Bach's Chaconne and ちょうちょ

Hilfsaktion für Japan was the latest in a series of events organized by Japanese artists based in Berlin to raise funds for relief efforts in the aftermath of the tsunami. More than 100 artists donated paintings, drawings, and photographs, which were given away at a raffle at the Japanisch-Deutsches Zentrum in Dahlem. I would guess that in the course of one afternoon, they raised about 20,000 Euro—all to go directly to the Red Cross.

Before the raffle there were performances given by musicians, a dancer, and a poet. Violinist Sophia Jaffe played Bach’s D-minor Partita in its entirety – with Zehetmairesque ornaments on the repeats, beautiful flowing lines, lots of intelligent ideas, and unforced gravitas – and then blew us away with a stylish Ysaye No. 5. Soprano Yumiko Sato sang traditional Japanese folksongs, accompanied by guitarist Takeshi Nishimoto, including ちょうちょ[butterfly]. Worlds apart musically, but what a poignant reminder of how music can make us all more human somehow – and always can, not only at times like these.