When Blossom Music Center opened in 1968, a partnership with Kent State University was also formed. Students would gain training in the visual and performing arts through variously configured programs. Kent/Blossom Music is the oldest of these collaborations, having just begun its 37th season.
Wednesday summertime evenings in Ludwig Recital Hall on the Kent campus boast a variety of musical ensembles. Based on opening night, these programs should definitely be added to the schedule of chamber music devotées in Northeast Ohio. It should be explained that there is a mixture of subscription and free concerts, many of them featuring musicians from the Cleveland Orchestra, as well as students in the music program. An added musical treat is the presence of the Miami String Quartet, new faculty artists-in-residence at KSU.
This first presention of the 2004 Kent/Blossom Music series featured the Miami String Quartet, along with Joshua Smith, principal flutist of the Cleveland Orchestra. Mozart’s G Major Flute Quartet, K 285a is a short work-—not quite thirteen minutes—-but what glorious minutes they were! Mr. Smith’s wonderful warm golden tone was on display from the very first rippling cadences, and the four musicians, comprised of Mr. Smith, along with three of the musicians of the Miami (Cathy Meng Robinson, violin; Chauncey Patterson, viola and Keith Robinson, cello) played as though they’d been playing this piece together for years. This was exceedingly bright, sprightly, lyrical Mozart.
In the early 20th century, Bartók and Kodály (among others) began to incorporate nationalistic music and ethnic patterns into their own music. Where they led, Argentinean Alberto Ginastera followed, establishing his country’s music traditions as he went. His String Quartet No. 1 is full of marvelous rhythm patterns and newer harmonies along with the older, more established varieties. The Miami Quartet has recorded this work, and it is clearly in their hearts and fingers! Ivan Chan, the quartet’s first violinist, joined his partners for this vigorous performance. Displaying their brisk, crisp articulation in the first movement, they did not ignore the melodious poetic nature of the third. The second movement utilizes a variety of techniques: plucking and strumming, sometimes in combination with bowing for a most unusual sound. The final movement, marked allegramente rustica might have been Ginastera’s version of a hoe-down. This was a vibrant and intense performance full of gorgeous sonorities; The Miami String Quartet pulls no punches. The musicians put as much passion into the unlovely sounds as they do the lovely, therefore it should come as no surprise to learn they’ve won several major awards.
After intermission, the Quartet took the stage of the rather intimate, modern recital hall. There is an abundance of blond wood and bricks of the same color in Ludwig, which combine with the organ pipes at the rear of the stage to provide excellent acoustics for this type of music. The lone female member of the quartet carried through the black/white color scheme, only in her case it was silver rather than white.
Being some seventy-five years older than the Ginastera, its hardly a wonder that the Dvořák C Major String Quartet, Op. 61 is more familiar to our ears. Mr. Robinson and his cello received a real work-out here, busily providing the foundation for the capriciousness of the three higher-voiced instruments. Lush harmonies and melodies run rampant through Dvořák’s music, mixed liberally with Czech rhythms.
For more detailed information about the complete summer series of programs, which runs through mid-August (including visual arts and theatre) call (330) 672-5436 or visit the web-site at: http://www.dept.kent.edu/blossom
from Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz Kellytwo@core.com (:divend:)