Music-Filled Weekend

April 6, 2009 at 9:45 AM

Last weekend was special in that there were a lot of music-related events for me, leading to trips of all in all 450 miles around southern Germany - a record for me in the last 5 years.

Only two weeks ago, I joined the German Viola Society. On Saturday, the 2009 membership meeting took place in the chamber music hall of the Musikhochschule Mannheim.

After the meeting, the Semiramis Quartet played us their fine interpretation of Beethoven's op. 18 no. 4 in c minor and Mendelssohn's op. 12 in E flat major. What a treat!

While I took the southern route (via Heilbronn) to get there, I chose the shorter road (via Darmstadt) for the homeward bound journey.

On Sunday, I went to hear the "Marienstraßenorchester Fürth". Two violins, one viola, an accordeon, a guitar and a bassoon make up this lively ensemble. They played some Klezmer tunes, took a short break and came back with some Irish standards. Their performance spiced up a local pottery, woodworking and arts & crafts market.

In the evening, my violin teacher had invited a select group to a recital of his compositions and arrangements for two violins. He and his musical partner from the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra - who had only moments before played in a three-hour performance of the orchestra - gave us a sparkling, joyful, moving concert lasting more than two hours. Substantial parts of the program were performed on violins designed by Alexander Lipinski.

Mr. Lipinski, a dapper octogenarian, great-grandson of the Polish violin virtuoso and composer Karol Lipinski, attended the concert and seemed very pleased with the sound of his brainchildren.

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