Following the Naxos release of her performance of Ysaÿe’s Sonata No. 3 for solo violin earlier this year, violinist Gwendolyn Masin has now released her first solo album, Origin.

Described as ‘a collection of the cultures, music, traditions and heritage’ that has shaped the violinist’s life, ‘pieces from the countries of [her] roots while others are companions from her childhood’, and featuring arrangements by the Irish composer Raymond Deane, Origin is now in its second print-run on the TimeZone label. Featuring 9 tracks with an accompanying string ensemble – plus Miklós Lukács on cimbalom as ‘a number of the composers were inspired by the instrument’ – among the works included are de Falla’s Danse Espagnole from La Vida Breve; Bloch’s ‘Nigun (Improvisation)’ from Baal Shem; Bartók’s Romanian Dances, Sz. 68; Ravel’s Tzigane; de Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20; Kreisler’s La Gitana and more.

The daughter of Ronald Masin and Maria Kelemen, founders of the Young European Strings School of Music in Dublin, Gwendolyn is also a renowned educator, and in 2009 published Michaela’s Music House, a tutor in violin playing for children. Young European Strings will celebrate 30 years in 2017 with a major concert at the National Concert Hall. Gwendolyn is also founder and Artistic Director of the GAIA Music Festival which takes place in Oberhofen, Switzerland, in May, and has already released several recordings from the festival.

Recently featured as album of the week on RTÉ Lyric FM’s Blue of the Night, Origin is now available from iTunes and Amazon. Upcoming performances by Masin include leading a performance of Mendelssohn’s Octet at the NCH in January.

For more on Origin and Masin’s future concerts in Ireland, Switzerland and beyond, visit www.gwendolynmasin.com