With the arrrival in cinemas of Maestro, the biopic (or, what its producers prefer it to be called, ‘biographical drama’) which focuses on the relationship between him and his wife Felicia, Leonard Bernstein is back centre stage. I haven’t seen the film but a few years ago I had a burst of Bernstein-o-mania and watched, among other things, a number of his childrens’ concerts staged at the Lincoln Center throughout the 1960s. These were fascinating – he is mesmeric – and you can absolutely see how he inspired generations of young musicians. You can still find recordings of several of the childrens’ concerts on YouTube.
So it came as no surprise to find that he had also championed the young YoYo Ma. This discovery came thanks to Catharine Wells who subscribes to a wonderfully quirky blog called Letters of Note – ‘an online museum of correspondence which has been celebrating the humble letter since 2009, founded and run by Shaun Usher – a professional letter nerd.’ And if you want a way to lose several hours in one fell swoop, log in and start browsing…
Catharine had forwarded me a link to a post called ‘Do You remember me?’ It featured a letter from the 10 year old YoYo Ma to Bernstein inviting him to a concert at which he would be playing. History (or at least Letters of Note) does not relate whether Bernstein went to the concert, but I am sure that he replied to the invitation, especially as he had already met YoYo. On November 29, 1962, before a 5,000-strong audience that included President John F. Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline K, and Dwight D. Eisenhower, Bernstein had introduced the young cellist and his pianist sister, Yeou-Cheng Ma, gifted siblings who had recently moved to the U.S. with their parents.
Both the text of Bernstein’s address and a recording of the event in which 7 year old Yo Yo and his 11 year old sister play a Concertino by Jean-Baptiste Breval are included in the post. It is delightful – and do notice how carefully Yeou-Cheng arranges her dress on the stool before starting to play.
Thank you both to Catharine and the Letters of Note.
Technique
As a non performer, musical technique fascinates me. The dexterity, the fluidity, the sheer genius of getting your fingers to cover those notes and create those sounds… So I was particularly fascinated by a clip on Soumik Datta’s latest newsletter.
The piece, ‘Echo Zila Echo Bahar’, is lovely and well worth a listen but what particularly interested me was that the cameraman, Theo Bard, had focused in very tightly on both Soumik and his sarod and Gurdain Singh Rayatt and his tablas.
As those familiar with Soumik’s music will probably already know, unlike other similar instruments you do not use the tips of your fingers to depress the strings on a sarod but your finger nails. A much trickier proposition requiring great precision – and taking a heavy toll on the nails! Watching Soumik at a concert is fascinating but you do not ever get close enough to see how he uses his nails – but here you do.
Similarly with Gurdain Singh Rayatt. I have watched and wondered at his playing before – but here Theo Bard focuses in on his gently tapping fingers which suddenly convulse into a manic rhythm so fast that the camera blurs in its desperate attempt to keep up.
Or…. you could just listen to the music!
Meanwhile, I hope you had a very good Christmas and may I wish you a happy and prosperous New year.
Coming up in January
Saturday 20th January
The Carnival of Animals – 3.30pm at St Michael’s Church
Book here.
Sunday 21st January – Highgate Society Lunchtime concert
The Lior Solomons Wise trio.
12 noon – 21st January – £15 to include the Bucks Fizz! Book here.
Sunday 21st January – Hampstead Lane 6.30pm
Emma Kirkby and Jakob Lindberg will be playing and singing songs and solos by John Dowland at Hampstead Lane.
We are sold out for this concert but if you would like to put yourself on the waiting list you can do so here.
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