It was raining, so the background hum of the air conditioning was replaced by the patter of rain on the roof. With the ceiling that we see probably a lot closer to the roof that keeps the rain out than is the case, for example, at the Wigmore Hall. where I think, apart from skylights, we have a false ceiling.
Some switching of first and second violin, with one or the other continuing with his rather nice line in introductory chats. From one of which I learned that the viola with the puzzling grain was made quite recently, in the last few years, but with timber recovered from old Italian building. While his colleagues had properly old instruments. regarding the grain, I am now starting to think that the grain of the back of the instrument perhaps does run across rather than up and down. Can't really go back to the same shop to ask as last time, but will try to remember when next I pass somewhere else suitable. See reference 2.
Haydn as good as ever. I particularly liked the Burlesque, the third of the three Britten divertimenti, and I liked the Brahms, perhaps helped along by a drop of Bells. Not aware of the cello overdoing it on this occasion. Clapping seemed a bit subdued, but perhaps nothing more than a thinner audience than last time.
On the way out, a long standing music reading question was answered. Passing behind the music stands, I found that I, a non musician, could just about make out the score from around six feet away. So a musician who knew the music should have no trouble from say four. I presume that the notation evolved in the way it has with this in mind, to use a sloppy if evocative phrase.
Reference 1: http://psmv3.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/dorking-one.html.
Reference 2: http://psmv3.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/more-tuition.html.
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