October 9, 2009 at 9:11 PM
With Joshua Bell completely making over his Manhattan home to accommodate at-home performances, I've been thinking:
I'd like to do that myself. Hah!
Despite not having any kind of sound-proofing in my home, despite living in extremely close proximity to my neighbors and in a rather small place, I do make quite a lot of music in my house, including the annual holiday jam session, as well as a few mini-recitals for kids. I've also held a few studio recitals in the homes of students.
I love making music in this setting, be it a planned recital or spontaneous music-making. The warm environment of a home brings me back to what it's all about: sharing music with family and friends.. I also love throwing together various random instruments and just reading, or playing by ear, or a combination. What fun!
Have you ever held a music-making event in your home? If so, tell us all about it!
String quartet rehearsal?
Last spring I hired some ringers and I performed Beethoven Op 59 No. 1 for some friends and family. It was scary but we had no breakdowns or stops and only a few skipped notes. I think that the hand-picked no-musicians (except my wife) audience seemed to enjoy it or at least they were polite.
just had a jam last night with a harp player and drummer on bongos. This harp player is quite amazing and can play nearly any genre . I switched from violin to guitar and it had a real island music feel.
Very fun time :)
PS. Harp, not harmonica ;)
We had some chamber music performances years ago, and lately it's been more mini-recitals. Every event is accompanied by FOOD, so while the music may not be top-notch, everything put together seems to make for an enjoyable time.
I called a soprano and a pianist for a private recital some years ago... I should do that again...
My B-day party was a musical event with random musicians & instruments showing up. We played everything from solos, a clarinet/viola/piano sonata, vln/viola duets, vla/vla duets etc... This seems to be becoming a fairly regular event in the Smith house.
We have "small recitals" every few weeks in my home. Our next one is on Sunday, October 25 at 7:30 pm in Cerritos, California. You're invited (RSVP needed due to limited seating). We're remembering the wonderful music of FRITZ KREISLER and endeavoring to emulate his beautiful TONE...... including Praeludium and Allegro (played by a violist, then again by a violinist), Liebesfreud as a quartet, Liebesleid (all students in unison together) and many more "good treats." http://www.chambermusicinstitute.com/events.html
Mendy, that sounds like a lot of fun.
I've had plenty of jams at my home, and it's always fun. Sometimes a violinist friend comes over and we spend about two hours reading through various books of music, things we've played a long time ago and forgotten or current favorites. It is fun, and it really helps me stay in shape musically.
I have a pianist friend who occasionally holds beautiful events in her home. I'm an apartment dweller so nothing that fancy, but had a few college friends over for a violin shopping trip a few years back, and we played everything we could think of till like midnight. The neighbors probably didn't appreciate that but we sure had fun!
Kay, what a great idea to have a theme for the recital.
I do think that the food is very key to a nice home recital!
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