Report of the 4th Panflute Weekend November 12-14, 2004

The fourth panflute weekend took place in Hochfelden a small village close to Zurich. The event was hosted in the elementary school „Wisacher“. The rooms were great for the lessons as well as for the concert at the end of the course.

We all met on late Friday afternoon. With the flute and in a very good mood almost 30 students met the guests of Romania. Dan Herford and Michael Dinner invited two special artists for this weekend: Cornel Pana and Radu Simion.

Dan and Michael gave everyone a warm welcome and started the weekend. After a little bit of talking everyone started to make music. The rest of the eveneing, which can be long and exhausting with Romanians, we played music, talked and shared thoughts about panflute playing and of course we ate and drank.

Radu Simion
 
Cornel Pana surprised us all with his excellent piano playing and his talent to comp the student as well as Radu Simion. It is amazing how many songs these guys know by heart!

The next day the kids of the elementary school came over for a visit. Dan Herford explained the orgins of the panflute (or the nai) and answered questions of the kids. Cornel Pana played a little piece for a auditive impression which faszinated the kids (especially his bird imitations …). Hopefully some of the kids may decide to pick up playing the panflute?
 
The lessons were held in different groups. With Dan we improved our playing skills, Cornel showed us some insights to hi (fast) playing and Radu Simion showed us the essence of Romanian folk music. Michael Dinner supported everyone to wok on the choir pieces. After seven hours (!) the day ended leaving everyone happy and a bit exhausted.

On Sunday was the fourth and last part of the lessons and finalized the cycle of lessons. With these four lessons the students were able to have enough time with every professors.
 
After a lunch together there was the concerts in the late afternoon. Every student was able to play in the choir and to present some pieces to the audience. There were a lot of people in the audience since they wanted not just to attend a cultural concert but also to see the recently built new part of the school.

Cornel Pana

After the concert and after dinner we had to say goodbye to the students and the professors and to discuss a few last questions. Of course we played music for the last time and had a lot of fun!

It is really a pity that the weekend ended much too early. Many new impressions, very good music will remain in our memory forever of this unforgettable weekend.
 
A few words to the professors:

Radu Simion

He was one of the most talented students of Fanica Luca and is one of the first generation of panflutists. Radu Simion’s first name is Simion and not Radu as one might think. Due to “Sonorité“- reasons he decided to switch last and first name. Radu Simion married a daughter of Fanica Luca and his beautiful panflute with the typical radu Simion sound is a inheritated instrument of Fanica Luca. The panflute is a cultural asset and as such protected by the government.
Simion had a big challenge with his smoking habits: It was forbidden to smoke in the school and in the restaurant Frohsinn (old wooden house). So he might have thought Switzerland is very prohibitive with smokers.
Simion is a very nice and modest person who likes to share his knowlege about the panflute playing and the Romanian folk. He can tell right from wrong regarding the interpretation of folk pieces. He also showed some tricks that he uses. For example he uses a small bullet to play a special Doina in order to achieve a very smooth legato.
Radu has a huge repertoire and does even know a lot of classical pieces as well.

Thank you so much, Simion Radu!

Cornel Pana

Cornel Pana belongs to the second generation of panflutists plays a modern style to play the flute. Cornel move way beyond the natural limits of the instrument and has invested a lot to optimize his techniwue. Especially his half tone technique is so advanced that he is able to play pieces with a lot of chromatics (e.g. flight of the bumblebee) very fast. His very hard practice attitude and constant training and of course thanks to his extraordinary talent, he is able to play unbelievably fast. Cornel is always and everywhere able to reproduce his fast playing be it with new pieces or pieces he knows by hearts while being very concise and exact.
Despite of his unique talent and virtuosity he is a very good teacher and is able to support any kind of student be it advanced player as well as beginners. He knows a lot about interpretation of classical pieces as well as Romanian folk music.
 
Thank you so much, Cornel Pana!

Dan Herford

Dan is musically a allrounder: he plays string, guitar, piano, knows to sing and play the panflute very well. He plays classical music, folk and Pop. He teches, produces, conducts choirs and gives concerts. Having such a rich musical background he has a lot of potential to support the students. With his vast musical skills is is a very special experience to work with Dan since he is able to give very adequate pieces of advice.
Last but not least thanks to Dan we have had this wonderful weekend! Dan is also contributing to the popularity of the panflute and Romanian folk music.

Thank you so much, Dan Herford!

Michael Dinner

Michael loves the panflute, the Romanian folk musich and best of it all is that he was able to do as a profession and to share his love with a broader audience. He gives concerts, builds flutes, teaches the flute, produces learning medias and organizes this wonderful panflute weekend!
On top of it all Michael shares his experiences with all students and supports everyone in order that everyone can achieve more than one achievement!
 
Thank you so much for everything you do, Michael!  

To the 4 professors 4 times thank you, 4 times enthusiastic students of the 4th panflute weekend!

Ciril