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Dueling Violins

Yanni, Karen Briggs and Shardad Rohani live at the Acropolis in 1993

Anticipating each half-note he brings
to life, her fingers stretch to find the grooves.
Perfection springs, as sound is bounced from strings,
then quickly as Baryshnikov, she moves.

His chords a hurried sequence, devil’s notes,
seduce her hand to challenge fast her bow
which glides across the bridge the music floats
beyond the Parthenon, but so few know—

this duo, he in black and she in red,
sleek racing cars, fine-tuned, pumped full with fuel
who drive life into wood that’s long been dead,
while savoring each aspect of the duel.

Smooth liquid notes of eighths slake all who thirst,
resounding Grecians, once again, are first.

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Tamara Beryl Latham is a retired Research and Development chemist who is originally from Brisbane, Australia, but currently resides in Virginia. Tamara was the Forum Moderator for Metric Poetry on the Moontown Cafe.com internet site. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, anthologies and literary reviews. 

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11 Responses

  1. Brian Yapko

    Tamara, this is a most enjoyable poem about music! I looked for the duet you reference on Youtube and believe I’ve found it. If this isn’t the right one, feel free to take this down.
    https://youtu.be/DNCxJnxGDng
    I especially love the phrasing “quickly as Baryshnikov” and the idea of the two virtuoso musicians as “sleek as racing cars.” Well done!

    Reply
  2. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    Tamara, thank you for treating our senses to an exquisite and accomplished performance of fine music and fine poetry. “Dueling Violins” highlights the magnificent display of “sleek racing cars, fine-tuned, pumped full with fuel /
    who drive life into wood that’s long been dead” – a wonderful image that captures the moment, beautifully. I particularly like the “devil’s notes” and the seemingly effortless internal rhyme that gives this admirably crafted sonnet a musical tone all of its own. The nod to the historic venue in the closing couplet is the icing on the sonnet cake. Thank you very much, indeed!

    Reply
  3. Cynthia Erlandson

    Beautiful! Like Susan, I love the line “who drive life into wood that’s long been dead”.

    Reply
    • Tamara Beryl Latham

      Thank you, Cynthia, for taking time out of your busy day to read and comment. I appreciate your time. Glad you enjoyed the poem. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Margaret Coats

    Tamara, your energetic sonnet is the best introduction the dueling duo could have. The Lady in Red is the star of the first two quatrains. You present her as such a performer it almost seems Rohani is following her rather than leading. As your other commenters have already said, the third quatrain with its driving imagery is most striking. The site of the concert must have added enormously to the effect. Were you there?

    Reply
    • Tamara Beryl Laltham

      Thank you, Margaret. I appreciate your expert advice.

      The reason I focused on “The Lady in Red” is that I had seen her previously in two other of Yani’s live performance TV shows on PBS, where Karen Briggs performed solos. She usually sat in the front and when it was her turn, she stood up and played beautifully. So, while I had seen Karen in the past, it was the first time I had seen Rohani. I thought I had given them equal billing, but reading the poem through a lens, such as yours, I can see I was partial to Linda.

      No, I was not at the concert, although I have visited Greece. My sister was married to a Greek man and he was the one who told me about Yani’s talent and one of my former bosses was also Greek. After getting a steady diet of Greeks and their culture, I decided to visit the country. It was beautiful and had some of the best food I have ever tasted.

      Thanks again, Margaret. I appreciate your critique. 🙂

      Reply
  5. jd

    Your poem has almost out-dueled your subjects.
    I found all of it very good and lively with fresh
    imagery.

    Reply
    • Tamara Beryl Latham

      Thanks so much, jd.

      My only wish is that someday soon, Yani will be given a Grammy (or some type of musical recognition) for all his overdue work as a songwriter and musical composer

      Reply
  6. Tamara Beryl Latham

    Thank you, Brian.

    Yes, the violin duel I referenced in my poem is exactly the musical act that you provided in your link. More specifically the Yanni DVD, live at the Parthenon, was one of the best DVDs that I have ever purchased. I still listen to it.

    Although Yani was nominated for Grammy awards, several times, he has never won a Grammy and that’s shameful.

    I’m elated you liked the phrasing in the poem and thanks for taking the time to read and comment. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Tamara Beryl Latham

    Susan, you are so welcome and I am so happy you enjoyed the poem.

    As well, I’m certain you’ve heard of Yani, since you are from the U.K. Did you know that Yani also wrote the musical composition (Aria) for the British TV commercial? This selection sung by Darlene Koldenhoven and Lynn Davis (with the London Philharmonic Symphony) is also on the Yani, Live at the Acropolis DVD. He should have won a Grammy for this composition alone (the most beautiful music I have ever heard). Check it out!

    YANNI-ARIA- Live at The Acropolis(HD) -Athens/Greece
    https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2xmqus

    Thanks again, Susan

    Reply
  8. Delia

    Correction: Pictured in the photograph are Yanni, Karen Briggs (violin) and Armen Anassian (violin) – not Shardad Rohani.

    Reply

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