Restarting Ourselves and Other Musical Activities

This week has been a challenge, as I (and many others) try to come to grips with the possibility of a long term shutdown of live music performances and rehearsals. Reviewing news stories about the quick spread of Covid-19 at choir rehearsals really cleared my eyes regarding the challenges of gathering any number of people together, especially those who "emote" by vigorously breathing out! Of course, like I mused in my last post, we can luckily fall back on our own solo rehearsal and performance options. I've even been pulling out some piano music that I haven't played in years! Another option - which I know a good number of PCO players regularly partake in (actually, partook - if that's a word) - is playing non-classical music; fiddling, bluegrass, folk, pop, rock, jazz, blues, etc. The great benefit is that is gives you one more option to make some great music! Even the other day, when I was helping paint the outside of a friend's house, he pulled out two guitars and we sat outside (6 feet apart!) and played a couple of songs together. It was a very nice feeling.

So with that in mind, I wanted to share two amazing videos that open our eyes (and ears) to some beautiful music making.

The nyckelharpa is a traditional Swedish musical instrument. It's partly played like a violin, but the notes are changed by pressing keys. Its keys are attached to "tangents" which, when a key is depressed, serve as frets to change the string's pitch.

Here's a wonderful video of Emilia Amper performing one of her own songs, Ut i mörka natten (Out in the Dark of Night) and a Polonaise by C.M. von Esser. Sit back and enjoy!

Emilia Amper Playing the Nyckelharpa

Out in the Dark of Night
Out in the dark night you lead me,
to shiny black water,
I trust you.
The forest waits silently around us,
and the still silent mirror of the moon is kissed.
Over us a star falls down,
wish, you say, I close my eyes and smile.
Oh my friend you wanted to be mine
and I got to be your girlfriend.

As the cold air of the night, so clear,
as the stars are reflected in the lake, so wonderful
you shine for me tonight, my dear,
Angels are not needed when you are near me.
At the edge of the beach you gently take my hand,
together we enter the safe land of the forest.
Think, my friend, you wanted to be mine,
and I got to be your girlfriend.

Out in the dark night you lead me,
to shiny black water,
I trust you.
The forest waits silently around us,
and the still silent mirror of the moon is kissed.
At the edge of the beach you gently take my hand,
together we enter the safe land of the forest.
Think, my friend, you wanted to be mine,
and I got to be your girlfriend.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And I couldn't resist sharing the amazing Iva Bittova, violinist, singer, performer extraordinaire in a performance of the song Ne nehledej ("Stop Searching" . . . see the text below) (she's singing in Czech).

Iva Bittova

Ne nehledej (Stop Searching)
[translated by Google - unfortunately I couldn't find an English translation]

No, no not seek
I do not know where
where hiding
I do not know where
and neither I nor a dream
light or dark
nor is your
neither white nor black
then either immediately
here, even now
or dark, and a day, and it
here nor there
I do not have

Neither I nor sen
water or dust
joy or fear
nor white nor black
fire or ice
then either immediately
or a dark and a day
little or too
day and night, and it
and neither I nor a dream
here nor there
himself or herself
No, no, do not wait
I do not know where
where hiding
I do not know where
Long ago I was there two
and I long back
then either immediately
I do not expect

Long ago we were both back
and I long ago there
I do not know where
know yourself
Even a dark and a day
little or too
day nor night
and neither I nor a dream
here nor there
himself or herself
nor white nor black
good nor bad
you nor I
Seek me ease of search
neklekej(?) a country where soft
neklekej(?) the earth awaits thee
While waiting for burns where the sink and I

The bottle is the level of rolling
the feather bed, her hands pressed
not breathing or does not move a feather
the mouth water nahýbá(?)
Seek me where you expect every
neklekej(?) a country where soft
neklekej(?) remember when you clay awaits
While waiting for fire and sink when I

level in the bottle is rolling
the feather bed, her hands pressed
not breathing or does not move a feather
Now taking off and gaining altitude - flies!

As I now pohladíš(?)
hands in stiff fins
how to kiss me now
the most wolf muzzle
as to me přitulíš(?)
scaly body
so what your answer
Now what I want to say.