Blending genres is always tricky business; in attempting to take “the best of both worlds” sometimes one can end up diluting the potency of either style. Fortunately, in the right hands, a marriage of jazz and chamber music can blossom into a new and unique voice.
John Roney is not only a talented jazz pianist, but also a composer and arranger. He studied classical composition under one of Canada’s finest contemporary composers – Gary Kulesha, and is comfortable in both the jazz and classical idioms. In his hands, the two worlds of jazz and classical chamber music blend together seamlessly, effortlessly, and without pretence.
The idea of combining John Roney and the Silver Birch String Quartet was first made real right here in Sudbury as part of Silver Birch Concerts. At that time, there was about half a programme of repertoire created for us by John. The rest of the programme featured works by Glenn Buhr, Stravinsky, and a few of John’s solo piano pieces. This concert sparked a passion in both John and the SBSQ to expand the idea into a full length album. The resulting album “John Roney: Silverbirch” was nominated for a JUNO award in 2010.
As cellist of the Silver Birch String Quartet, I have had the privilege of being a part of this project since the beginning. Each time we have performed this show, it matures and evolves. Whether you were in Sudbury for our first show with John, or whether you have seen us in Ottawa or Montreal jazzfests, you are sure to feel as if it is a brand new experience. One that you will not forget!
Saturday January 28th, 2012 8pm
St. Peter’s United Church, 203 York Street, Sudbury
Tickets at Black Cat.
(P.S. If you’re still in town on Sunday January 29th at 12pm, check out the Cello Café at Fromagerie Elgin!
Wishing everyone the best for 2012!
New Year’s Resolutions are a great way to revitalize your practice schedule! Make new goals! Create good habits! Begin new projects! This is the time to turn over that new leaf and refresh your cello playing.
Mark your calendars: Cello Café: Sunday January 29, 2012. 12pm, Fromagerie Elgin.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Many congratulations to all the cellists who performed at the Cello Recital on Friday! It was an absolutely beautiful concert. The performers were fantastic, the atmosphere of the Sudbury Art Gallery was stunning, and everyone who attended had a great time!
Wishing you all the happiest during this holiday season!
Art Gallery of Sudbury
Friday December 16, 2011
4:30pm
Join us for an afternoon of beautiful cello music, surrounded by works from the amazing permanent collection of the Art Gallery of Sudbury. Featuring the cello students of Alexandra Lee. Admission is FREE, though donations are appreciated to help us offset the hall rental. Kids are welcome! We hope to see you there!
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a holiday classic, and one that I enjoy every December. Be it Alastair Sim, or the Muppets, in never ceases to bring home the poignant message of having one’s priorities in order. I am fortunate enough to have been able to perform a very unique presentation of A Christmas Carol for narrator and string quartet, music by Alex Eddington. We are presenting it with the Sudbury Theatre Centre Dec 8 & 11th, and it promises to be even better than before! This time, in addition to narrator, the STC has several actors playing the different roles in a semi-staged production harking back to the age of radio dramas. We have our first rehearsal with cast tonight! Can’t wait!
For more info, click HERE.
The December Cello Café is coming up soon – this Sunday December 4th to be exact! Join us at the Fromagerie Elgin as cellists of all ages and levels share their music.
The Cello Café is a performance initiative that allows cellists to perform in a casual and positive environment. Performers can play as often as they like. Listeners can enjoy the beautiful and diverse repertoire of the cello, while also partaking in the delicious offerings of the Fromagerie Elgin.
For more information on the Cello Café, click here.
This Saturday November 26 (St Peter’s United Church), the SBSQ is joined by internationally renowned accordionist Joseph Petric. Listeners are in for a treat, as we feature some unique and beautiful works for string quartet and accordion. Alongside Haydn, Mozart and Scarlatti, we are offering a special performance of a Canadian work: Winds of Thera, by Andrew Paul Macdonald.
Winds of Thera is inspired by the island Santorini. The myth is that Triton once gave the Argonauts a clump of earth, which when dropped into the ocean grew into the island of Thera. Evoking the music of the wind on the island, each movement is based on exotic wind instruments and the myths associated with them.
Though Joseph Petric does not physically use his own breath to produce sound, the accordion is in essence a wind instrument as well – drawing air through reeds. Petric is a virtuoso, and this programme shows both his skill and also the versatility of this beautiful instrument.
Click on Performances for more details.
Next Cello Café takes place on Sunday November 20th, 12pm, at Fromagerie Elgin!
Cello Café gives cellists of all ages and levels a chance to share their music in a casual, supportive environment. For more information read up about it to find out about this new performance initiative!
If you are interested in participating, contact me: alex@alexandralee.ca
This Friday on Remembrance Day, the SBSQ is lucky to be able to be involved in the Collège Notre Dame’s ceremony. We will be performing the unique and compelling String Quartet by Witold Lutoslawski. While we perform, there will be a slide show of images from conflicts, past and present.
Having lived through both World Wars, Lutoslawski’s life was profounding affected by war. During the second World War, he was captured by German soldiers and almost ended up in a Nazi prison camp, however he managed to escape and walk 400kms back to Warsaw. This quartet was written during a war as well, the Cold War. Though one can never know exactly the mind of the composer, his artistic voice was undoubtedly influenced by witnessing and being involved in these conflicts. The distintive soundscapes that he creates in this work can be quite intense, and at times it would be easy to imagine screaming missiles and the roar of gunfire.
This will be the first time we perform the Lutoslawski String Quartet at a Remembrance Day ceremony; I am very interested to see how this context will affect the experience of this work.
My beloved nephews turn 1 year old today! Not only are they adorable and lovable, they are also inspirational. For their first Christmas, I was inspired to arrange my favourite lullabies for them. I enjoyed doing it so much, that I intend to create a full album of lullabies. Read more about it in my “Projects” section: Lullabies for Felix and Henry