June 20, 2005 at 5:34 PM

I am suffused with beautiful music. As I go back to work today, the sensations of the weekend are gradually fading, but I'm much refreshed. I very much needed a vacation.

I was at the Kinhaven Adult Chamber Music session this past weekend -- an experience I would recommend to all amateur and semi-professional players. It's a camp, so the accomodations are somewhat primitive, but it's a gorgeous setting and so peaceful that (at least for me) it was so very comfortable. I wish I were still there!

I played three pieces: the first movement of the Mozart Viola Quintet in C, the scherzo from a Brahms Sextet (I forget the opus #) and a couple of movements from a Boccherini Cello Quintet. All were wonderful pieces of music, and such lovely people to play with. The idea, of course, is that you come together as an ensemble with a coach and over the course of three days, whip your pieces into shape with the coach's help. Then, there's an informal play-through at the end where you get to play your pieces, and also hear what everyone else has been working on. It's really amazing what kind of quality performances amateurs can put together! I took a recording of it all, and am really enjoying listening again to all these beautiful pieces.

I could really get used to that.

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