Violinist Joseph Gold returned to the Paul Revere Middle School stage in late October for an encore, albeit about 40 years later. The Paul Revere graduate, who was principal violinist in the school’s orchestra in 1960, gave a special free performance, accompanied by Debbie Dare (viola) and composer Jaume Torrent (guitarist). After graduating from Palisades High in 1964, Gold received a degree in music and literature at USC, and then taught in the San Francisco public school system for 30 years. He now lives in Piedmont and performs internationally. Two years ago, Gold, who still has friends and commercial property in Santa Monica Canyon, was driving by Revere and noticed that there was an upcoming concert. He attended, and afterwards introduced himself to Revere orchestra teacher Lara Jacques. He told her, ‘I used to be a student at Revere. I’m a violinist and would love to do something for the school.’ Jacques asked if he would play for the students; he agreed, came back and performed for the entire student body. Returning this year with Dare and Torrent, Gold performed three shows for the music students at Revere. ‘He spoke to them about the history of the school, and how things were when he was here,’ Jacques told the Palisadian-Post. Gold talked about his passion and the violinist Paganini, who invented and made famous techniques that are now known to every violinist, like pizzicato (plucking the strings with one’s fingers). The famed 18th-century violinist, who also played guitar, used his left hand for pizzicato. Torrent and Gold performed, and eighth grader Matthew Stockman reported in the school’s newspaper, ‘The notes just flowed off the strings like water. It was quite spectacular.’ The feeling of admiration between performer and students was mutual. Gold told the Post, ‘The audiences were great and the kids asked good questions. If we can inspire them, we do a good job.’ The combination of guitar and violin seemed unlikely, but ‘is almost as good as violin and piano,’ Gold explained. ‘Since Paganini played both instruments, there is music composed specifically for those two instruments.’ A Barcelona violin shop owner introduced Gold to Torrent, who was director of the Barcelona Conservatory. ’I picked up a piece of music that Torrent had composed, and I conducted and played it, while he played the guitar.’ Now fast friends, the two have since toured many times in the United States and Europe. One problem that Gold sees with current conservatory students is the sameness with which they play their music. ‘Everything is homogenized,’ he said. ‘You have to learn certain principles of art, but then you have to be encouraged to develop your own personality. Right now there is a sameness of interpretation.’ Jacques, who has 60 students in beginning orchestra, 70 in advanced orchestra, 74 in senior orchestra, 71 in beginning strings, 68 in symphony orchestra and 24 in chamber orchestra, is working to instill her students with the principles. ’Revere’s reputation as a serious music school is increasing,’ Jacques said. ‘More parents want their kids to come here for the music program.’ Jacques also believes that the subject is important on a broader level because musicians must use both sides of their brains, making them more mentally flexible. Additionally, she stresses the team aspect of an orchestra: ‘A team is only as good as the weakest player. What a student does matters, even if you’re only one person in a big group.’ Praising Gold, Jacques said, ‘He’s been able to travel, tell stories and is really quite wonderful. I hope he comes back.’ Equally impressed, Gold told the Post in November, ‘I went to school in the heyday of public education, but it is impressive what is going on down there now. The quality of teaching is high.’
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