The remainder of the month of March turned out to be quite tough going, with numerous exams to prepare at the Conservatoire at the same time as rehearsals for the Swiss solo brass championships. It was mostly a tiresome and time consuming business of making sure that the planning worked without clashes and making sure there was some flexible spare time in there for when things go wrong. I needed to work out if I could reach everywhere geographically without losing too much time and make sure train connections were realistic (most short connections in Switzerland are realistic, in fact). To be fair, most people prepared themselves properly, with one exception, so there wasn't the need to make too many remedial rehearsals or coaching sessions.


Another view over Lac Léman (Lake Geneva)

The preparations for the CNSQ Championnats Suisses (Swiss Brass Championships) took me all over the place, with dozens of difficult pieces to rehearse and play most of which contained far too many notes and twisting tortured lines of 16th notes, all with the aim of demonstrating technical prowess and dexterity. One of the villages I went to was Vétroz on the Rhône valley plain near Sion, known for its excellent wines and excellent fanfares (brass bands). I believe that the glacial alluvial soils are responsible for the unique wines to be found in places like Vétroz and Chamoson, with Johannisberg often featured and lesser known wines such as Petite Arvine and Amigne de Vétroz. I sometimes have reservations about Swiss white wines of the Chasselas grape variety, because they can be a bit lively and prevent me from sleeping. But Petite Arvine and Amigne are outstanding wines, as are the red Cornalin and Humagne Rouge wines. No better place to try them than in Vétroz.


In Vétroz for rehearsals, trying to avoid the cafés and the bars


A Ganschhorn, an unusual and rarely played brass instrument
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I also found myself high up in the Lötschental in the German speaking upper part of canton Valais, on three occasions for lengthy rehearsals in the Bürgerstube in Wiler. I've always had a special fascination with Lötschental and their Tschägättää monsters, hundreds of which at Carnaval pour down the main road in the valley with the intention of scaring and chasing away the cold of winter. That tradition is a really bizarre one and should be perhaps experienced just once (I have been there and have no intention of doing it a second time). While I was in Lötschental this March we went through a cold and wet period and rather a lot of snow came down and blanketed the whole valley. Not a bad thing considering there had been almost no winter this year.


The famous Tschägättää masks in the Lötschental


Late March, but it still seems to be winter in Lötschental

Lastly, my travels took me to Allaman in the canton Vaud, best known for IKEA (this was the first one to be opened in Switzerland) along with a huge number of other superstores in the industrial zone. But Allaman is a launching point for the whole La Côte région, with its vineyards, castles and amazing views over Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), extending all the way down to Nyon along the scenic corniche road. Here I ended up in the village of Aubonne, with its old streets and buildings, along with an old style cinema that still exists and functions! The high point of Aubonne is it's castle, perched on a hill which is the summit of the village and offers great views over the village and Lake Geneva. The castle is not open to the public but it happens to be the seat of the local music society and it's various preserved rooms are used as teaching spaces and as a rehearsal venue. So it is nice to be able to access these places and see things that nobody else gets to experience! Near Aubonne is fantastic hiking country and trails extend through the Arboretum to the Jura foothills.


Entry to the Château d'Aubonne, the castle of Aubonne


Interior courtyard of the Château d'Aubonne, which houses the community offices


The castle also contains rooms which are used for rehearsals with the local music society


View over Aubonne from the terrace of the castle, with Lake Geneva visible in the background