who played the violin in the red violin
The Red Violin Girard was not a true musician, mainly working with it as a film director.[17] The film score was written by composer John Corigliano, with every violin solo in the film performed by violinist Joshua Bell.[1] The conductor was Esa-Pekka Salonen.[18] The score is mainly of the Chaconne genre,[19] while the ostensibly Romani music was also actually written by Corigliano.[20] Bell said he was eager to join the film crew, citing his enthusiasm for Corigliano's work and his use of form. Corigliano, looking for a romantic musical performance, also referred to Bell as the ideal choice for a musician, calling him "an aristocrat as a violinist".[1] Girard stated Bell and Corigliano were involved from the outset, and reviewed every version of the screenplay as it was in development.[21]
Air on the G String The arrangement differs from the original in that the part of the first violins is transposed down so that it can be played entirely on a violin's lowest string, i.e., the G string. It is played by a single violin (instead of by the first violins as a group).