Electric Strings, Classical Roots: Tracy Silverman on Turtle Island, Strum Bowing, and Creative Freedom (re-release)
Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman
08/16/25
•127m
About
Comments
Featured In
Originally released in 2022: Tracy Silverman is truly an inspiring musician in every respect and it was such an honour to meet him and be able to record this memorable episode! This interview is also available as a video; the transcript is also linked on my website
We talked about his classical roots, studying with legendary teachers Lewis Kaplan and Ivan Galamian, his rejection of the classical world and his fascinating career, through his years in rock bands, we even talked about some of his early gigs, including learning the ropes as a strolling violinist, getting the job as first violinist of the innovative Turtle Island string quartet, and the development of his Strum Bowing method.
We talked about many musicians, including some of his collaborators and mentors including Terry Riley, Darol Anger, Roy “Futureman” Wooten, Mark Wood, and composers Roberto Sierra and John Adams. In this conversation one of the many topics we covered was the new concerto writtten for Tracy called “Ficciones” by Roberto Sierra.
Finally, we dived into his creative process, how music affects our emotions, and how to stay open by listening to others, and learning to show up as ourselves.
Please help me keep this podcast going! Podcast merch
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:29) Concerto "Ficciones" by Roberto Sierra, premiered with the American Symphony Orchestra
(00:07:13) Tracy's 6-string electric violin built by Joe Glazer with demonstrations, and more about "Ficciones"
(00:14:14) Tracy's support system for the instrument, progression from classical violinist through his rock days
(00:22:37) Lewis Kaplan
(00:25:25) Ivan Galamian
(00:28:40) Tracy's approach to Bach
(00:32:04) Tracy's childhood, improv and composition
(00:36:17) "Ficciones" "Between the Kiss and the Chaos"
(00:40:51) Turtle Island String Quartet and career advice
(00:44:35) Strolling violin gigs, wedding singer
(00:47:41) John Adams, "Dharma at Big Sur", solo recital versions of concerti
(00:50:00) Looping with demo
(00:57:27) Album "Beats and Jams" with son "Toby Beats"
(01:02:11)Terry Riley
(01:24:03) process of improvisation, Strum bowing different styles
(01:17:47) Egberto Gismonti, Darol Anger
(01:22:00) teaching, strum bowing in school music programs
(01:24:43)Turtle Island String Quartet, Darol Anger and the origin of strum bowing
(01:28:08) music affects our emotions
(01:32:10) Roy "Futureman" Wooten, positive mindset
(01:37:30) challenges with the 2020 lockdowns
(01:44:35) commission for "Ficciones" with different orchestras
(01:46:22)Tracy's mission with string playing, practicing, advice
Previous Episode
Derek Gripper: Guitar, Kora, and the Art of Listening (re-release)
August 11, 2025
•82m
This was originally released in 2022. The internationally renowned South African guitarist Derek Gripper is famous for his groundbreaking technique for evoking the West African kora on the guitar. During this episode you’ll get to hear Derek play quite a bit and you will hear his wonderful insights on how we listen to and learn music, the influence of Montessori and Alexander Technique in his life, his reflections on important collaborations in his career and his perspectives on changes that have been imposed on creators and performers.
My website for the video and transcript
Buy me a coffee?
(00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:45) Bach guitar music with intro (00:04:00) carnatic music studies, album with tabla player Udai Mazumdar (00:06:12) structural improvisation, Bach (00:08:18) Alexander Technique (00:15:28) violin studies (00:16:24) Derek's recording approach (00:20:30) “Billly Goes to Durban” (00:21:28) kora music, Toumani Diabaté (00:25:18) “Tubaka” guitar music (00:26:36) Derek’s transcriptions, Zoom classes (00:30:12) online music economy, Derek’s experiences with selling albums, Platoon label (00:35:35) Montessori method and teaching guitar (00:39:38) "A Year of Swimming" (00:41:34) Alex Van Heerden, “Sagtevlei”, Steve Reich, Bryan Bolton (00:45:36) Guy Buttery and different collaborations (00:48:12) South Africa and COVID’s economic ramifications (00:49:43) Madosini (00:52:06) World Music as a genre and marketing tool (00:58:23) Derek’s style of performing (01:00:31) mental health, touring, mindset with Alexander Technique inhibition and internal resistance (01:04:42) "Seeing Nobody" guitar music (01:07:00) reflections on Derek’s career, being South African, John Williams, Lucy Duran (01:11:30) Derek’s guitars, Paul Galbraith Brahms guitar, “Bloomdorns”, Hermann Hauser, just intonation and bending notes, oud, lute, veena, (01:17:36) Derek’s advice and reflections on too much input
photo: Luke Young
Next Episode
Darol Anger is an acoustic music legend known as much for his innovative fiddle style beyond Bluegrass and Jazz traditions, and his teaching. Darol has helped drive the evolution of the contemporary string band through his involvement with numerous pathbreaking ensembles such as the Turtle Island String Quartet, the David Grisman Quintet, and his current touring group Mr Sun. This podcast episode is being released a few days before his new 2-album set Diary of a Fiddler #2: The Empty Nest, and you’ll be hearing many clips from this brilliant collaborative project that features dozens of phenomenal string players and improvisers. You’ll find the titles and performers from these clips in the timestamps Diary of a Fiddler #2 Album Anyone interested in the history of American acoustic music will be curious to hear Darol’s stories from his long career, and his advice to students from his many years teaching at Berklee and online at ArtistWorks. Most importantly I’m sure you’ll be inspired by Darol’s openness and generosity to musical connection. My website including YouTube
Darol Anger website Newsletter Buy me a coffee? Podcast Merch Martin Hayes Tracy Silverman Brittany Haas Joe K. Walsh Leslie DeShazor Julie Lyonn Lieberman Sara Caswell (00:00) Intro (02:14) summer festivals, Diary of a Fiddler projects (09:28) Brittany Haas with clip of I Coulda told U (10:49) recording the album, Liza Jane Parade with clip (14:44) Mike Barnett with clip Liza Jane Reboot (18:48) Darol’s early career in San Francisco (28:57) 5 string acoustic violin (33:30) Enion Pelta with clip Ouditarus Rez, teaching (39:00) other linked episodes (39:53) ArtistWorks, Berklee teaching (47:52) Ella Jordan, John Mailander with clip The Unberable Gift (49:43) Berklee, Jenna Moynihan with clip Melt the Teakettle (53:32) the importance of a positive and supportive atmosphere (57:54)playing bowed string instruments, baritone violin (01:01:46) Martin Hayes, Allistair Fraser, Natalie MacMaster (01:07:20) Casey Driessen with clip The Amen Corner (01:09:44) Rembemering Emy Phelps with clip of The Crooked Road to Emy with Tristan Clarridge (01:17:51) Mr. Sun 01:19:23) Diary of a Fiddler #2 with clip of the end of La Ville Manteaux with Trent Freeman, gardening
If you like this episode you’ll love
Promoted