Hello everyone. I hope that you’re doing okay in the face of everything that 2026 has brought us so far. As subscribers to a mailing list about music I play, you have a front-row seat to my number one coping mechanism for all of this.

Next Friday the 20th is another chance for you to listen to what I’ve been up to, because I’ll be joining the Victoria Chamber Orchestra in the back of the first violins for an all-strings program.

I’d forgotten how much more work an all-strings program is; there’s no passing off the melody to anyone in the wind section, there’s no relying on the percussion section for help, and there’s definitely no “don’t work too hard, you’ll just get covered up by the trumpets anyway”. It’s been a joy.

Here’s what we’ll have for you:

Bridge: Lament, H.117

This is a short, moving piece, written as a memorial to the victims of the sinking of the RMS Lusitania. It’s impossible for me to forget that the piece was written about one person in particular, because the top of my part has this:

Maybe sometime there will be a year when there won’t be a cause to make art with a dedication like that. I’m sad to say that it won’t be this year.

Wilson: Suite for Strings

This, on the other hand, is an entertaining mix of peppy tunes, beautiful soaring melodies, and energetic dances. I hadn’t heard of Christopher Wilson before I started playing this music, but he was apparently best known for his theatre music. That shines through in the way that this all seems to be about something; make up a cartoon in your head as you listen.

Bartók: Divertimento for Strings

I will admit that there are concerts I agree to play just because I know that one thing on them is going to be really really cool, and this is that thing. It features the section leaders as soloists; here’s my favorite recording of it, featuring the inimitable Janine Jansen. Her playing is top-notch, though it’s worth watching for her facial expressions alone.

I’m happy to tell you that unlike the orchestra in the video, we will be playing with a conductor. Bartók is famous for his complicated Hungarian folk rhythms; the first movement of this starts with 9 beats per bar, but soon switches back and forth between that and 6, with occasional vacations in the lands of 8 and even 7. We’re lucky to have Yariv to help us keep track of all that. If you are wondering what I am thinking about at any point while playing this, odds are that I’m counting.

This concert is on February 20th at 7:30pm, at the United Commons (Quadra and Balmoral) in Victoria. You can read more about it and get your tickets here.

I should also note that one charming feature of Victoria Chamber Orchestra concerts is a dessert buffet at intermission, catered by the musicians. It’s a scientific fact that violists are always the best cooks, so take note and plan accordingly.

As always, thanks for listening.