Arioso

Sunday, I played the Arioso in church. I am fairly happy with how it went. Of course, it didn't take much to improve upon my previous performance of that work. The last time I played it in another church, my then 3 year old ran away from my husband and grabbed bow arm and tried crawling up on my chair as I played. Ironically, the sermon theme was "Taming the Family Circus". This time, my daughter stayed in the pew, colored, and got very upset when she realized she missed watching me play!

I also spent a lot of time working on some shifts and intervals which paid off in my comfort level as well as the end result. The best compliment I recieved was from a man who had played cello in junior high and thought I was amazing. (It meant more because he actually kinda knew what playing the cello is like!)

I had no intention of playing in church anytime soon. We are new to this church and it is loaded with top-notch musicians. Because this is not a Lutheran church which I'm used to, I asked the music minister IF I wanted to play could I play something classical or did it need to be a hymn? Most of the instrumental performances I've heard to this point were either arrangements of hymns or Christmas carols. He kindly told me they'd love to have me play and I could play anything I want. (I assume that did not include a cello arrangement of The Devil Went Down to Georgia.)

A week or so later, the music minister called and left a message asking if I could play on May 3. I assumed he meant, could I play with a group or something. I jumped at the opportunity and said yes. And then it dawned on me...and it was confirmed. He assumed I was asking about playing because I was ready to play and he found a date for me. So, I pulled out my old stand by and got to work.

I first studied the Arioso from No. 156 Cantata by J. S. Bach with Louis Potter Jr. in 1986. (He wrote The Art of Cello Playing but more on that later.) The version I learned was transcribed by Sam Franko. It was written as an Adagio and played in 8/8 time. I don't have a piano part for that version, so I've been using a Merle Isaac transcription more recently. It is essentially the same, but it seems easier since it is written in 4/4. I dug out my older version and must admit there is something about it that makes it special to me. It doesn't seem as simplistic even thought the notes are much the same, excluding the final first and second endings. I wonder what the accompaniment was like.

I "Googled" Arioso and the first link was Julian LLoyd Weber performing it on You Tube. A cellist playing Arioso. I have to laugh. My mom's quartet recently played a version which featured most of the melody played by the cello. A friend asked her why it was such a low arrangement. My mom said she thought it was nice in that register and the transciber wanted to highlight the cello. The friend, a flutist replied, "Oh, I think it is much better played higher." Figures!

One of the comments I read a comment on the JLW You Tube performance that said "I'm playing that for an Alto Sax contest"(paraphrased). I'm thinking, "oh, like that is going to be a challenge...no scary shifts from low "do" to a high "may" for you!"

And, once again, I digress. Back to my story. The music minister's wife is the organist/pianist at the church. I had not met her before but she was so nice and easy to work with. I'm so glad I got to meet her in this way. It made me feel more at home in the church and at ease when I played.
I'm hoping to do some ensemble stuff soon. Two of her daughters play violin and the second violin in my current quartet is a member of this church too. It is nice to be needed and wanted. Ah, the cello.

I mentioned fine musicians in this church. Well, ironically, several of them were sitting directly in front of me. At least not the string players. Unlike many congregations for whom I've played, this group of young musicians watched me intently. Yyykes. ! Next time, I play up higher instead of trying to hide down on the floor with the piano!

I guess I better get practicing the Buxtehude duet my mom wants to play at her church. That and my quartet music...and (Confidentially, I'm just hoping to play a few scales over the next few days...)