Duets with Lilo

August 25, 2008 at 1:09 PM

Yesterday evening I finally got out to play duets with Lilo Kantorowicz Glick, my friend and teacher (when I have time to take lessons, which unfortunately I currently do not). It's been a long time since I've played with her at all, since my little person arrived on the scene; I'm a bit rusty in general, too. Since she stopped playing concerts a couple of years ago and hasn't been playing much chamber music lately, she felt rusty too (not as rusty as I am, though!).

We played Mazas and Pleyel duets, just reading through them and enjoying each other's company. Once we got warmed up, it was easy to remember why I love playing with her. With some musicians, no matter how good they are, playing duets or chamber music with them is just a blah, unsatisfying experience. With others, it's like enjoying a gourmet 5-course meal, complete with a perfect wine and then creme brulee for dessert. There's just an understanding -- we feel the music together, and lead each other just by breathing and bowing. The music becomes beautiful -- even as we're both faking our way through passages too swift and chromatic for rusty sight-readers. We mesh well, she and I. It feels good, and it had been far too long since we had played.

We both agreed to do it again, soon.

In the meantime, Alex is enjoying his new violin. He's not exactly practicing daily, but it's fun for him to open the case and play with the rosin...

Alex plays the violin...

When I took this photo, he was also singing "Mary had a little lamb" quite convincingly while 'playing'. :)

From al ku
Posted on August 25, 2008 at 1:55 PM

so cute. here is why, got the milstein chest hold, already on second position, and the bow will never slip out of his hand!

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on August 26, 2008 at 7:29 AM

It's good that you and your teacher have so much rapport that you feel the music the same way and you lead each other along so well. You're lucky to have such a good musical partner. I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun and make a lot of musical progress together.

Your son shows great musical talent. If he chooses to, he will be a very good violinist some day. Wouldn't it be fun to play duets with him?

From Patty Rutins
Posted on August 26, 2008 at 1:42 PM

She became my teacher because we had such a good time playing quartets together, actually. I'm definitely lucky to have her nearby.

I always had a great time playing music with my family. However, my sister pretty much stopped singing or playing anything at all (despite the fact that she has a gorgeous voice and is very musical). My husband quit piano as soon as he was old enough to say "no" to his parents, so even though he'd gotten quite good, it was all gone by the time I married him. I can't help but hope that Alex will enjoy playing some kind of music so we can play together now and then, at least!

From Terez Mertes
Posted on August 28, 2008 at 5:45 PM

Oh, that is the sweetest picture in the WORLD. That really made my day. What a smart decision in buying that for him. What was his reaction when he received it? He is sooooo into it, it seems. So very cute.

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Duets with Lilo

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