Klarinet Archive - Posting 000496.txt from 2002/05

From: w7wright@-----.net (William Wright)
Subj: Re: [kl] Rooms in Stockholm
Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 13:36:36 -0400

<><> Dear Annie, Already at basic school in Sweden there are three
mandatory things that you got to learn: Swedish, mathematics and
English. [snip] Do not let language be something that hinders you
from doing what you would like to do.

Annie, probably this doesn't need repetition, but I've spent time in
Sweden (without knowing a word of Swedish) and Bert's information is
absolutely correct.

In fact, the Stockholm newspaper used to sponsor (perhaps still does?)
an annual concert along the shore where 1000's of Swedish families
gather to hear a full symphony orchestra playing outdoors on the grass
(picnic baskets, etc) despite tuning difficulties and playing over
loudspeakers. During the concert, I spoke freely in English with all
(not just some) of the families, children in primary school, and so
forth. (I had come unprepared, and several families invited me to join
their picnics.)

I should mention an event that highlights the different attitude towards
music in Europe. The symphony orchestra included a full chorus (50-100
singers), and they performed chorus+ orchestra excerpt --- I don't
remember what it was, but it was clearly classical. It happened that a
ferry boat was chugging down the river at the time, and after 20 or 30
measures, the ferry started making circles in the river and the
passengers began singing along. I asked one of the people sitting next
to me if this was part of the show. The person gave me a puzzled look
and said "No, of course not. _Everybody_ knows this music."

..... everybody except culturally uneducated Americans like me, that is.

After the piece was over, the ferry boat straightened out its course
resumed its trip.

That's the sort of thing you can expect while travelling in Sweden. I
would be attending ClarinetFest if I could, Annie. Not that I'm
knocking last year in New Orleans (which I could not attend either), but
Sweden as a travel destination has much more appeal IMO than New Orleans
or Norman. Taking a ferry into the archipelago is also a treat. Many
of the islands are privately owned (property is leased, actually), but
the mood of the place *is* unique and serene, much of it is stone, and
it is unlike any "beach resort".

Don't allow language or telephone concerns to inhibit you, Annie

(....I didn't intend for this message to be so long)

Cheers,
Bill

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