A Little Feel of Efforts Paying Off
At the start of our chamber rehearsal a while ago, I was very anxious for three reasons:
1) The concertmaster and the principal members were out with other engagements, leaving only a few "leftovers" - us;
2) I became the violin 2 principal violinist; and
3) We were to practice a Tchaikovsky serenade - for the first time.
I thought that the chamber would become a slaughterhouse. Well, some of us were "lashed," but as far as violin 2 is concerned, we were spared.
Did I do a good job? I didn't know until we had dinner outside as Sir Cris commended my drastic improvement. "Hindi sya makapaniwalang makakatugtog sya ng gano'n," Sir Cris added, and lightly told how we quarreled during my last violin lessons with him (more than a year from now) and how he suggested that I look for another teacher. "Ang galing mo, Charvie!" I also heard from Peter, a member from violin 1 who took a moment to observe us violin 2 during the rehearsal (he was a principal, and came late together with the others). But I just smirked and kept quiet, thinking of it as a mere flattery.
It must be the violin I borrowed from Carlo, the concertmaster. It must be the music classes I attended for the past months, or the affinity to music that is induced by these classes. It must be Sir Cris' benevolent gesture of pounding us really hard to improve. Whatever it is, it paid off. For centuries, I have never heard people complimenting my violin playing.
Perhaps it was because of the piece.
By the way, the serenade, when performed perfectly, would sound like this:
Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48: I. Pezzo in forma di Sonatina: Andante non troppo
1) The concertmaster and the principal members were out with other engagements, leaving only a few "leftovers" - us;
2) I became the violin 2 principal violinist; and
3) We were to practice a Tchaikovsky serenade - for the first time.
I thought that the chamber would become a slaughterhouse. Well, some of us were "lashed," but as far as violin 2 is concerned, we were spared.
Did I do a good job? I didn't know until we had dinner outside as Sir Cris commended my drastic improvement. "Hindi sya makapaniwalang makakatugtog sya ng gano'n," Sir Cris added, and lightly told how we quarreled during my last violin lessons with him (more than a year from now) and how he suggested that I look for another teacher. "Ang galing mo, Charvie!" I also heard from Peter, a member from violin 1 who took a moment to observe us violin 2 during the rehearsal (he was a principal, and came late together with the others). But I just smirked and kept quiet, thinking of it as a mere flattery.
It must be the violin I borrowed from Carlo, the concertmaster. It must be the music classes I attended for the past months, or the affinity to music that is induced by these classes. It must be Sir Cris' benevolent gesture of pounding us really hard to improve. Whatever it is, it paid off. For centuries, I have never heard people complimenting my violin playing.
Perhaps it was because of the piece.
By the way, the serenade, when performed perfectly, would sound like this:
Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48: I. Pezzo in forma di Sonatina: Andante non troppo
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