
So today I went to the violin shop today to buy a new cello bow for the school I work for. I don't frequent this place much but the guy does know me well. He asked me randomly "Does the name Howard Hill mean anything to you?" I replied, "Yes, he was my former viola teacher about 8 years ago..."
Turns out his daughter had found a bunch of sheet music at his estate and didn't have a clue as to what to do with it. So she took it to this violin shop. The store owner felt it would be best if the sheet music were in the hands of people who would make good use of it...particularly his former pupils otherwise it would've either collected dust or worst, in up in the garbage. He let me look through this collection and take whatever I liked. I was shocked... there were some amazing works: Beethoven Violin Concert, Brahms Violin Concerto, Schubert Viola Sonata, Bach Sonatas, etc....many having his fingerings and what not. This man graduated from Juilliard so he definitely knew his stuff. So the store own let me take all home for free. Granted, the music is quite old so a lot of the paper has become brittle and there is discoloration. Still...I'm very fortunate to be able to have a piece of history.
Hopefully one day I will reach a point where I can become accomplished enough as both a musician and education in order to teach this pieces to my future students.
R.I.P. Howard Hill and thank you.
More entries: April 2008 November 2007
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