Back from the morning matinee … 19 other students and I first performed two pieces together (a french 16th century “Pavane” and a nice summer piece “Dance of the Mosquitos”) … I was the only viola, there was one contrabass, three celli and the rest all violins. 13 students (including me) were then to perform solos (or duets, trios & quartets), so between a lot of classics (Bach, von Weber, Mozart, Uccellini, Küchler, Pachelbel, Leclair, Kabalevsky & Vivaldi) and a funny bavarian folk tune performed by accordion, 2 violins & a cello – I and the “Viola of Doom” screeched along the tunes of “I’ve seen hell” … for the really brave (and deaf) ones: have a look at the vid 😉

North & South in Franconia … I've seen Hell … from FrauVonElmDings on Vimeo.

I’m really a bit uncomfortable, when I know, that what I have to deliver can & will not be perfect … but as so much people told me recently, that they’re feeling “to old” to start learning an instrument at all, I thought it might really inspire and encourage folks to give it a try, when they see what can be done in just a half year of practising. I’ve started this “string-project” just before my 45 birthday in the last week of january this year. Since I read my first Sherlock Holmes novel when I was about 12, I wanted to play a stringed instrument … instead I played the Melodica for one year, wooden flute just by ear and then my gran taught me to play the piano. But as puberty hit fully I started worshipping the church of disco and quit playing music myself. But deep within this “dream of strings” remained. By hearing a viola/violin duet last year I fell in love with the sound of the viola and as I discovered that they also are available in different sizes (and as a lefthanded version) that was that. I’m really short and so I play a half size “leftie” viola now, which is the size of a full violin!

So this really happened to be my “RAndom act of kindness” for day 4 – inspiring others by not being afraid to let my own imperfectness show. As Osgood says in “Some like it hot”‘s final scene “Nobody’s perfect.”

PS: for the ones interested in art/architecture: the church dates back to the 12th century and was originally constructed as a fortified church, the choir in which I am standing was added around the year 1440, the crucifix is a late gothic masterpiece from famous Tilman Riemenschneider and the oil on wood painting on the left side of the altar shows Adam & Eve with an interesting detail: a large pointer-type dog is sitting in front of them (early 17th century, from Nuremberg painter Paul Juvenell d.Ä.).

PPS: my “RAndom act of kindness” day 3 was – again – not really noteworthy: I just did NOT set an ant trail on fire whom I discovered going past the front door … as long as they stay outside they can do as they please, it’s their garden too 😉