Making music in Montaione

Toscana Musicale: Chapter 2 of 2 (28 Oct - 3 Nov 2024)

Nov 04, 2024

Wow… if only we could replicate this atmosphere on a daily basis. Under normal circumstances, Jack practises the flute almost daily but not nearly as hard or for as long as these guys. I am hoping the effects of this week are long lasting. It will certainly help him to understand the kind of devotion it takes to even have hopes of making it as a professional musician. We’re certainly a long way from primary school at St. Ives Prep School when Jack first started to play, where 20 minutes a day was the asking rate for daily music practice.

So far, meal times are a pleasure. The food is simple and tasty - from local suppliers, fresh as a daisy and well cooked. Tonight, we have chicken, sliced potatoes, steamed greens, eggplant (which generally I don’t eat). For dessert, there’s a selection of cake, pandoro, pastries, biscotti, and usually something chocolate.

Monday

By mid morning on Monday, I am reminded that I can never settle permanently in the Tuscan countryside. The various tiny insects are killing me - I’m itchy all over! From the moment we step out of our villa and walk anywhere on the property, we are surrounded by well-groomed hedges and gardens with clouds of insects hanging in the air. I’m hoping the antihistamines bring some relief from the symptoms.

So, how is this very musical week structured?

Over the course of this week, Jack will have a total of five master classes with Maestro Sergio Pallottelli. I sat in on a couple and it’s essentially a private lesson although anyone on site is welcome to observe. In fact, students are encouraged to sit in on each other’s classes because there’s always something to learn whether playing or listening.

The rest of the day is unstructured and seems to involve individual music practice and rehearsals with Jean (incredible pianist and son of our French hosts). Jean will accompany every wind player here this week and perform a solo in the closing concert.

For Jack, the timing of this week couldn’t be better because he needs a piano accompanist for his video entry into the 2024 Lyrical Flute International Championship - an annual flute competition which is the brain child of Karen North in Australia. The competition closes 30 October AEST (Wednesday) which means we need to record and submit Jack’s entry by tomorrow (Tuesday) because of the time difference between Sydney and Italy.

While Jack has his first master class this evening, I sit on the steps just outside, watching the sun set over the valley and listen while Jack and Sergio get to know each other. Sergio makes some minor adjustments to Jack’s competition piece and Jack comes away ready to record his video tomorrow evening.

My view from the steps of Sergio’s studio.

Tuesday

Tuesday is a perfect Autumn day - still and clear with the merest hint of a chill in the air. I decide to make the 20-something minute walk from the villa into the borgo (tiny historic village) of Montaione for a look around. The universe comes to my aid and spares me the uphill walk into town - our hosts are about to drive to the supermarket and offer me a lift.

I need to wait for a short while before they’re ready to leave which gives me a few minutes to stand outside in the sun and take-in the valley below in more detail. The vista is accompanied by the sound of virtuosic flautists practising and master-classing in the various villas around me. I can also hear a fast-running stream at the bottom of the valley after the recent rain.

Montaione is small enough (~3,500 people) that I can make more than one circuit around the historic centre and traverse all the vicoli (narrow laneways) well within an hour. I get a good sense of this quiet village which, last weekend, was alive with market stalls and people for La Tartufesta - annual truffle festival or sagra. A sagra is an annual festival which typically celebrates a specific food and local specialties of the region.

As I exit the town, I visit the co-op to buy a bottle of red and another of Prosecco for tonight’s after-dinner gathering in the garden - my turn to contribute. I return home for lunch at Il Torrino and news of everyone’s morning. The walk home from Montaione is mostly downhill. The side of the road is lined with gold-leafed vineyards (it’s autumn) and olive groves ripe with fruit and the aforementioned green nets spread on the ground to catch the season’s bounty.

Back at Il Torrino (our villa), it’s late in the afternoon. I return to the rooftop terrace I discovered yesterday for a sit in the last of today’s autumn sun. A few metres away, one of our resident musicians is practising his flute. In the studio below, a pianist is putting the grand piano to the test and, between me and the sinking sun, I can see small clouds of insects hanging in the air. The men who spent today harvesting olives from the nearby trees have packed it in. The day is done.

Once the mozzies track me down, I go in search of Jack who is practising his flute back in our room. It’s almost time for the promised game of table tennis before dinner - a fitting reward for Jack’s hard work.

We have a huge giggle playing table tennis at the outdoor table. After a while, two lovely young men (one a flutist and the other a pianist) settle at a nearby table - beers in hand - after their own day of devoted musical work.

As the sun sets, the valley changes colour. I had to capture this picturesque scene with ribbons of pink and purple in the background and Airdrop the photo to the boys for their own record of this beautiful evening.

Michele and Nils enjoying what would become a daily sunset beer.

A little while later, Zeno arrived - pianist and the youngest musician here at 12 years of age. He looked on politely as Jack and I played table tennis. I handed over my paddle to this beautiful young Italian and left them to it. I’m betting this will not be Jack and Zeno’s last game this week.

At 9:30pm, we head to the studio where sits the grand piano and make three recordings of Jack playing a piece called “Dreams Dance at Dusk” by Sally Greenaway. Then I wait while Jack listens to all three recordings (more than once) and settles on two recordings which we then send to Bridget Bolliger (Jack’s teacher who is back in Australia) for a listen before making the final choice. This all takes a while and Bridget is so very patient while we get the videos uploaded and sent to her.

Once we all agree on a recording, I go about tidying up the details so that Jack’s entry meets all the competition requirements and submit his video online. Then it’s time for bed - at 2:00am Italian time!

Wednesday

Wednesday morning is pretty rough after our very late night. I couldn’t go to bed before submitting Jack’s competition entry. If I had left it until this morning and then had technical problems submitting his video recording, then months of his work would have been, well - not wasted but certainly - my name would have been mud.

As I sit having breakfast, listening to Maestro Pallottelli speaking Italian to another young flute player nearby, it strikes me just how normal it feels to be here, in Italy, in this unique environment, surrounded by such devoted musicians. Apart from Zeno and Jack, the rest are studying at a conservatory of music or they have already completed their studies. Even though this means they are almost all much more experienced and technically advanced than Jack, he is not out of place here. That’s a little bit incredible.

Both Sergio (maestro) and Jean (piano accompanist) described to me a similar experience while working with Jack. They say Jack listens well and he can hear himself play. This means that, when Jack is asked to play something a little differently, he can do it - first time - which is a dream for a teacher.

Now that Jack’s competition piece is done and dusted, Sergio has given Jack a serious new piece of repertoire to work on together for the remainder of the week - “Fantaisie Pastorale Hongroise” by Doppler. Jack is loving sinking his teeth into it and shows up for his first lesson having listened to Emmanuel Pahud (Jack’s flute hero) play it on YouTube and having sight-read his way through the first couple of sections - making for a very happy Maestro Pallottelli.

Sergio has chosen a great piece of music and the timing could not be better for Jack’s confidence. The timing of Toscana Musicale more generally is also perfect given Jack’s new flute, and his age and stage of development.

I’m quite sure it is a matter of pride for Jack to be working as hard as the other musicians around him this week and to show them (and perhaps himself) that he belongs here.

It is wonderful being in the middle of the countryside, amongst nature, away from noise and the usual distractions. I now understand why musicians and writers sometimes take themselves off to tranquil, secluded locations to write a new album or book… relaxation, peace, nature = creativity.

Friday already

After a week of consistent work and plenty of fun under clear blue autumn skies, Jack is relaxed, inspired, confident, practicing hours a day, loving his lessons and ready to perform this evening in an intimate concert on site. He will play “Dreams Dance at Dusk” - his competition piece.

Video link: Jack’s performance for which he was subsequently awarded 2nd prize in the 15-17 years age group (at 15 years of age) and shared the Rachel Laurin Memorial Award for performers who show excellent potential - pretty wonderful.

VIDEO

"Dreams Dance at Dusk" by Sally Greenaway. Performed by Jack De Ravin

Sergio is impressed with the inroads Jack has already made with Fantaisie - the new piece of music.

Musically, this week has been a fabulous experience and Jack’s eyes have been opened to the kind of dedication it takes to achieve anything like a professional level of skill. Of course, at this stage, he has no idea what he wants to do when he finishes school. His current career ideas include orchestra conductor and architect so - who knows what will happen. I think he’d make a great journalist. He certainly has no idea as yet that a professional music career is even an option for him.

Anything could happen - and how exciting is that!

Zeno (a pianist) showing curiosity about the flute.

Day off Saturday

I was keen to make the walk with Jack into Montaione’s small historic heart for a wander through the tiny laneways and to find a yummy lunch overlooking the valley.

Tonight, the whole group will climb into a few cars for the drive to a small local theatre and the final concert before feasting together at a local osteria.