Monday, March 8, 2010

Brooklyn Rider Quartet Inspires!




On Thursday, February 25, Northview 7th and 8th grader Orchestra students got a musical treat. Brooklyn Rider, a professional string quartet from Brooklyn, New York, performed an outreach concert on our stage. The concert was made possible by the Ensemble Music Society, . The Ensemble Music Society brings various chamber music groups to Indianapolis to perform concerts in various venues. Brooklyn Rider Played at the Indiana History Center the evening before.

Just to review, two violins, a viola, and a cello make up a traditional string quartet. Johnny Gandelsman and Colin Jacobsen are Brooklyn Rider's violinists; Nicholas Cords plays the viola, and Eric Jacobsen is the cellist.

The group shared some original compositions written by violinist Colin Jacobsen, including one with an accessory: a bouncy ball! One lucky student got to keep it after asking a question. Other musical selections included an arrangement of an Iranian folk tune that was originally performed on an instrument made of bird bones. Brooklyn Rider also played a movement of the Debussy quartet.

How about that bow grip? Johnny Gandelsman explained that he tried many different ways of holding his bow after his education was complete before settling on holding his bow closer to the middle instead of at the frog.

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