Jess Gillam meets violinist Tessa Lark to swap some of their favourite music. Tessa is an in-demand classical concert violinist but growing up in Kentucky, she’s equally inspired by bluegrass music and American folk styles and so blends the two influences in a lot of her work. Traditional music features prominently in her music choices as the Martin Hayes Quartet and Swedish duo Vasen rub shoulders with a Beethoven Symphony. Meanwhile Jess brings along an orchestral tearjerker by Pietro Mascagni, a track by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and some retro soul vibes by Saun and Starr.

Playlist:

VASEN: Silverschottis
GIOVANNI SOLIMA: Il bell’Antonio – tema II [Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Kathryn Stott (piano)]
MICHAEL THURBER & THE HUNTERTONES: Gigantic Energy
SAMUEL COLERIDGE TAYLOR: Violin Concerto in G minor, op.80 – 2nd mvt [Elena Urioste (violin), Chineke! Orchestra, Kevin John Edusei (conductor)]
MARTIN HAYES QUARTET: The Boy In the Gap
JEAN LENOIR: Parlez moi d’amour [Lucienne Boyer (singer)]
BEETHOVEN: Symphony no 2 in D major, op.36 4th mvt ‘Allegro molto’ [Vienna Philharmonic, Simon Rattle (conductor)
SAUN & STARR: In the Night