Hutspot and musical marriages

When my parents told me we were going to visit concerts where we would listen to string quartets, I can tell you I wasn't very pleased. Another hour would be spent counting the seats in the concert hall, staring at the ceiling and wondering why people would ever pay to hear this. This was my opinion about string quartets and string ensembles in general. It sounded boring, monotonous, it didn't have the grandeur of an orchestra, nor the majestic sound of the piano as an accompanying instrument which is in fact a mini orchestra on it's own. It was just run-of-the-mill to me.
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

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. 

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!

Appoggiatura: A short introduction.

Music is a passion of mine. So are other forms of art, writing and languages. In this blog I can combine all of them. Music will be the main theme here.

I was born in the Netherlands, as a member of a family consisting of professional musicians. A lot of my earliest memories are about music. Playing music, listening to music, composing music, going to concerts... I grew up with it and learned to play the piano.

My parents are both piano teachers. They taught me a lot, especially my father. Music is not simply a bunch of notes for which you need technique to play. Instead, it's a way of communicating. One thing that helps me a lot is imagining that one has no vocal chords, only an instrument and hands to express himself. Every thought and feeling has to be translated on the instrument. If people can capture that feeling you are playing well. Technique only helps you to achieve your goal, it's not a goal itself.

When I listen to musical pieces, I try to take a lot things into account, to throw light on different elements of the music. If one element is not performed perfectly it doesn't mean that the whole piece isn't beautiful. I will try to write down my analyses and be as extensive and clarifying as possible. Perhaps it will help me appreciate more some componists and I would be glad to take you with me on this musical journey full of discoveries.

Why 'appoggiatura'?

Well, an appoggiatura is a musical ornament or embellishment that is not necessary to carry the overall line of the melody (or harmony), but serves instead to decorate or "ornament" that line. (©Wiki)

I hope my articles can serve as an embellishment of the beautiful oeuvres composed in the course of history.

The first masterpiece I will write about is Maurice Ravel's "Jeux d'eau".

If you detect any grammatical errors, don't hesitate to write it down in the comments. Requests for articles are welcome too. I appreciate your feedback.

Greetings,

Alexandra