(2) A destiny of changing school.
Having been absent from school owing to my operation, I made up my mind
to change school in Ota-machi. Ota-machi is situated 16 kilometer south
of Kiryu city. For a while I commuted from home by bicycle with other fellow
students, but had to board near school because of my physical weakness.
The boarding house was kept by an old woman, my room was upstairs and adjoining
room was vacant. Had I boarded other place my voilin episode had not occurred,
if adjoining room was not vacant, my voilin episode had never happened.
That was certainly a destiny of my changing school.
I practiced violin as soon as I came back from school. While I was practicing
it as usual, I noticed a strange phenamena during my practice. It was when
I was playing on third string releasing, the tone dropped down which gave
me very unpleasant sound to my year. I took it to the music store and complained
about it, but proprietor, upon playing it, said he could not detect the
tone will drop down and if your ear can tell even aslight defect in tone
which other people can not notice, you had better not play released string.
This was very queer and funny explanation to me, but I could not follow
his advice, for released tone of violin is just as pleasant to my ear.
I thought the instrument must have imperfect part because of inferior making
and decided to wait untill I can get a better one. I have patiently practiced
as usual, but I could not stand for inharmonious tone which gave me annoyance.
My boarding house was situated at main street and middle school students
and teachers passed by hearing my violin practice from early morning,
and it soon bacame popular among them. One day our english teacher S came
to see me and said to-night is his night duty. He wanted me play a tune
or two at school, so I took violin and played it. He was astonished to
hear me play it and he was pleased so that he clapped hands and said it
is a wonder that you can play so skillfully well that he never thoght of.
Although I am playing violin without the knowledge of music score, but
playing it by my ear remembrance and it is not a regular way of playing
the instrument, and yet the teacher was surprised of my proficiency.
| --- note; | Musical knowledge of 30 years in Japan was rather childish, but Japanese
level of musical understanding advanced rapidly of late. Mr. Eto was promoted
to professorship in Curtis Conservatory of music in America last year.
Mr. Zimbalist said violin artists will be produced hereafter in Japan. Mr. Sonoda got a laurel in piano concours in Paris, France, and --- --- following lines skipped |
--- to be continued.