@olyve89]

So beautiful !!! ❤️❤️👏👏👏😍😍😍😍💕💜💖

[@JoeWilliamsViolin]

Thanks so much.

[@MrNikypag]

Ottimo lavoro. Complimenti per la performance.

[@JoeWilliamsViolin]

Many thanks Mario.

[@mathinkin]

Awesome 👏👏👏💖

[@JoeWilliamsViolin]

Thanks James

[@kinorspielmann4649]

Q1 Why not play with others in an ensemble, instead of creating this elaborate artificial formation of one? Q2 Why not play the existing huge violin repertoire, instead of making such arrangements and transcriptions? Q3 And if you must do this, why Grieg? He doesn't seem to have been great composer when it comes to the violin. I don't get it.

[@JoeWilliamsViolin]

Thank you for your questions. Answer to Q1. I do play in ensembles. I’m a full time member of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and we play concerts regularly, in the next 6 weeks, we are performing in Lichfield, Gloucester as well as 4 concerts in London as part of the BBC proms festival at the Royal Albert Hall, we are also in this time playing soundtrack repertoire for some major TV productions. Our repertoire covers the early baroque to new contemporary pieces. I have also played in regular string quartets and piano trios. As for why I do these recordings, I started the channel during lockdown, when our orchestra, like all ensembles could no longer meet. It was a way for me to carry on playing. I found that i rather enjoyed creating arrangements, and so have continued what has now become an enjoyable hobby for me. Answer to Q2. I play what I like. As an orchestral musician, you have no choice in your repertoire, so I rather enjoy picking my own repertoire for this channel. Answer to Q3. I’m happy that we all have different opinions on a wide range of subject matters, it makes life more interesting, and encourages debate. I actually like Grieg’s music, and think that the Holberg Suite is one of the great pieces written for strings.

[@kinorspielmann4649]

@@JoeWilliamsViolin Thank you for your answers. Q4 Is St David's Hall being dumbed down for pop concerts and the like, or will it remain a flagship classical music venue?

[@JoeWilliamsViolin]

@@kinorspielmann4649 cardiff council have put a clause in the contract that the company taking over St David’s Hall have to do a minimum number of classical music concerts. We will still be playing there, but concert goers and musicians are concerned that things may get dumbed down! We will have to keep our fingers crossed and see what happens.