I got back at 1am Monday morning from 3 days at the BDZ Festival in Bruchsal. Amazingly interesting and wonderful. I met or re-met so many mando-friends from across the world. Old friends like Sue Mossop (now Flower), Robert Schulz, Riss Carroll, Stephen Lalor (all from Australia), Caterina (the lovliest lady in the world and not a bad mando player ) and Marga who I now know surprisingly well having been to Germany for them a few times and had Caterina give a masterclass at Trinity. Keith Harris, Steffi Rauch welcomed me with very open arms. Lovely UK buddies like Ian and Barbara (Pommerenke) Steel, Nigel Gatherer, Frances Taylor. I met Carlo for the first time ever and "jammed" with him on Calace's Tarantella (I was playing Carlo's Pandini and he was playing a top range Knorr from the trade table!) - there's photgraphic evidence on someone's camera somewhere in world and the "jam" was witnessed by Don Stiernberg who aslo greeted me like one of his oldest friends! I met up again with Mark Davis for the first time since 1991. That was just great as well.
Without showing favourtism, the highlight in many ways was meeting, chatting with and hearing Mike Marshall - we've exchanged many emails over the years and exchanged virtually all our CDs but nothing can prepare you for meeting that guy in the flesh and hearing him play. I'm not sure what it is, but he's really got "something" - that something that makes a player and musician stand head and shoulders above the others although you just can't quite put your finger on what it is.
When I was a teenager, a festival in Europe (and I was invited to play at a couple) consisted of 2 or 3 orchestras, maybe a duo, a soloist and the occasional younger player like myself. This festival had kids as young as 7 or 8 playing in cute little workshops, orchestras and soloists/ensembles from Japan, Holland, Germany, Russia, Belarus, Scotland, Australia (two!), USA, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Norway. There were also loads of people like me, just along for the ride.
I've not been to a BDZ festival before for many varied reasons but I have to say that I had a ball!
The weirdest thing that happened was that Barbara introduced me to a young(ish) mandolinist from Germany who I had just heard play in concert in a flute and mandolin duo. I congratulated them on their playing and when Barbara said my name, she just looked blank for a moment and then her eyes lit up in recognition and said "Oh! Alison Stephens, the composer! I love playing and teaching your music" ?????!!!!!!?????? I never thought I'd see the day when I was more notable for my writing (Calling me a composer is rather insulting to our friends here who really CAN write music!) than for my playing!!! It was kinda fun!
Anyway, just thought I would share my great experience with you guys here. We may (globally) have differing goals and ideas for our little instrument but events like that can surely only strengthen and develop us all and bring us all together. Great
What a LONG LONG way we've all come in the last 20+ years and long may it continue.
Ali
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