Nancy Oliveros,   Ray Shows,    Anna Clift,    Annalee Wolf

ARTARIA turns 20 this season

In 1986, four young(er) aspiring string players were thrown together into an ensemble by a wizened old veteran of the chamber music world. Actually there were two old wizened veterans of the game who conspired to share with us the secrets of one of the most remarkable music forms ever created by mankind -- the string quartet. The former gentleman, Raphael Hillyer was an early member of the celebrated Juilliard Quartet. The latter, his teacher and a member of the legendary Kolisch Quartet, was none other than Eugene Lehner. Ironically, both men were violists...

For those of us who live and breath in the chamber music arena, it comes as no surprise that there was very little arm twisting to get us to sit down and read quartets, and yes, we started out with a Haydn Quartet -- where all real quartet playing begins. The hard part was getting us to stop. Twenty years later, we are still at it, exploring new repertoire, playing new works and collaborating with terrific musicians.

Over the years, life and personal circumstances have modulated the appearance and sound of the Artaria String Quartet, but the enthusiasm for the repertoire and the thrill of performing it well remains two decades after it took root. Perhaps one day we will create a scrapbook of the quartet’s personnel with a little by-line on the whereabouts and current status of each Artarian.

That there are too many memories and stories to recount about the ASQ (originally called the AQB - Artaria Quartet of Boston) in a mere email goes without saying. What we can relate to our friends and well-wishers is the common purpose that has endured throughout this adventure -- a healthy sense of humor and an unbridled passion for the most intimate and expressive music around.

One of the great responsibilities that a string quartet player is charged with when he or she enjoys the fruits of chamber music, is the promise to ensure that the traditions of the art are learned well, implemented professionally, and carried forward into the next generation of players and listeners. Artaria has always met this charge head on and endeavored to connect with our listeners in a meaningful way. ~

ARTARIA Upcoming Performances:

October 5 - Concert @ Shattuck St. Mary's School in Faribault, MN. Fesler-Lampert Performance Series in Newhall Auditorium at 7:30pm. Call 507-334-6466 for ticket information.

October 8 - Concert with pianist Christiane Sweitzer, honoring the life of humanitarian Albert Sweitzer, winner of the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize. Music of Mozart. 6:30pm in Valhalla Hall at UW-La Crosse, WI. For ticket information, call John Webster at 608-534-6337.

October 22 - Artaria @ Sundin Hall Concert. 4:00pm Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. A pre-concert performance featuring young artists from the ACMS begins at 3:30pm. Tickets are on sale now at the Box Office for $15. Call 651-523-2459.

December 6 - Concert @ University of Wisconsin - River Falls, WI. Northhall Auditorium at 8pm. Call 715-425-4911 for ticket info.

January 20 - Artaria concert in conjunction with "Dinner on the Bluff" at the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in Lanesboro, MN. Dinner at 5:30pm, concert at 7:30pm . Contact Eagle Bluff at 1-888-800-9558 for reservations.

Artaria is preparing three intriguing programs for our chamber music fans this year. Each one features a composer of the 20th century and one still living and breathing among us. Come and be thrilled by the uninhibited music of Astor Piazzolla, the fresh sounds of Stacy Garrop and the remarkable work of Bela Bartok.

"TANGO BALLET"
Beethoven Quartet in D major, Op.18 No.3
Peter Sculthorpe Quartet No.11 "Jaribu Dreaming"
Mendelssohn Quartet in e minor, Op.44 No2
Astor Piazzolla "Tango Ballet"

"DEMONS & ANGELS"
Mozart Quartet in d minor K.421
Stacy Garrop Quartet No.2 "Demons & Angels"
Ravel Quartet in F

"HUNGARIAN REVOLUTION"
Haydn "Rider" Quartet Op.74 No.3
Bartok Quartet No.1
Brahms Piano Quintet / Clarinet Quintet

For more detailed information see our webpage.

ASQ latest news "bits"

One of our long-term dreams here at Artaria & Co. has finally been set in motion. The "Friends of Artaria", an organization that will lend support to the chamber music events we have been self-producing for the past 20 years, is being launched. With the assistance of an experienced lawyer in setting up an initial Board of Directors, the "Friends" is taking shape and will be announced officially in an upcoming mailing. If you've been waiting to contribute your "two cents", you will have your chance very soon. Stay tuned...

New by popular request! The summer version of Winterstrings took place in July and was "warmly" received by all. The beautiful and air-conditioned St John's Episcopal Church on The Hill in St Paul was the site for three days of rehearsals, coachings, masterclasses, yoga, Alexander Technique, scrumptious meals, and wonderful camaraderie among adult participants and the Artaria String Quartet. The celebration culminated in a public performance by the participants at the lovely Coventry House in St Paul to a large and enthusiastic audience. Mark your calendars for July 20-22, 2007 to join your colleagues at the next Winterstrings in July.

Winterstrings takes place January 19-21, 2007. This year's schedule will include a special Dinner on the Bluff. Come "pre-formed" or if you're an adult chamber music aficionado and would like to spend a weekend jamming with other folks like yourself, send in an application and we will find a group for you to play with. You can go to the the ACMP website to rate yourself as a player (go ahead - it won't hurt). Then go to the Winterstrings site to fill out an application and join us for a memorable weekend in January.

Competitions return for '07

The 2nd annual Saint Paul String Quartet Competition will be held in Sundin Hall at Hamline University in April, 2007. The Competition is open to high school string quartets from anywhere in the U.S. with cash prizes totaling over $2000. The newly redesigned website contains all the rules and requirements, as well as contact information and the application form. It even has some nice pics of the 2006 competition gathered from our two favorite photographers, Dawn Anderson and Wai Ng.

The Rochester Chamber Music Society has announced their chamber music competition for 2007. The competition will be held on March 10, 2007 and is open to musicians grades 9 through 12. For more details about this event, go to their website (which will be updated soon!)

ACMS Quartets score a big hit at the Metrodome

With baseball fever in high gear as the Twins chase the pennant, the young artists of the ACMS, and friends, were invited to perform the national anthem at the Twins/Tigers game on September 8th to a receptive crowd. It was a thrilling experience. Twenty-three quartet players took to the infield and the sound they produced was simply dazzling. The entire stadium took up singing the words -- a wonderful and uplifting moment. Several of the Twins staff and players on the field were surprised at how beautifully the group played. One of the Detroit Tigers said it was the best national anthem he's heard all season. Needless to say, we were invited to come back. Thank you Susan Mallison for getting the ball rolling and kudos to the performers!

Sundin Hall Prelude Performances

As an exciting element of the ASQ Series @ Sundin, we will once again showcase some of our finest ACMS string quartets in Prelude Performances. These will occur 30 minutes prior to the ASQ Concerts and will feature a young ensemble from our mentoring program. They will present a fifteen-minute program of chamber music as our "opening act" and will introduce themselves and the works they are performing to the audience. We are very excited about this project. Come early and see the next generation of chamber musicians!!

Shop Talk

Guest Column by Brian McCullough

The Alexander Technique is for String Players
(and everyone else)

I'd like to describe my work teaching the Alexander Technique to musicians. In addition to my group classes at the University of Minnesota School of Music, I maintain a private teaching studio near the west bank campus. The Alexander Technique is a century-old method used by musicians and others as a means of solving performance problems, and to develop skill and poise. Alexander principles address how the daily habits in the use of the self (such as sitting, standing and walking) affect seemingly disparate problems such as stage fright, muscular-skeletal pain, playing induced injuries, and computer use injuries. For musicians, the interplay of unconscious habits and the body mechanics of daily use of the self strongly affect tone production and technique. The Alexander Technique provides tools to enhance fundamental coordination. The application can lead to greater technical ease, improved tone, and a reduction of chronic aches and pains.

Musicians and conductors must function with a high degree of coordination in order to continually achieve success. How a musician thinks and responds to stimuli affects their physical well-being and ability to perform in a skilled way. A process of psycho-physical re-education addresses several issues important to practicing music including:

Technical Ease. The use of hands, arms, legs, and breathing (considered to be partial patterns) are dependent upon an integrative, whole, total pattern (considered to be the head/neck/back). As an optimal total pattern is re-established and works in an active, springy manner, the use of breathing, hands, and arms become more productive, fluid, and effortless.The control of action is accomplished by the control of re-action. As one cultivates the skill of more appropriate reaction to stimuli in all activities, the ability to deal with stimulus in our more professional activities becomes improved."Strength is a result of good use: an effect, not a cause" Pedro de Alcantara, author of "Indirect Procedures: the Alexander Technique for Musicians"

Brian is certified to teach the Alexander Technique through the American Society for the Alexander Technique (AmSAT), which maintains the highest of standards. He can be reached at 612/624-4337 or by emailing him at teaching.studio@mac.com.

Feedback

The summer newsletter received many compliments. It is of course gratifying to make something useful for others. So please let me know if there are topics you want to see discussed, questions answered, and the like. ~ RS

Do you have any suggestions about what should be in this newsletter? Are their topics you would like to see discussed or highlighted? Contact us.

Thank you for your present interest and past support of the Artaria String Quartet. If you would rather not receive our newsletter, send an e-mail to music@artariaquartet.com and type "no newsletter please " in the Subject line.