Three Thousand Years

The Beethoven concerto provided a significant intonation challenge for me. It combined the classical purity of a Mozart concerto with quite a few gymnastics that I was not accustomed to performing so cleanly. Those lessons were frustrating in the beginning, both for me and Mr. Galimir as he impressed upon me the importance of playing each note in its right place.

“Play it again, it is not in tune.”

After another attempt, then another, and another, he leaped to his feet, grabbed his violin from its open case on the couch, and played the passage. To my astonishment, though the sound was rough, the notes were pure!

“Now, look at my hands! Look at my fingers!” I tried hard not to take a step back as he thrust them in my face. Each finger was twisted like an oak that had battled drought, wind and rain for a hundred years. How could he play in tune?

“You see, even I can play this in tune, and I am...three thousand years old!”

I think that beats even the hardiest tree.