Hopes for Resuming Recitals

Hopes for Resuming Recitals
Thursday, March 28, 2024 by Dr. James W. Walraven

As some of you know, between the church move and various personal physical issues, my double-bass playing ground to a halt. Now that things are settling in post-move, I’m finally resuming practicing.

Not unexpectedly, much has been lost due to the inactivity. The good news is that I remain well beyond square one. Nevertheless, recovery will take some time. The best case scenario is to resume sometime around late May. I’ve got quite a bit of repertoire to get back up to performance level.

Another bit of good news it that Faure’s Elegy—a brutal piece to play on solo double-bass—hasn’t deteriorated as much as I had feared it would. That doesn’t mean it is in “good” shape, just nowhere near as bad as expected. I’ve also been making good progress on learning the transcription of Vaughan-Williams Fantasia on Greensleeves.

There is still a long ways to go, though I’m still planning on being able to do evangelistic type recitals as well. The Bruch Kol Nidrei is particularly suited for that type of presentation. Various hymns, traditional spirituals, and other works would be included as well. I had hoped to be ready to do this type of mini-concert back in January, but that was not to be.

Your prayers for a speedy musical recovery would be appreciated.