So many Bridge players are passionate about their sport… This is what really strikes me when I meet players at my club in Orpington, Kent or in Greenwich. Sure, some individuals are particularly vocal whilst others listen to debate more passively. However, I do believe that all have an opinion and share concerns relating to our game.
Whilst I am a busy family man juggling everyday job-lists, I have a vision for Bridge… set in the future; and all is good. This site is a germ toward better things Bridge related. Well, that is what I tell myself at any rate.
Most of the posts on this blog are by me, Mark Pharoah, but I am also grateful for guest contributors and invite other bloggers to submit posts. Contributors have included, Jeff Tang of BridgeBum.com and John Gillespie who is part of the School Bridge League
Professionally, I am a concert violinist and have recorded a . solo 2CD album which you can go buy from http://markplaysbach.org. The recording is from the 31 movements from Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin and took me 7 years of dedicated study and hard work – If you don’t know this work, you are missing something truly amazing so pop over to the website to find out more.
Would you believe, there are similarities to performing violin on stage to playing Bridge? I remember the first occasion that I played Bridge at a club. I recognised the nerves one would normally associate with stage performance. Feelings of anxiety, of being scrutised and examined. Of course, the great performers just express themselves regardless of these feelings, and usually with a virtuosic flourish. This is what I love about Bridge – A social game where individuals are seen to communicate wordlessly whilst one is left to figure out their very thoughts and feelings. Yes – playing Bridge is very much like performing chamber music… with the same after-play analysis, gripes and nit-picking.
I also write on the subject of the philosophy of consciousness at http://mind-phronesis.co.uk. My philosophy book is entitled ‘Phronesis: Blueprint of Consciousness’ and consists of various papers on Hierarchical Systems Theory, the evolution of consciousness, artificial consciousness, ethics, aesthetics and free will.
My other passion, apart from Bridge and violin performance, is rock climbing. Watch me climbing upside down at the Mile End Climbing Centre:
Blog written and designed by American Contract Bridge League features writer,
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