Georg Mehling : Ambrial Suite, 1st movement: Ouvertüre, Allegro Moderato

The "AMBRIAL" suite was created in 2001 in San Salvador (El Salvador C.A.). Since I often conducted joint concerts with other schools (Colegios), the directors of the German school, the American high school and the British high school organized a farewell meeting for my wife and me at the end of my 3 year tenure. Since the respective director of these schools played a musical instrument himself, the idea arose to write a quartet for flute, clarinet, violin and cello for this occasion. Thus, a small suite was born. The title "AMBRIAL" is an abbreviation of the 3 international schools in San Salvador: AMerican, BRItish and ALeman. The 5 short movements are titled: 1st Overture (Allegro Moderato), 2nd Chaconne, 3rd Fiddletune, 4th Andante Espressivo and 5th El Mercado de San Salvador.
The meeting (each with wife) took place on a Sunday at our house. While the ladies took care of preparing a small meal, we men tried to rehearse a movement (Chaconne) from the suite in a short rehearsal. After the meal, we men retired again for a short mini orchestra rehearsal, while the ladies prepared coffee and cake. Then came the big musical performance in front of the audience. After the audience listened attentively and, above all, with amusement, and then comforted us with encouraging comments (the performance had been more bad than good), we all enjoyed coffee and cake. It was a nice farewell!