The Joy of playing music together again in the NFO

After a long period without the pleasure of playing together in the NFO due to the ongoing pandemic, First Violinist Andrew Easton reflects on the great joy of returning to regular rehearsals. 

​"Will Shakespeare was right when he wrote ‘If music be the food of love play on . . . ‘

It’s wonderful to back playing in the strings of the NFO on Wednesday nights after over a year’s break, the joy of interacting with others in life affirming music puts all the worries about the world around us right out of your mind.

Soon we’ll play again as a full orchestra, although it is very nice to be playing inspirational string music as an alternative.

Andre Previn once said ‘A day without music is a wasted day for me . . . ‘ how true this is and whilst I personally enjoying playing on my own most days and learning new pieces, playing with others and then taking the music home to look at in more detail and practise for the next rehearsal is once again inspiring to me.

After over a year away from the NFO we need to get used to playing together and with one another; I’m lucky to play behind Alan and Vivienne and in sight of Ieuan – if I miss Ieuan’s beat I can often catch a fellow musician's foot tapping in the right time and beat to the music!

In the NFO we never play wrong notes, we never play out of tune or even at the wrong time EVER, oh no - we just have ‘happy little accidents’ which we can smile and chuckle over and then play on as a cohesive group and get better together.

IT’S GREAT TO BE BACK!"