Music Coll 2024: Travel Diary
Category: Music Coll
Cranachan! (and Bartók)
We are currently collectively wallowing in post-cranachan bliss (pictured right). Alison and her team are far too good to us all! This was some much-needed fuel after our masterclass today, given by the inimitable Ralph de Souza. It was the first time that we had performed Bartók’s third quartet in its entirety, and it was special to do so in front of an audience. Cumulatively we have lost about 20 bow hairs alone throughout the course of today’s rehearsals, and are hopeful that we will have enough left to perform it on Sunday! We are looking forward to an evening of Scottish folk music at the pub later today.
– Naomi (Kyan Quartet)
Greetings from the Kyans!
On behalf of the Kyans –
Hello!
We’ve had a wonderful first few days on the Isle of Coll so far after a full day of traveling away from the bustling city of London. This is the farthest north that the quartet has ever been, and we are ready to fill the isle with Bartok, Beethoven, and Haydn. There’s not much more you can ask for when the time and space to work fully on some fantastic repertoire is accompanied by a gorgeous location, great company, and scrumptious food cooked by the wonderful Alison and her team! You will hear from the others throughout the week – for now, our lovely Simon and Suzie are having a Bartok sectional whilst Naomi spends some rehearsal recovery time watching the Euros. In true 2nd violin fashion, I am lounging here in the corner listening and gathering some of the photos I have taken on our journey.
We’re excited to be joined by the Morassi Quartet and Quintessential for a week full of music making – and maybe a bit of table tennis – ahead. Stay tuned for more updates from the Kyans!
– Sydney
Asaka’s FUN FACT time
Coll welcomed us with fresh rains and winds exactly as the last year!
This is the reason we love Scotland: the nature of Scotland is a perfect model of making music, (quoting from Leopold Auer) anyway it’s so nice to be here again!
Exhausted Glasgow Eriol
This magical island inspired us since the first day: we’re four young people from different corners of the world, also we’re very capable of talking nonsense which are irrelevant to rehearsals– sometimes it can be very difficult to put on a brake of the adventure of Iona’s fluffy balls (two huge male cats) or Jonathan’s badminton legend (fine they will be whingeing if they read this) or Eriol’s tale of training a chicken how to fly, or Susie… well everyone knows Susie behaves herself…but a perfect solution was provided by a tiny property on the reception table in An Cridhe: a bell (originally) for beer.
B******t Bell in action
In order to create a more efficient environment for rehearsal, it was requisitioned by us. If anyone sense a hint of nonsense at any point, he or she would ring the bell immediately. The situation of the bell warning until now: Iona 6, Eriol 4, Jonathan 3, Susie 0.
happy John
happy Sue
happy Eri
stressful Iona!
I think we’ll purchase a same bell in London!
As we are on an island full of sheep, we would like to share some fun facts with you:
1.If you spot a jellyfish near shore, even it waves lively, it is either dead or dying…
poor jellyjelly
2.A mother sheep can only look after two lambs, if she give birth to three lambs, the third lamb would be taken and given to a mummy sheep which lost her lambs (very sweet isn’t it?)
3.If you sight read Große Fugue, after that you’ll be as dead as this crab ⇩
Hope you have a great weekend and looking forward to seeing some of you in concerts!
Aquilae Quartet in Coll
Our journey to Coll was a very long one. We got here from Cornwall, after playing in a festival there – doesn’t get much further within the UK!
We left Penzance at 5 in the morning and after 15 hours and 5 trains we finally reached Oban! It greeted us with a rather wet weather, so we decided to get some good old frozen pizzas and go to bed early.
The next day started rather early for us, too! At 6:00, our ferry departed to Coll – Jake was awestruck by the views of the surrounding Scottish islands, the rest of us slept through everything!
Upon our arrival, we were met by Jonathan who introduced us to the island and guided us to the bunkhouse. We got settled in our rooms, and were ready to have a successful and productive time in Coll.
So far in this course, our schedule has included ample rehearsal time, coaching by some fantastic tutors, and time to individually practice.
When we have not been playing music, we have taken in as much of the beauty of the island as we can! As long as it has not rained…We have passed the free time by going on walks and to the Coll Hotel pub that even had a night where locals brought instruments and performed together
Lovely lovely time!!
0