Twelve Cellists–Count ’em–Play Vivaldi in Cambridge
June 3rd, 2013 · No Comments · Posted in Blog
How many cellists does it take to play Baroque?
We’ve moved to a rural and predominantly agricultural community here in Washington County, New York. But as our realtor once assured us, this is not where civilization comes to die.
In fact, you may have already gotten the impression that there’s quite a lot going on up here culturally. I’ve already mentioned the Salem Arts Works, where writers, sculptors, painters and artistic folk of various stripes live in trailers for extended periods to draw inspiration from our rustic setting and stretch their creative muscles.
Last night I made the acquaintance of another organization–also based in Salem–devoted to the musical arts. Music from Salem provides a space–a farm, actually–where young musicians from around the world can gather to practice chamber music and explore new works. Recently it was cellists–including one from Syria, another from Spain–holed up in the confines of Brown Farm learning mostly modern compositions. In some cases, the musicians actually know the composers, and in at least one case, the composer–Salvatore Macchia–saw the world premier of his work Ballade played by a cellist from Harrisburg, PA, last night. Macchia was in the audience.
All twelve of the musicians from the cello seminar at Music from Salem hit the stage at Hubbard Hall, the renovated old opera theater in downtown Cambridge, three miles from our new home. I must say, I’m still not convinced by the turn modern music has taken. Imagine a cello solo inspired by a Rothko painting. There is much discordance, eerie harmonics, plucking, tapping, occasional screeching. I can appreciate the technique involved, and I’m sure it’s all sincerely intended, but to me it comes across as the sound track from a scary movie.
In fact, sometimes it is the soundtrack from a scary movie. (As if to underscore that point, a violent thunderstorm rolled through shortly after the program began. The lights went out, and bystanders rushed in with their iPhones to illuminate the musicians’ sheet music. The show must go on!)
After the cellists had performed individually–or as duets, or with a soprano singer–they all gathered onstage for the grand finale: Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto Grosso in D Minor. Now that was a rousing good time. I recorded video of it. You can view a sample here. By the end, the audience was levitating.
“Why do you suppose the whole village isn’t here for this?” remarked one woman in the audience of about 100 lucky music lovers.
Hubbard Hall, I’m so glad you’re here. Next week: violas.
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