Recital

Both kids kept up their string lessons over the summer, and got to show off their musical prowess at a recital this week.
Wolfman played "Nina" by Pergolesi, and he played it beautifully -- really "polished" that piece! Too bad Pergolesi died so young (age 26) as he wrote excellent lyrical music -- read here for more about Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736).

Liesl played a fiddle tune named "Leatherbuttons", accompanied by big Bro on the cello. She did very well (seems to have gotten over her stage fright earlier in her musical career), and it was so sweet to hear the siblings perform together!

Here are a few more pictures of the recital:
the wonderful accompanist Ruth,

there's always a beginner playing variations on "Twinkles",

many more cellists such as this one playing Bach,

and this last violinist who gets my vote for the most unique shoes!

A violinist in the subway

You gotta read this story (Source: blog by Egodialogues). She writes this is an incredibly sad story which gave me chills. It is a social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people.

A man stood at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning.
He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace.
He collected $32.
When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it.
No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100.

Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

For much more detail on this story, go to the April 8, 2009 Washington Post article "Pearls before Breakfast.

The violinist

Meet the young violinist. Youngest played a Minuet by J.S.Bach at the Christmas Recital a couple of days ago-- and she sounded great! She has gained so much confidence in the year and a half that she's been playing. She's just about outgrown her 3/4 size violin, so we're on the look-out for a new instrument (it's one thing when they outgrow their jeans every semester, but this one's a little pricier...)

Below are pictures from the day she first got her violin. There she is learning how to hold her instrument and bow -- so many things to concentrate on! I am just amazed at how quickly these young people are learning: it is such a JOY to watch them master new skills!

BRAVO, girl, you've come a long way!

Eine kleine Hausmusik

Music plays an important role at our house. The kids grew up listening to a lot of classical music -- literally starting in the womb!

Here our dear friend

Claudia from Fairbanks playing her violin on our front porch, in July, sometime around the summer solstice.

These next pictures are from our Winter Solstice party last year: an impromptu concert by the kids. Liesl and Wolfman on strings...




... and two lovely flautists.







The Wolfman started playing his papa's old cello in 6th grade orchestra three years ago, and Liesl got her violin just over a year ago.