Rod MacDonald directs a show for the record books!
 Professor Roderick MacDonald conducts the Stelzen Festspeil Orchestra in Germany this summer, premiering the piece "Violin Concerto," composed for the world's largest violin. It is expected to be included in the 2012 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records. |
This summer proved more eventful than restful for SUNY Fredonia Associate Professor of Trumpet Roderick MacDonald, who conducted a performance in Germany with the world's largest violin that will make it into the 2012 Guinness Book of World Records.
Each summer, Professor MacDonald heads across the pond to Leipzig, Germany to conduct and coordinate the Stelzen Festival.
This festival has been hailed as "the most original festival in Germany" by local media sources. Each summer, the Gewandhaus Orchestra heads to the Stelzen barn to take part in this weekend festival of folk music, fun events, and pyrotechnic displays light up the night sky.
As former principal trumpet of the Gewandhaus Orchestra, MacDonald now views this event from a different spot, the podium.
When asked about donning a different "hat" MacDonald states, "while trumpet playing is a passion and main career focus, I find myself even more inspired on the podium making music happen with colleagues I have known for years and respect deeply. Being on the podium with a packed house of 2000 people is a rush, a high, and one of the highlights of each year for me."
This summer's event proved especially exciting, due in large part, to the world premiere of German composer Stephan Koenigs "Violin Concerto", composed for the world's largest violin.
Unlike the violin, this particular instrument requires three players, extra large music able to be seen by the player at the neck of the violin, as well as lines chalked on the stage to show the proper bow angles to produce sound.
This instrument was built in Markneukirchen, an ancient town in Germany widely known for its prolific instrument makers.
The master craftsman who created this instrument could only envision the splash it would make at the Stelzen Festival. This packed out crowd witnessed more than a world premiere, it witnessed a Guinness Book of World Records event in the making. Entry of this event into the publication will likely occur for the 2012 edition.
