<<  -- 5 --  Jennifer Paull    REMINISCENT RETROSPECTIVES

Although Bach probably turned in his grave, I started to play one of my favourite obligati from the Christmas Oratorio. From all points of view, I was as far away as possible from the musicians with whom I wanted to communicate. My point was that without the given support of language, a musician can communicate with another through rhythm and feeling even if there are no written musical notes, words, or shared cultural values.

The alternations between compound duple and simple triple time, for example, do not need to be on paper for another musician to understand what is going on. Leonard Bernstein, who wrote 'I want to be in America' which does just that throughout, would surely agree! Music is a language of communication and feelings, after all.

We all enjoyed our very unorthodox moment in my recital, and I have never forgotten it. In how many situations apart from a musical quartet can one place four strangers together from Iceland, Japan, India and Texas, and expect communication, co-ordination and understanding without a common spoken language ? It's a most humbling and very heart-warming thought!

Vive la différence!