Lincoln's Own Chiara String Quartet: Sharing their Hearts

On Thursday, October 6th, the Chiara String Quartet once again wowed and wooed their audience. Their performance, mostly performed from memory, expressed a whole range of emotions, from the humor and playfulness of Britten’s Three Divertimenti to the sobbing of the violin in Beethoven’s String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 130. 

L-R: Rebecca Fischer, Jonah Sirota,
Hyeyung Julie Yoon, Gregory Beaver
photo credit: Lisa-Marie Mazzucco

The Chiara has the ability to reach out across the stage and pull the audience into the music. Despite the big space they performed in, the Chiara made the experience one that felt true to chamber music: “music composed for the home… it is intimate music.” The performers make playing in an ensemble and playing from memory look effortless—flawless timing and musicality that makes you forget that they’re even playing without music in front of them. Of course, playing from memory and not relying on the music is exactly what gives them the freedom to express and communicate with each other and the audience in a way not otherwise possible. In fact, the instruments become an extension of their bodies, every part of their body conveying the emotions, gestures, and music: sharing what is in their hearts through these great works.

Besides phenomenal musicality, the Chiara draws audiences in by giving them notes of what to listen for from their own deep understanding of the pieces they perform, either with spoken listening tips or written program notes as at this performance, they give you a glimpse of what they found to love in each piece—and therefore, even for those who are not musicians, there is an understanding and appreciation born for the works at each concert.

The Britten piece might not sound like what people associate with “classical music,” which to many still connotes “boring” or “pretty background music”… instead, it is full of “breezy charm,” (as stated in the program notes,) and the harmonies, rhythms, and musical gestures grab the listeners attention especially as performed, memorized, by the always engaging Rebecca Fischer, Hyeyung Julie Yoon, Jonah Sirota, and Gregory Beaver.

The String Quartet in A minor, Op. 29 by Schubert had a great deal more of the sounds and form that people associate with the idea of classical music, but the program notes pointed out the connections of this piece with the art-songs that Schubert is perhaps most famous for, and the audience could hear the first violin singing a lyrical line and listen as the “contrasting material in the movement [that is] much more instrumental in nature…takes turns throughout the group, ultimateely beating out the lyrical material to finish the [first] movement. The lyrical voice loses the battle but wins the war, as the rest of the piece is significantly more vocal in character.” (Jonah Sirota's program notes)

The last half of the program featured a piece that Sirota described as a “hallowed” work, closely related to the work and reason that he decided to devote his career and his life to being in a string quartet. Beethoven’s String Quartet in B-flat Major was written for the future—a work seen as perhaps being written by a crazed man, it instead is a brilliant and timeless piece performed by the Chiara “by heart,” memorized and as one, they won a truly well-deserved standing ovation at the close.

The Chiara String Quartet is based in Lincoln, Nebraska, and yet it is easy to see with a simple search how wide their audience and acclaim reaches like a NY Times article or various news pieces highlighting their performances in many places. Lincolnites: if you didn’t come to their performance last night, you are missing an incredible experience. Save the dates now for the rest of the Hixson-Lied Concert Series in Kimball Recital Hall all at 7:30pm: Tuesday, November 29, 2016, Wednesday, February 1, 2017, Wednesday, March 29, 2017. Tickets and more information: www.arts.unl.edu.

Music and dance to commemorate 9/11

The 9/11 service at St. Mark's will also feature quiet and reflective candlelight.

Credits: Scott Robinson, via flickr

On September 11, 2001, the world watched in shock and horror as the terrorists attacked our great nation. Ten years have gone by, although for some, it still feels like it was yesterday for the loss and grief never quite go away. For the first anniversary, the Lincoln community remembered and honored those who died with a tribute in music at Kimball Recital Hall, and this year, on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, St. Mark's-on-the-Campus will host a service in memory of the event.

St. Mark's-on-the-Campus is located at 13th and R Sts. at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln campus, and the event is set for 8:00pm. Many people are collaborating to bring this together including Lincoln's own Dulces Voces, the UNL Dance Department, UNL viola professor and LSO member, Clark Potter. The first movement of Kurt Knecht's newly commissioned piece, "Ordo Rachelis," will be performed by Dulces Voces, and the composer's piece "Meditation" will be performed by Clark Potter.

 

This will be a time for the Lincoln community to gather together, regardless of religious affiliation, and join together in memory, reflection, and prayer--much as we all did 10 years ago on September 11th.

Summer: A link between Lincoln and Vivaldi

A picture taken as storm clouds loomed over Lincoln, taken at 14th and Old Cheney.

Credits: Michael Cornelius, via flickr

While Lincoln and the surrounding areas experience days of sweltering heat alternating with furious thunderstorms, many people are trying to stay put in their air conditioned homes and offices. Long before air conditioning, a man known as the Red Priest experienced just such summers in Venice and was inspired to write "Summer."

The Red Priest was nicknamed such because of his red hair, although he was a Roman Catholic priest, his main job was that of music instructor and master of violin at a girls' orphanage. Born in Venice in 1678, Vivaldi became music instructor at the girls' school in 1703 and worked there for roughly 15 years. Although a celebrated violinist, Vivaldi composed for many instruments in order to feature different students in concerts at the school. Perhaps one of his most famous and well-loved pieces, and especially appropriate as Lincoln experiences extreme summer weather conditions is the second in a series of violin concertos of entitled "The Four Seasons."

Summer from the Four Seasons

"Summer" starts out calm, serene. In Lincoln, this may be compared to early on a summer morning, but it becomes agitated and excited briefly, perhaps to indicate the rising temperature. The second movement sounds like one might imagine the stillness of a hot afternoon. This movement reminds us that it is cool and calm if one stays in the shade or indoors, but intermittently, there is a threat of a coming storm which then breaks upon us in the third movement.

The third movement of "Summer" may arguably be the most famous movement from all the concertos of "The Four Seasons." A search for "Summer by Vivaldi" on iTunes yields hundreds of albums featuring this concerto. The albums may feature all Vivaldi pieces, or may be collections of summer music, Baroque music, or even rock and techno as this famous piece has been adapted by some artists in those modern genres.

The third movement is exciting, thrilling, and grips you like the thunder and lightning storm that it is meant to represent--and just like the grandiose, powerful storms that Nebraskans are used to seeing this time of year. One of these hot, summer afternoons, or maybe during the next thunderstorm, take a listen and feel how well the music matches the season!

Although summer weather may have subsided by the time October rolls around, Lincoln can also look forward to hearing Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" on the opening concert of the LSO 2011-2012 season. This performance will feature the Chiara String Quartet and Rachel Barton Pine, violin. The performance will be at the LSO's new home, the Lied Center for the Performing Arts, and is on Friday, October 14 at 7:30pm.

Lied Center for Performing Arts: Your venue in Lincoln to hear great music

An outside view of Lincoln's own Lied Center for Performing Arts, a place where you can go to hear the best of local, national, and international performances of Classical music, ballet, and opera.

Credits: from www.city-data.com

The Lied Center for Performing Arts opened in Lincoln 21 years ago due to the gift of the Lied Foundation. Since it’s beginning, the Lied Center has provided Lincolnites with a venue for local and national entertainment.

The main hall seats 2210 people, so there’s usually a seat available for the last minute concert goers. You may see it fill up when the UNL Marching Band, “The Pride of All Nebraska,” performs there, or when the community puts on their annual showing of Tchaikovsky’s, “Nutcracker Ballet.”

During the Lied Center’s season, you can hear local artists like the Chiara String Quartet and the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra. However, visiting artists are not to be missed. In the past, artists such as cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Joshua Bell, famous pianists, orchestras, and ballets from around the world.

The directors of the Lied Center work hard each year to plan and provide a stimulating, well-rounded, and rewarding season. Anyone in Lincoln who is looking for an evening of culture, should look no further than the Lied Center. Keeping an eye on the upcoming events, or even purchasing season tickets to the events of the Lied Center is well worth the time and investment.

Whether you visit the Lied Center to hear and see a performance by a local artist or group, or if you are interested in the professional ballet from Moscow, or the orchestra from Prague, you know you’re in for a treat when you visit Lincoln’s Lied Center for Performing Arts.

Chiara String Quartet: ‘Chamber music in any chamber’

The catchphrase of the Chiara String Quartet is “chamber music in any chamber.” To the members of the quartet, this means bringing their music not only to concert halls around the country and even the world, but also to bars, schools, and rural areas.

The members of the Chiara String Quartet all studied at Juilliard individually, but also as an ensemble when they were recipients of the Lisa Arnhold Quartet Residency from 2003-2005. Since 2005, they have been artists-in-residence at Lincoln’s own University of Nebraska, School of Music. As artists-in-residence, the Chiara has the opportunity to work with the college students at UNL, coaching string players as well as chamber groups.

The students who have the privilege of working with the Chiara one on one are inspired by the passion Becca, Julie, Greg, and Jonah have for Classical music. By sharing their talent and passion for chamber music, these dedicated musicians are helping to ensure that Classical music’s life continues to flourish in the next generation.

Another way that the quartet helps Classical music find its niche and life in today’s world is by bringing chamber music into any chamber. In the past year, they’ve played at the Red 9, here in Lincoln,and other bars around the country. Classical music is not only for the sophisticated or elite taste of concert-goers, but can be enjoyed by all. Find the passion and beauty of music wherever you are comfortable.
Keep an eye on the upcoming events when the Chiara String Quartet will be playing by following them at their website, their facebook page.

Classical music's relevance and life today

A performance of Classical music.

Credits: Amy Flamminio

Since at least the 1970's, some have believed that Classical music is dead. This impression of lifelessness is due to the changes of culture and world. No longer is Classical music at the pinnacle of all musical forms. Instead of being the very definition of “Music” as it was in the 1600s-1800s, the Classical genre of music is but one of many such as pop, hip-hop, rock, etc. But it is still very much alive.

In the world of art music composers today, a shift has taken place wherein techniques, instruments, rhythms, and harmonies of popular music are borrowed and employed to attract or get a reaction (whether positive or negative) from their audiences. Music is now free. “Music” does not have to be Classical, it includes all forms of pop music and classical. People are free to explore, create, and express their strong opinions about Music—in whatever form they choose to experience it.

If young people caught up in listening to music all the time on iPods and radios could lose their fear of the “canon” and accept Classical music as another genre to enjoy along with the rest of their music, everyone of them would discover something relevant or riveting to them personally because Classical music is one of many genres and people can have the chance to experience it without feeling Classical music’s former stuffiness. That is—if Classical musicians take advantage of “something new” happening!

Classical music is alive—and therefore changing! In Lincoln, perhaps that something new can come as the Chiara String Quartet advocates by doing outreach with “chamber music in any chamber.” There is so much yet to come in the life of Classical music.