If you have ever linked string quartets to feelings of deep boredom, please keep reading.
A big change took place exactly three weeks ago. It all happened at a violin festival where I attended some quartet rehearsals. I realized what an effort has to be put in producing a decent sound together, let alone, making music. I had to reset my mind.
Hutspot
I love the Australian Masterchef series where aspiring chefs de cuisine prepare their best meals and are summoned to present them to the jury. Those nerve-wracking moments, when the jurymembers prick with their fork in the juicy partridge, taste the truffle mousse and take a sip of the old Bordeaux wine... Good meals are a form of art for sure! Why am I mentioning this?
Well, let's compare a string quartet to a meal.
Let's say, a simple Dutch meal called hutspot. This is an extremely popular winter meal because it's filling and easy to prepare. Hutspot consists of four basic ingredients: potatoes, carrots, onions and meat. All the ingredients have to be prepared very carefully because, in my most humble opinion, hutspot tends to taste boring.
So we had the four basic elements of our warm winter meal. Now you have to add salt, pepper, bouillon, butter and some other things in the right amounts to make it taste good.
It's the same thing with quartets.
The musicians are the basic ingredients of a dull meal. They have to prepare their part very well in order to sound well together. Let's say this is the case (unfortunately it isn't always the case). In order for the music to sound beautiful as a quartet, to make it sound as one instrument, you have to add extra things. Expression, dynamics, you have to determine the tempi and check the balance between the instruments etc.
Being a tasty potato
I love the Australian Masterchef series where aspiring chefs de cuisine prepare their best meals and are summoned to present them to the jury. Those nerve-wracking moments, when the jurymembers prick with their fork in the juicy partridge, taste the truffle mousse and take a sip of the old Bordeaux wine... Good meals are a form of art for sure! Why am I mentioning this?
Well, let's compare a string quartet to a meal.
Let's say, a simple Dutch meal called hutspot. This is an extremely popular winter meal because it's filling and easy to prepare. Hutspot consists of four basic ingredients: potatoes, carrots, onions and meat. All the ingredients have to be prepared very carefully because, in my most humble opinion, hutspot tends to taste boring.
So we had the four basic elements of our warm winter meal. Now you have to add salt, pepper, bouillon, butter and some other things in the right amounts to make it taste good.
It's the same thing with quartets.
The musicians are the basic ingredients of a dull meal. They have to prepare their part very well in order to sound well together. Let's say this is the case (unfortunately it isn't always the case). In order for the music to sound beautiful as a quartet, to make it sound as one instrument, you have to add extra things. Expression, dynamics, you have to determine the tempi and check the balance between the instruments etc.
Being a tasty potato
Being a potato, if you aspire to be a part of a delicious hutspot, you have to be a tasty potato. And that's where the problems start. I started to play viola. I know more or less how to hold the instrument and the bow and I can play some easy scales and that's it. Let's see what challenges you have to face if you start playing a string instrument:
1. Holding your instrument. You have to be able to hold the violin between your shoulder/collar-bone and your chin without too much tension.
The first hours of practice caused me some muscle cramps in my neck but that is a matter of habit.
The first hours of practice caused me some muscle cramps in my neck but that is a matter of habit.
2. Holding your bow. You don't simply make a fist and hold the bow like that. No, you have to spread your fingers, bend your thumb and hold the bow very relaxed between your fingers and your thumb.
3. Making sound (instead of noise). You have to use your bow to strike a string between the bridge and the finger board. It's kind of difficult to play one string at the time.
4. Playing in tune. The key to playing actual music is the combination of pressing with your finger(s) on a string(s) and at the same time striking with your bow. Now try playing in tune... This will take you hours of practice...
So, now that we have considered the challenges of playing a violin, think about four string instrument players. Four different minds, different levels of skills and different musical opinions! A musical marriage between four people!
Hearing a good performed quartet, whether if you like the melody or not, is a true piece of art of the composer and the performers. I was present at some quartet rehearsals. I've seen the struggles, the doubts of both the musicians and the teachers.
If you don't like quartet music itself, learn to appreciate the teamwork!
Good hutspot
This is my hypothesis, based on what I've seen and heard from professional and amateur musicians.
Enough words, let's listen to some great string quartet music.
Dvorak's American quartet
Antonin Dvorak composed this American quartet shortly after his New World Symphony. A lot of folkloric elements can be heard.
Brahms String Quartet No. 3
Brahms is Boss, no doubt, excuse my slang expression. This first movement is tough, rough, yet very beautiful.
Beethoven String Quartet No. 18 (adagio)
Beethovens melodies and harmonic changes are exceptional. You can feel the pain and the depth of the emotions in this beautiful movement.
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Feel free to comment and to correct my grammar mistakes, I'd appreciate it. Thanks for reading, enjoy the music!
Hearing a good performed quartet, whether if you like the melody or not, is a true piece of art of the composer and the performers. I was present at some quartet rehearsals. I've seen the struggles, the doubts of both the musicians and the teachers.
If you don't like quartet music itself, learn to appreciate the teamwork!
Good hutspot
This is my hypothesis, based on what I've seen and heard from professional and amateur musicians.
Enough words, let's listen to some great string quartet music.
Dvorak's American quartet
Antonin Dvorak composed this American quartet shortly after his New World Symphony. A lot of folkloric elements can be heard.
Brahms String Quartet No. 3
Brahms is Boss, no doubt, excuse my slang expression. This first movement is tough, rough, yet very beautiful.
Beethoven String Quartet No. 18 (adagio)
Beethovens melodies and harmonic changes are exceptional. You can feel the pain and the depth of the emotions in this beautiful movement.
------------
Feel free to comment and to correct my grammar mistakes, I'd appreciate it. Thanks for reading, enjoy the music!
