Here Comes Treble: The Joy Of Music
"Those of us privileged to play instruments are indeed steeped in the joy of music,'' writes Isabel Bradley.
And Isabel is doubly blessed. She is not only able to please to listeners with her interpretations of some of the greatest music ever written. She also brings great pleasure to readers with her written words.
Our recital was scheduled for the end of January. We’d been rehearsing for about two months, and it was time to write my introductions to the marvellous music on our programme.
Kuhlau’s superb trio for flute, ‘cello and piano in G major, Opus 119, was to be the highlight of our programme, and proved to be particularly inspiring.This composer lived from 1786-1832 and was a contemporary of Beethoven’s. They met when Kuhlau travelled to Vienna, where they sat together in the coffee houses of that gorgeous city, drinking rough red wine and holding friendly competitions to see who could write the most complicated fugues – no doubt using the serviettes to write on! Kuhlau is known as the ‘Beethoven of the flute’.
The trio contains both the elegance and restraint of the classical and the deepening emotion of the romantic periods. The first movement is a flowing allegro moderato. The second is entitled Adagio Patetico, or slowly, with emotion. The final movement is a rondo, in which several themes are repeated, building to a glorious climax where at least three themes play simultaneously, ending with a joyous coda.
As often happens, while working together with my companions on this work, I started forming word-pictures. These poems are the result:
A Dinner Party (Allegro Moderato)
All is ready…
The wine is airing,
glasses and silver-ware gleam on glowing wood,
and music plays quietly,
drifting through the room,
which gleams in golden candlelight.
We talk, quietly,
While ruby liquid swirls into crystal
and that first sip slides down,
warming and wonderful.
We sit at the table,
While flutes and cellos,
Pianos and singers
And orchestra
Take their turns,
Floating in the background…
And over good food,
Conversation flows,
Sometimes light and laughing,
Sometimes serious, intense,
Always joyful,
And friendships flourish.
An Evening At Home (Adagio Patetico – Sostenuto assai)
One of us sits at the piano,
Gently playing – something slow,
Something languorous,
And then we join in,
The music soothing.
The room glows,
Pointed in rich crimson and lamplight,
Gleaming wood and silver-framed photos,
Lace and velvet,
And tapestried chairs -
Beauty and grace surround us…
Childhood Days (Rondo – Allegro)
Little girl with knobbly knees,
Skipping gaily down the street –
“Yippee, another music lesson!
“Will we do scales, Dad?”
And he – big man, loving his daughter –
Skips alongside her, light on his feet…
“Oh, scales – yes!” he replies,
“Wonderful scales, in thirds with your teacher,
“And exercises, too –
“And duets, and trios
“And beautiful tunes…!”
School days:
Hopscotch in the quad;
Walking with best friend,
Arms around each other,
Deep in earnest conversation;
Playing chase across the field;
Yawning through maths,
Enraptured by Shakespeare…
Sitting in the audience at glorious concerts,
Or centre of the orchestra –
Steeped in music,
Glorying in the sounds and the sights of it all…
Childhood days –
Carefree and glorious!
Those of us privileged to play instruments are indeed steeped in the joy of music.
Until next time…. ‘here comes Treble!’
© Copyright Reserved
by Isabel Bradley
