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Why is viola called “Bratsche” in Germany?
Because that’s the sound it makes when you sit down on it.
It’s been 12 years since I’ve played my viola in public. I had forgotten how much fun it was to make music with a group of people. Even though my performance Thursday night may have lived up to every viola joke there was ever invented, I’ll take it. All in all my super critical side would say, ‘not bad for starting back up late February of this year.’ One listener later told me I was too timid. If only he knew. I’m just really glad I didn’t let Mark, the magic man behind this shindig, too down with the solo part that Frances was supposed to play.
The TT Orchestra and Singers gave their first full public debut on by far the hottest evening of this summer. The 60 some people who came to hear us must have conjured their Tibetan monk mojo to sit so relaxed in that heat and still had the energy to applaud as long as they did.
Ever since I moved to Germany I really wanted to start playing again. A little part of me unraveled the summer I decided to let my instrument lie dormant through my last years in college and remained that way the years that followed. I don’t regret that I put music aside while life’s bs took over. I got to work in a really good job doing semi-good deeds and life brought me to Germany to a wonderful man. Now I have a new language to my bag of trick and a slippery degree to tame and to eventually add to it. I’m thinking it was worth the wait.
Our orchestra is still missing quite a few instruments (i.e., cellos, basses, trombones, percussion). If you play or have played and you live or are coming to Munich do join us! Everyone is also encouraged to not only play but also conduct, arrange or just help out. You can get details here www.tt-orchestra.de or at Toytown Munich.
We are a fun and enthusiastic group and I promise it’s pretty spiffy to get kudos from your friends and loved ones even at around my age.
lets go to the Biergarten :: Wintergarten
I was at the Staatbibliotek (library) on a Friday afternoon in late June when I got a hankering for a beer. The nearest Biergarten was probably at the Chinese Tower but I didn’t want to hit that well-weathered spot. After a call with Alex, we decided to walk from the library to the Wintergarten in Schwabing.
The 27 Tram drives right by this former milk shack and quaint neighborhood Biergarten. 
It is located next to the Elisabethmarkt, which is a small grocers’ market that bursts with activity from 9am to 2pm. The Wintergarten serves Augustiner beer (yoohoo) and cooks up the standard Bavarian fair, i.e., Obazda, Weisswurst before noon, Schnitzel, etc… The atmosphere was lively with plenty of friendly faces, many of whom were dancing. I guess not very out-of-the-ordinary for 7pm. There is a small park for children to play in the back and the service was pleasantly attentive. My only complaint would be the size of the Käsespätzle. It was just a wee bit on the wee bit side.
Of course I was stealing from sharing with Alex so I can understand how I could perceive that we got gypped for our 7.50 Euro. It’s a lovely place if you are in the neighborhood and the weather is cooperative (which it hasn’t been lately, puh). A huge plus for me is the view of some quality wall graffiti from our Bierbank (bench).
Beep beep mm beep beep, yeah
Alex arrived this afternoon from Iserlohn after celebrating Oma’s 89th birthday. In tow were the permanent tags. Now we’re singing, “Baby, you can drive my car.”
So here is her Erscheinung. We haven’t named her yet, that will come after a few trips. She already reminds me of a Wyland whale. Free Willy, perhaps?
We didn’t need a screw driver to replace the temporary tags with the new ones, which I thought was a little strange. With just a tug, it seemed pretty easy to punk someone with some evil missing tag prank.
We had to make sure that the TUV seal was at the front of the car other than that, easy as pie. Like responsible carbon junkies, we recycle.
