The soundtrack to my lockdown

Like everyone, I’m gradually adjusting to this new way of life under lockdown. I can’t write about this without mentioning first that, since the schools closed, most of my energy is being focussed on educating, entertaining, exercising and feeding this small person!

Scootering down the river

I’m also trying to find different ways to enjoy music in these new circumstances. I’m finding I don’t want to have ‘serious’ music on at the moment – my Facebook feed is full of people talking about listening to the Matthew Passion in their kitchen… but I’m not feeling quite ready to listen to the music I would have been playing at this time of year. At the moment I’m looking for something to distract me, and so I’ve turned to some new genres and am enjoying an eclectic mix of music I know nothing about!

First mention has to go to Beyoncé (no groans please – hear me out!). Anyone who hasn’t seen her documentary ‘Year of 4’, go straight away now and find it on Youtube. She conveys so well what it is to be an artist, and I know ‘empowered’ is a bit of a buzz word that is bandied about these days, but she really does convey a sense of artistic power and integrity that I’m sure lots of us classical musicians would love to harness.

Another part of the soundtrack to my life at the moment, strangely, is deep house. My husband listens to this very loudly while doing the washing up. Unlike Beyoncé, I don’t think there’s much I can recommend about this!!

The only classical album I play at the moment is Isabelle Fausts’ Bach violin sonatas – absolutely sublime. This disc was introduced to me by Jo on a very, very turbulent flight back from our concerts in Bilbao last year. I think I went as white as a sheet as the plane bounced about in the air, and Jo kindly gave me her headphones and put this album on for me. I listen to it over and over now, and it’s a real Desert Island Disc for me.

Finally, I’ve really been enjoying Jordi Savall’s ‘The Celtic Viol’. When I was wondering what to play on the treble viol recently to keep my fingers going, I came across on the shelf a wonderful book called ‘Fiddles in Harmony’, and I started to try out some folk tunes. In the spirit of sharing, here is my rendition of ‘Spootiskerry’ (with profound apologies to any folk fiddlers out there!).

Emily

Fiddles in Harmony

Spootiskerry