More Music, Half the Bow

Several weeks ago I stopped in to visit with an ailing friend. He isn’t just any friend; he was a major presence in my early life.

He is also a very serious, and gifted musician.

After attending West Point as a ‘music major,’ on trumpet, he left the military for a life in music education. I met him a few years later. I was six years old.

Same age my daughter is now.

In those days Gerry was a gregarious, passionate man, interested in everything having to do with music, teaching, and having fun.

I know because I remember.

So what brought Gerry and his remarkably gifted wife into our home was this. At the time there were two violinists and a cellist active in my family, but no violist. Gerry was mad to learn the viola so he could say useful things to his students. So a quartet was born.

From six to about 10 years of age I listened to Mozart and Haydn quartets, and the Schumann Piano Quintet – my mom and Linda are pianists – live, in weekly ‘jam’ sessions.

And believe me, the jam could range from sweet-as-can be to toe-jam in the time it takes to drop one finger.

But there was a great amount of music making in the mix, and that was the important thing.

When I arrived to see Gerry I was greeted by the same warm smile and penetrating eyes. Most everything else about him had changed dramatically.

Now, the details of my friend’s condition are not relevant here. I will just say that he was more ill than I realized.

After a little time he asked if I would play for him.

Now, because of my shoulder and nerve issues at the moment, it takes me a few minutes to get things moving. So after playing a couple quiet scales and arpeggios – all of which he was present for – I proceeded to further warm up on Kreutzer #9.

Kreutzer #9 is a series of broken arpeggios. It also happens to be music, for me.

When I finished the run through Gerry looked to his wife, and there already tears in his eyes. He said, ‘he makes more music in half a bow…’, and then he stopped.

Knowing he wasn’t going to finish the sentence I began the D minor Partita of Bach.

Well, I told you the rest of the story before.

Believe it or not those events popped into my head this morning as I was making a wonderful connection between my body and Chopin’s ‘Minute Waltz’ – my ‘Allegro Players’ are celebrating the violin with it this month.

The connection came about through exploring different ways the music could be cadenced. One thing led to another and soon I was Waltzing back and forth in front of my stand like it was New Years Eve.

The value of the exercise – and it ain’t bad for the ole ticker either – is that I was forced to feel AND think more than ever. What’s the result of all this heightened sensitivity and awareness?

Come find out for yourself.

Just hop aboard my express train to violin satisfaction. The ride’s getting better every month.

All the best,

Clayton Haslop

P.S. Oh yea, I forgot to say why Gerry’s cryptic half-sentence was relevant to my practice. Well, getting the body up and moving can really get the musical juices flowing. I’ve always been one to move when I play. Recently I’ve started doing the opposite. Move, then play. Now it’s time to swing!