Concerts and Remembrances

This is another busy week of concerts. The conservatory of music is celebrating its 70th anniversary so there is a series of concerts to commemorate that event and all of the people who have been part of the process of teaching and learning music in Moldova. Last night I was quite moved by a concert put on the school called Ciprian Porumbescu. The concert included young musicians playing all kinds of music from classical music to jazz to Moldovan folk music. Of course I especially enjoyed the amazing playing to two nai virtuosi, one in the folk ensemble and one as a soloist with the chamber orchestra. The most moving aspect was the remembrance of teachers and students who have passed away. There was no shortage of tears as they played a recording of the voice of a former administrator and musician from the school, and a video of a performance of a violinist performing a piece written to commemorate Porumbescu. I could not help marveling at the contrast with our music schools in universities where older faculty members are largely not well-respected as the younger faculty members negotiate their own legacies. We forget the enormous efforts and sacrifices of the teachers who have come before us in our departments of music, even though they may not have done things "our way." The flowers, tears, and tributes last night were an inspiration and joy to all of us. Tonight I have a ticket to see and hear the great Zamfir (many people I talk with do not believe that he will really be here - I will let you know), on Wednesday and Thursday the Academy of Music will put on big concerts, and on Friday we are all looking forward to the big accordion ensemble event at the Sala cu Orga. This will be a fun event since I get to sit with a group of young Moldovans whose fathers and grandfathers played accordion when they were growing up, and some of them even are learning to play themselves. A big week!