It was chilly in the church. However, the warm lighting gave the place a festive feel. This was an intimate event. There were echoes from the stone walls, and the wooden chairs squeaked as dust landed. The audience were acutely aware that fidgets meant frowns.
The ‘master’ of violin really knew his stuff. With fifty years spent studying the Manuscript of the Bach Sonatas, Benedict was the right man to play the piece.
Lit by a strange street-lamp-esque contraption, Benedict began his performance. During the first few movements…well, there wasn’t much movement from Benedict. Only his right arm, holding the bow, seemed free from his wooden stance. I prepared myself for a concert spent looking into the rafters. I thought, perhaps he’s saving his energy for the music. Not long after my gaze had begun to drift, Benedict became more animated. Seeing some eyebrow action, I realized he was in the zone. The music was coursing through him, and his performance was radiant.
The ‘master’ of violin really knew his stuff. With fifty years spent studying the Manuscript of the Bach Sonatas, Benedict was the right man to play the piece. Benedict believes that his manuscript was Bach’s ‘safety copy’. He drew the audience’s attention to ‘mistakes’. These parts he tried to play as he thought Bach had really intended, rather than as the manuscript instructed. To have such an expert play the music was a treat. Benedict demonstrated fantastic bowing techniques, and nailed the end of the last movement with his eyes closed.
With a short introduction to the manuscript, wine, juice and biscuits, the evening was well-rounded.
