New things in a new year

Quite a few things starting up.

Victor's Christening

Well it looks like Victor will be christened at 2 p.m. on Sunday 29-March, in the Domkyrkan (Cathedral) here in Västerås, subject to confirmation next week some time.

Ruth was asked about musicians, and said that she had one (meaning me). So I don't know what that will involve, but I don't expect to get paid for it! She said in her mail:

They asked about musicians and I said we had one (pls note! I do not mean Edward or Mum on the violin J) so I hope that we can sort something out with you Dad.

She didn't actually exclude the McNamara wind ensamble but I don't suppose that was what she had in mind.

I wonder if she's thinking of a solo fiddle piece or will she want piano/organ as well? What sort of music do you play at Christnings anyway? Onward Christian Soldiers? Abide with me?

Perhaps I should get some keyboard practice in and say that I'll play a hymn on the organ, that would be fun!

She's getting the Domkyrkan because she lives in it's parish I think. I don't think there'll be any problem of space anyway! I wonder if she'll be getting a crowd from England. I imagine that Johnnie's family will be represented, but that still leaves a few hundred empty places.

I've often wondered how to say no if asked to play at a funeral of somebody I know. I suppose that playing and crying is still possible, whereas I know that I can't sing and cry simultaneously, and I cry easily. But Christenings are happy occasions whatever one thinks about the religious aspect of it, we all enjoy watching small babies and Victor likes bath time and swiming, so unless they get cold water he'll probably just want to kick and splash.



English Conversation course

I had mailed the organising lady at ABF about my English conversation course this term. I had asked if it could be on the same evening as Margaret's beginners English, which she had asked to be moved to Wednesday. (This was actually my idea so that it didn't clash with KAMUS practice, but then I forgot to write anything about it on the attendance form when I returned it, that's why I mailed).

Well someone from ABF rang yesterday and wanted to check that I wanted to do it on Wednesday evenings, and would I be able to do a second course on the same evening! Actually I think I can, it isn't very difficult for me to run this course since all I have to do is prod them every now and then, and they then do all the work.


Mazer Sigtuna Music course

I decided not to go to a course in England just before Easter that David William-Olsson had asked about, mostly because of the cost (both money and time). So I decided that I'd like to try leading something, and work at it at the Sigtuna course at the end of January. John Teague was happy to play 2nd violin, but then I was a bit stuck.

Solbritt who isn't a member, but is a very good cellist and lives locally, said she'd like to come, so the only difficulty was the viola (of course!). David W-O gave my a list of names of people that might be interested, of whom the ones I managed to contact couldn't/wouldn't/didn't want to do it. So I tried my dear friend Kathy in England, who to my enormous surprise and delight said yes!

Just to complicate things John is traveling down to Spain on the Monday straight after the course, so we won't be able to perform it then, which would have been nice. However Kathy has said that she'd like to come back and stay a bit longer, with her husband, and perform it then, so we get two visits from Kathy. For those who don't know, Kathy is a regular at Grittleton.

Mechanics and acoustics of violin bowing

One of the members of Mazer is just about to finish his doctorate at KTH (Kungliga Tekniska Högskola ~= Royal Technical University) on Mechanics and acoustics of violin bowing and has just published his Doctoral Thesis, which you can find here. This is of course of great interest to players, and probably of absolutely no interest to anyone else. However I'm in the former group, so I mention it here.

Erwin Schoonderwaldt comes from Holland, has a very nice girlfriend (who comes from Germany, or is it the other way round?) and they both play very well. I've had the pleasure of playing with them on various occasions, mostly at Riddersvik.

One very interesting thing that has come out of Erwin's work can be seen on YouTube via this place. He has visualized bow movements, and complete violin playing, which makes for interesting annimations.

Margaret's job situation

She is temporarily working as stand-in 'husmor' (not sure what that's called in English, but sort of cook I suppose) at our local church. The previous person has left rather suddenly, so the job has become vacant, and Margaret is doing some of it for a couple of months. She'd have to apply for the job if she wants it, but I imagine that if she hasn't poisoned anyone or blasfemed too much, she should be in with a good chance if she wants it. There is the unanswered (unasked?) question of pay, and more importantly whether she actually wants it. She suffers from back pains if she does too much kitchen work.

The hours would suit her better than the care assistant job she's also doing, although she does seem to enjoy that.

She also has the English for beginners course at ABF, and First Aiders' training for the Red Cross, so she's got plenty to do!