A residency to remember
Commitment. That’s what the Borromeo String Quartet exudes along with talent, passion, and spirit.
The first time the Borromeo String Quartet played at Merrill Auditorium in 2006, they were part of PCA’s celebration of seventy-five years of bringing world-class artists to Maine. A small residency with these talented artist-educators was a first for PCA in its efforts to new and different ways to support music education, specifically to support the five strings programs still alive in school districts throughout Maine. The spring concert and residency activities were a triumph! The Borromeo had groupies who followed them from Portland to Presque Isle for concerts later that year.
In 2008, PCA collaborated with the Borromeo String Quartet for another first – a premiere of a PCA-commissioned piece by Maine composer Elliott Schwartz. While rehearsing the new piece, the Quartet also performed, coached, and taught a week-long strings residency that involved patrons of all ages. From Kennebunk to Lewiston, from Gorham to Windham, from Portland to Augusta, to Searsport, Mount Desert Island, and Orono, more than one thousand patrons could hear the Borromeo String Quartet play Beethoven, Mozart, Schumann, and Schwartz.
This quartet and composer Elliott Schwartz took advantage of the latest technology to bring the magic of music as close to people as possible. From projecting the score of Elliott’s new piece to showing a clip of the premiere recorded by Nick Kitchen over the state’s distance learning network or using laptops to read music scores, audiences were fascinated. Whether in a coaching session, masterclass, Q&A, or open rehearsal, music lovers and those “not so sure about classical music” had a chance to explore, to ask questions, and to get up close and personal with live music. As one high school student noted: “I would never choose to listen to this music or buy it, but hearing it live was ‘sweet.’ It is so much better listening to a live performance!”
There are so many highlights that were thrilling: hearing Elliott’s piece for the first time and then hearing it evolve over seven rehearsals. Watching teenagers watch the BSQ play and then ask engaging, highly technical questions about the processes of composing and rehearsing a new work. Listening to a PATHS Arts Academy student’s newly created string quartet that he had created with Garageband software on this laptop, but he had never heard played by a string quartet until the Borromeo played it for him. Another first! Seeing lightbulbs go on in young Pineland Suzuki, Thornton Academy, and Portland strings program musicians as they tried a new a bowing technique and modeled the commitment and passion they observed when the Borromeo played for them or with them....
There were testimonials from parents whose children were “awed” by the music they heard the Borromeo play. It was “cool.” Older patrons who had to be dragged to hear the quartet admitting that hearing “that music” wasn’t as bad as they had thought it would be and being up close to musicians was awe inspiring.
Interestingly, it was the members of the iPod, YouTube, laptop, iPhone generation who had the most praise for Elliott’s work and the power of hearing classical music – live. They appreciated the quartet’s commitment to their music and willingness to be open to new technology.
As we traveled throughout the state by car caravan, I marveled at the quartet’s stamina, good humor, and compassion for others. They told me playing in a quartet is a lot like being in a family. For strings players, the Borromeo are definitely not high-strung. They are a pleasure to hear and an inspiration to watch while they play or teach.
AlexM says:
Your blog is interesting!
Keep up the good work!
sanjeeda says:
The student were give the musician was very interesting I appreciate their performance and their Musicians.
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sanjeeda
Addiction Recovery Maine
[url="http://www.addictionrecovery.net/maine" rel="nofollow" ]
Addiction Recovery Maine[/url]
sanjeeda says:
The student were give the musician was very interesting and knowledgeable,really I appreciate thier performance and thier Musicians.
=============================
sanjeeda
Addiction Recovery Maine
[url="http://www.addictionrecovery.net/maine" ]
Addiction Recovery Maine[/url]
Laurie Rule says:
Unfortunately the annual band trip departed minutes after the broadcast ended and involved our music teacher with last minute preparations. As the ATM coordinator (I am not a music person!) I sat with the five freshmen who elected to attend and watch the panel. From the attention that the students gave the musicians I could tell that they were very interested and knowledgeable. When someone on the panel referred to the score (which the students did not have with them) I mentioned that I had a digital copy on my laptop. So they set the laptop in the middle of the table and hovered around the screen. As the clips played one student clicked through the pages. When the concert clips ended there was audible regret. A patter of spontaneous applause was quickly stifled so as not to interrupt the panel as they continued speaking.
Personally, I was particularly interested in the stories of the performers--how they began, their young age, their obvious skills and dedication to their art. Musicians, composers, conductors all must have great collaborative and communication skills. It was extremely interesting to be privy to the internal creativity, interactions and conversations that support that effort and result. I did not know that scores were read from laptops! Another example of digital literacy integration and 21st Century skills!
Thank you for providing this opportunity.
— Laurie Rule
MSAD 56, Frankfort, Searsport, Stockton Springs