'Violinist' - Wandalin Strzaleski, 1855-1917
......and learning the instrument as one goes on.
- Samuel Butler, 1835-1902
At the age of seven I was given the choice of violin or piano lessons; I chose piano as at that age I heard the noise of the violin much like a cat meeowing! After nine years of tuition, the love of classical music was firmly ingrained. Over the years I went through several stages from rock to country but never hard metal, as that genre came in the years of struggle as a single mother with two toddlers and they were my priority. I didn't own any LPs, a record player and can't even remember a radio in those days; just a small television set, so music was lost to me. My piano was gone also; gosh, I was miserable!
My love of violin came much later when things were happier. I had re-married, life was good and one of my favourite things to do was to haunt antique or second-hand shops to search for special items to decorate our house. Most of the antique stores smelled of Tudor Rose and, invariably, a chamber ensemble was playing softly in the background. I knew most of the tunes and what stood out was the soulful violin. I'd look for an empty cassette near the player to surreptitiously write down the title. If the person behind the counter looked approachable (most were snooty!), I'd cheekily ask what was playing.
I haven't posted music on éclectique for quite some time and it's about time; so here is the Purcell Quartet playing Henry Purcell's Pavan in G Minor.
