The 2022 ACMP Worldwide Play-In was a resounding success with 17 public Play-Ins in 16 cities.

Here are some highlights from the international Play-Ins in Canada, Brazil, Austria, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. (Stay tuned next week for a report on Play-Ins all across the United States!)

Vancouver, B.C. Canada: 

The Play-In was a huge success here in Vancouver.  We had a great time and the event lasted five hours. We had about 20 attendees and maybe 7 or 8 people who were close to making it but waylaid by kids, instrument mishaps, injuries, etc.

-Christina Wolf, NAOC Councilor for British Columbia, Canada

 Florianopolis, Brazil:

We had our Play-In on May 21st at the Botanical Garden, Florianopolis, Brazil. There were about 17 people participating. Attendees were mostly piano players along with some singers and strings (all but cello). We (older players) read some aria arrangements from cantatas and oratorios for voice, piano and continuo (me on bass). Since many participants were kids and teenagers, we also played some easy arrangements of popular pieces such as E. Satie’s Gymnopédie No 1, Bach’s Minuet, Scot Joplins’ ragtimes, Tom Jobim’s Wave, and Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby. For most of these younger players this was their first contact with chamber music, so they enjoyed playing along with more experienced players and watching how we read music as an ensemble. People who were passing by and enjoying the morning at the Botanical Garden seated around us and watched the Play-In, along with players’ families and friends. It was useful to have extra instruments in hand as one violin player who was passing by joined the party. Although participants were a little different from those of our previous events, we managed to come up with creative solutions for repertoire, ensembles and had a lot of fun.

Thanks ACMP for the support and members for sharing their experiences!

-Mauricio Souza

Europe 

Vienna, Austria:

The Vienna Play-In was a big success! We had a quartet for a few hours, and played Viennese Walzes, Schubert and so much more! – Odile Skarnes

Berlin, Germany:

This was already the second Berlin Play-In 2022! The first took place quite traditionally in March, the second now, as suggested by the ACMP, in May, albeit a week later, on 5/22, so we too extended the world-spanning chamber music play-ins by a week… We were 18 musici: one flute, one oboe / cor anglais, one clarinet, one bassoon (unfortunately no French horn…), two pianos and again many strings up (or down) to the double bass. This time five violoncellos participated – a great boon for the division into the different ensembles, because with many bass instruments it always works best!

At 11 a.m., we all joined in again, this time with Telemann’s Concerto in B-flat major for 3 oboes, 3 violins and basso continuo: the third oboe is now transposed to B-flat for the clarinet, and there is also a transcription of the third violin in viola clef, but only handwritten, so that the violas preferred to play it (and played it easily) from the printed violin part.

Three blocks of music making followed until 5:30 p.m., again with enough coffee, cookie and cake breaks. We played 23 pieces in varying combinations, from duos to string quintets (especially those with two cellos) or mixed quintets, from Beethoven to Onslow or Walckiers. The level of prima vista playing was high and the mood was great again – and new chamber music ensembles, now rehearsing repeatedly, have been formed!

Henri van den Hombergh, European ACMP ambassador, did us the honor and came from the Netherlands and brought his violin to participate with enthusiasm.

-Michael Knoch, IAC Ambassador for Germany and director of the Berlin Kammermusikliste

Verbania, Italy:

The Play-In in Verbania, Italy, welcomed 15 participants on Friday, May 26. The event began at 5:00 p. m. and ended around 07:30 p.m. It took place in the hall of the Association Note Romantiche. We had a great time together practicing and performing music from the Renaissance period and contemporary arrangements including guitars at the Play-In. The Play-in was a great start to get together friends before summer begins and new events to come.

– Christian Cocolicchio, Director, Opus Lago Maggiore

Geneva, Switzerland:

We had a great afternoon in Geneva. We were with 11 people: 3 flutes, 1 clarinet, 2 violins, 1 cello, 1 double bass, a singer who also plays piano, 2 pianists. We split the afternoon in three 1-hour periods separated by 15-minute breaks. During each period 2 or 3 groups played at the same time. We had two rooms with a grand piano, and one room with a small harpsichord (spinet). The groups had a different composition during each of the three periods, so that everyone played with different partners after each break. Over the course of the Play-In, participants played music by J.S. Bach, W.F. Bach, Maurice Emmanuel, Rachmaninoff, Schubert and even a Klezmer arrangement by Serban Nichifor.

At the end of the afternoon we enjoyed an apéritif in the garden with sunny weather and a great ambiance.

-Dirk van der Marel