...pencilled in on the last page of Brahms' e minor cello-and-piano sonata, excerpts of which Rachel and I did for my junior recital.
Basically, I've really missed playing music with people. I love my job, but sometimes I miss parts of my old life. Hans called me up because he needed a collaborator for the Brahms to prepare for his audition at Curtis next week, and today I spent an hour and a half down at Cadek with him and his teacher. It's been a long time, and I felt rich coming away from it.
I was encouraged, too, by his teacher's reaction to me - I never played the second two movements in performance before, but I think I handle them more maturely than I did two years ago. His teacher (a forceful, impatient older man) said to me afterward, "Where have you been all my life? I could've used you to help out with some of my students." I didn't say what first came to mind - that I hadn't been ANYWHERE most of his life - and told him I graduated from Covenant. He strongly suggested that Hans and I should perform the work together at some point, which gladdened my heart and brightened my eyes. It's been a temptation to think I've failed as a musician, but I guess it's just that I haven't had a chance to do anything with it for a while. I do enjoy collaborative work.
Please excuse what sounds like a tooting of my own horn. I am just encouraged and happy today.
And I think I'll go heist the baby Steinway I played on...that was a sweet little beast.