One of our warmer summer days saw me and some of my colleagues playing an informal concert in Queens Park.
We were well looked after, with ice cream, as we played popular classical music along with some lighter non-classical pieces to the summer crowds.
It’s always lovely when the children start to dance!
I was invited by the lovely Ilana Cravitz to join her and some other friends to play quartets in a casual setting in Highgate Woods.
It’s always a pleasure to play quartets, and this gig was no different.
It turned out we had some brilliant artists in the audience. Here’s her watercolour sketch, and although my hair isn’t that grey yet, I think you might be able to spot me!
Follow Alison on Instagram, for more of her wonderful artwork.
There’s something special about being outside together in the Summer. And Victor and Cassy’s wedding was very beautiful. An intimate affair in Cassy’ parents’ garden, with exquisite details. It was a privilege to be part of their special day
The moment after the glass breaks. There’s a breath, and then we break into music. You know the tune. If you don’t, it’s here:
You can see us waiting on tenterhooks for Victor to smash the glass under his foot.
Why do we do it? The glass symbolises the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. You can still see the destruction to this day: massive slabs of stone below Temple Mount, pushed off the top by the invading Romans to prevent it being rebuilt. You can see the words ‘Trumpeter’ on one, denoting where the Trumpeter would have stood calling everyone to prayer through the week, or for special services. It symbolises the end of Jewish power and life in Jerusalem in biblical times, and the start of the diaspora.
I think it’s in our wedding ceremonies to also remind the happy couple that marriage is about supporting each other through rough times as well as the smooth. We’re stronger together.
May it be smooth for Cassy and Victor for as long as possible! Mazeltov!
For those that know me, you’ll know I’ve long been an amateur klezmer lover, and player. I’ve attended Klezfest, the UK’s klezmer festival many times over the last decade, and played in a klezmer quartet when I had a little more time a few years back. It’s such wonderful music.
Victor and Cassy’s wedding was an opportunity to bring this into the quartet. Their timings meant they weren’t able to get a specialist klezmer ensemble, but we were able to get everyone up on their feet dancing with our arrangements of klezmer tunes.
Some were contributed by the brilliant Ilana Cravitz’s book, some borrowed from the internet, and others we made ourselves.
Queens String Quartet 