No CAMMAC

Today would have been the day that I packed my bags with clothes and instruments to head to CAMMAC. I have missed, maybe two of the past 31 years. It is very much part of my life. But the coronavirus has brought an end, for now, to much of what was part of our lives. I found myself at the beginning of the pandemic, slowly unpacking bags and putting away parts of my life. My gym bag got emptied, cleaned and stashed away in a cupboard. I emptied the instruments out of my music bag and it too found a spot in the cupboard. My backpack was emptied of the items I carried with me to study groups at MCLL. It was a period of mourning, of wondering what life had become.

I slowly replaced my outings to the gym with online training, and zoom sessions replaced face to face activities. But playing music in groups is one thing that can't happen online. The lag time makes synchronous music impossible. I'm fortunate, living with a baroque flute player - duets are an almost daily occurrence. But CAMMAC provided so much more - opportunities to play in groups, to be coached by outstanding teachers and to spend whole days living music.  CAMMAC's location in the Laurentians allowed me to escape the city, to enjoy the peace of sitting by the lake. And the concerts! But it is not to be this year. My fingers are crossed that CAMMAC will survive a year without revenue, or much reduced revenue. I'm counting on a vaccine to bring concerts and group playing back into my life.  But when...

Magical Moments

I'm just home from my annual week at CAMMAC.  Every year has its magical moments whether they be those that Mother Nature produces, concert highlights or the feeling when a piece you have been working on with others comes together.  There are always surprises like a 90 something woman belting out a song complete with a few dance moves at the Tuesday evening cabaret evening or the 5 year old violinist playing in a morning concert. Age does not matter - we come together with our shared love of music.

This year the weather was brutally hot with high humidity. I wandered down to the boathouse early one morning. Looking across the lake towards an island, this house seemed to appear out of the mist as if it was a mirage.



There is definitely magic in the mist with mysteries slowly revealed.



Days are very busy at CAMMAC. There seems to be a constant buzz. Time spent near the lake help bring a sense of peace. What better time than the end of the day to stay in the moment, to watch the sun's last rays paint the sky and the lake.



A number of cabins like this one are scattered in the woods. I had two classes each day in this one: Bach. Most of the cabins and studios are named after composers. There are windows on 3 sides so the woods are very present as we play music.



I try to put aside time for walks but with the soaring temperatures I only managed to walk once. The wild flowers bloom by the side of the road. I walk bathed in nature.



We get treated to 3 concerts each week with the finest early music musicians Montreal has to offer (and they are our teachers for the week). In this informal setting the musicians can try things they might not in a more formal setting and players from different ensembles mix and match in the concerts. This is a most appreciative audience. What happens is nothing short of magical.



Baroque dance with live musicians and done with a sense of humour. Marie-Natalie introduced many characters (Les Caractères de la Danse de Rebel). She worked her magic transforming herself into an old man, a young woman and many different personalities.



There is no doubt in my mind that CAMMAC's Early Music Week is a special time in a special place. And now while I smile about the memories, does anyone have a magic spell to cast out the ear worms, the snippets of music that linger in my ears from the different classes I took during the week?

In the Laurentians

Every summer I spend a week at CAMMAC, a music camp in the Laurentians. While most years I post photos of all the activities, this year I decided to just post photos of the many moments of peace that being in nature provides.

The daily schedule is quite hectic with classes, practice time, concerts ... so it is important to steal moments of tranquility, like this moment at twilight when the moon could be seen overhead.



This bell has been a fixture at the camp. It is rung to call the participants to concerts and other events.



Many swimmers take advantage of the lake - some even doing a cross lake swim at 6:30 in the morning. With all the rain we have had the water is very high and the small beach is non-existent.

Wildflowers abound along the road. I like to walk up the road to get a little quiet away from the bustle of the camp. You can always hear sound during the day on the campsite as people spend time practising for the following day.



This dragonfly also took a moment to relax.

Walking an focusing - a form of meditation. Taking time to notice the details around us.



Early morning sun reflects on the lake. There is something about being by the water that is calming.



Even rain can bring moments of contemplation. The sound, the feeling that being quietly indoors is enough.

Music was never far from the many moments of the day. Music, too, has its way of replenishing the soul.

Saturday at CAMMAC

Photos: July 9, 2016

Saturday at CAMMAC passes like a whirlwind. In Early Music Week classes in the morning are shortened to allow for an extra period. After the regular three classes a fourth period is squeezed in to allow the orchestra and choir to rehearse together as well as to allow for a very short rehearsal of each on their own.  The afternoon and evening are full of concerts. For the singers there is a final master class with Laura Pudwell; auditors are welcome to attend and watch her produce magic. She knows just how to make singers better. There is also a concert of small ensembles. Above you can see the viola da gamba consort.



The high point for many people is the children's concert. The children's program accommodates children from 4 1/2 to 11. Their classes take place all morning while the adults are also in class. In addition to music they have dance, sports, arts and crafts and time to swim. At the concert they showed off what they had learned in percussion, chamber music groups, choir and dance. It is always fun to see the youngest ones and impressive to hear what the older children can do musically.



The evening concert usually starts with the people who opted for the dance class. This year it was folk-dancing. Other years it has been renaissance or baroque dance. The concert is a bit of a whirlwind with people coming and going - leaving the audience a number before they are to perform and then coming on "stage" as the performers.



Not all classes perform - each decides if they want to or not. Two of my groups performed in addition to the orchestra. The concert always finishes with the orchestra. This year the choir prepared selections from Monteverdi's Vespers. Some of the choir excerpts were accompanied by the orchestra. The concert ended with a resounding Amen.

Early Music Week participants chip in money - two of the teachers go purchasing - cheese for a wine and cheese. Most weeks have a hotdog roast. I know which I prefer! It is a time to socialize a last time. Many participants have long drives ahead (Toronto, Washington DC...), trains or flights to catch and leave early on Sunday. But many of us are bitten by the CAMMAC bug and come back year after year. I have only missed a couple of summers since 1988 and there are a number of people who have been there quite a bit longer.

Week two photos at: Flickr

Friday at CAMMAC

Photos: July 8, 2016

It is not everywhere that you can hear recorder players playing on a set of Bob Marvin renaissance recorders. It is almost like listening to an organ.



One place I love to play is the Studio Gaby - a former boathouse. There are windows on three sides which look out on the lake. As I mentioned in another post, people get together in the afternoon to play through music together.



I did not have my DSLR camera with me. I did take some time to play with settings and learn to use it in the manual setting. I'm not sure what this bush is. I used to have one in front of my house but it was a legacy from the previous owners.



As a child I loved picking these; we would walk around with one dangling from the mouth - now I am really not sure why!

The harpsichord is a staple of early music - both as a solo instrument and as the continuo line (the accompaniment and bass line).



At times the players play at such great speed it is hard to catch a clear photograph. The image vibrates with the sound.



Even with a slow movement - there is motion.



Friday evening is the last of the concerts by the teachers. They closed with an excerpt from Monteverdi's Vespers.

Concert programme:

Recorder Consort with Femke Bergsma, Caroline Tremblay, Nathalie Michaud, Marie-Laurence Primeau, Sophie Larivière, Francis Colpron
J.S. Bach -Singet dem Herrm:Xavier Brossard-Ménard and friends
A. Vivaldi - Concerto RV 102: Olivier Brault, Sophie Larivière, Matthias Maute, Melisande McNabney
Medley Bach to the Future: Francis Colpron, Sophie Larivière, Marie-Laurence Primeau, Caroline Tremblay
Songs by G.F. Handel, H. Purcell, R. Burns: Laura Pudwell, Sophie Larivière, Melisande McNabney
C. Monteverdi - the grand finale: Tutti

CAMMAC photos on Flickr

Thursday at CAMMAC

Photos July 7, 2016

I like to stay in the main lodge, but many people camp who come to CAMMAC. Some come prepared to make their own meals; others pay to eat in the dining room with the rest of us. Food is plentiful and nutritious - always lots of fruit and vegetables available.



We share the site with wildlife. Many birds can be seen and heard. I always love to hear the loons. This little groundhog peeked out of its den. They can be seen munching on the grass nearby.

A typical day at CAMMAC starts at 7:00 with volunteers going around the building playing or singing to wake people up - anything from a madrigal to a simple song played by some of the children. Heads poke out from the rooms to see who has provided the gentle start to the morning. Breakfast is at 7:30 followed by the short concert and announcements. Classes - in early music week there are three before lunch - go from 8:35 to 1:00 with a half hour snack time scheduled mid-morning. After lunch there is a silent hour - a much needed time to relax and get away from the buzz of voices, instruments etc. There is the possibility of another class (history or active listening) in the afternoon. There is a life guard on duty at the beach and on nice days many take advantage of a chance to swim. Afternoons are also a time to practice, sight-read with friends... Dinner is at 6:00 followed by choir or orchestra. The concert is at 9:00 and by 11:00 everything falls silent.



While the concerts feature wonderful musicians, there is usually something unusual or humour injected into each programme. Featured above is Xavier, an extraordinary whistler!

The evening's programme

J.J. Froberger - Tombeau de Blancroches: Jonathan Addleman
J. Haydn - London Trio Sonata: Sophie Larivière, Francis Colpron, Femke Bergsma
J.S. Bach - Cantata 'The Whistler': Xavier Brossard-Ménard and friends

C. Buterne - Sonata in C minor: Elyse Lamanque-Girard  and Jonathan Addleman
G. Dufay - 'Tunes and Dances: Laura Pudwell, Olivier Brault, Femke Bergsma

CAMMAC photos on Flickr

Wednesday at CAMMAC

Photos: July 6, 2016

Another picture perfect start to the day!



Overnight showers nourish the flowers.




Wednesday evening is the first of three concerts by the teachers. These are top notch musicians. Laura sang renaissance and medieval music (Hildegard von Bingen). Her delivery of Hildegard's music was luminous.



A hockey match at CAMMAC? In slow motion with bass recorders! Matthias composed a piece in three movements. It really had the energy and feel of a match with fast passages that gave the impression of players whipping down the ice.



Each movement was played on a different combination of recorders as the piece progressed from the junior players to the professionals with a definite change of pace and intensity.

Amazing musicians - The evening's programme:

J.S. Bach, Extract from the 5th Brandenburg Concerto: Geneviève Soly, Olivier Brault, Francis Colpron
Madrigals of the Animal Kingdom: Laura Pudwell, Caroline Tremblay, Marie-Laurence Primeau, Betsy Macmillan
G. F. Handel/ Maute, Concerto for solo recorder: Matthias Maute
Hildegard von Bingen, Ave Maria / Ave Generosa: Laura Pudwell, Femke Bergsma
M. Maute, Noncerto "Hockey": Matthias Maute, Elyse Lamanque-Girard, Sophie Larivière, Francis Colpron

Week two photos at: Flickr

Tuesday at CAMMAC

Photos July 5, 2016

One thing I love about CAMMAC is the family feel. There are very young children, rather old adults and everything in between. There is no pretension with people dressing in clothing appropriate for the country setting. We all have one thing in common - a passion for music. These stumps sit to the side of a field where children may play sports in the morning but in the afternoon it may be used for silent baseball (during rest hour) or soccer matches both of which include children and adults. You can hear English and French and in early music week, occasional Dutch - but there is no division as people switch languages in conversation.  The mornings start with a short concert by one or more of the participants followed by announcements always delivered with humour.



On Tuesday evenings there is a "Cabaret Night" when participants can perform and the audience can consume their favourite beverage (yes there is alcohol for sale at the tuck shop) as they listen. While the focus of Week Two is early music, the Tuesday night always includes a wide variety of music.



This duo lives in two different cities but they can be heard most days in the afternoon jamming together on folk music. Their performance is always lively and delightful!



And the staff often present a number filled with humour and surprises. This year was no exception. It is this combination of humour, respect and passion that drives CAMMAC.

Week two photos at: Flickr

Monday at CAMMAC

Photos: July 4, 2016

CAMMAC  Early Music Week

The day for me started with a short walk down to the boathouse (actually now a studio with a wrap around balcony. Later in the day it is a lively place, but before breakfast, it is tranquil.



On this particular Monday, the water was perfectly still.



Classes take place all morning. Afternoons are free (but there is always practising). Music, nature, humour, people who have the same passion for early music - a perfect mix.

Monday evening always ends with renaissance and baroque dancing accompanied by live musicians.



They all play instruments of the periods. (here a recorder and a rebec).

For more CAMMAC photos

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On Lake Macdonald

Photos: July 3, 2016

Some places just don't have good wifi - CAMMAC is one of them. For years we had no radio, no television and certainly no internet. I started to attend CAMMAC pre the Internet era. Occasionally someone would drive to Lost River to pick up a newspaper and it would be deposited on the coffee table for all to share after the purchaser finished with it. That was the only outside news. So it feels like a luxury and almost a "sin" to be connected to the outside world at all while at CAMMAC. But times change. I don't mind living without constant connection but it means it is time to catch up on this blog now that I am home.



Each CAMMAC week goes from Sunday to Sunday. It is always wonderful to see Lake MacDonald, to breathe the country air and to see old friends again. Sunday evening is the beginning of a hectic week.



The sun sets over the water. A calm moment before the rush of the week.