I decided to put a few excerpts from different articles which define chamber music.  Quite often there is a confusion between chamber musicians and soloists. Although we do perform solo at times, our main line of work consists of playing in chamber groups, ranging from duos to quartets.

Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part. The word “chamber” signifies that the music can be performed in a small room, often in a private salon with an intimate atmosphere. However, it usually does not include, by definition, solo instrument performances…

Thought by most to be “music written for a small ensemble,” this definition is correct, but incomplete. A form of classical music, chamber music is generally written for a small group of instruments, with no two parts doubled and no conductor in sight. Initially created for performances in a bedroom or palace “chamber,” the art form gained fashion as an intimate activity among friends…

Some of history’s greatest composers used chamber music as a vehicle to create their most profound and important works. Others used the medium as an outlet for fun and lighthearted entertainment. The best composers often did both. Many string quartets of Haydn and Mozart were cheerful and humorous, intended for intimate groups, of which they were each a member. Beethoven had a different agenda altogether, creating in his late years some of the most challenging music for string quartets in the history of the genre… 

Although the art form takes its name from those early performances in “chamber” settings, it was eventually elevated to the concert hall. While the works of Haydn or Mozart could often be undertaken (if less than professionally) by amateurs and were well suited for the private homes of friends, Beethoven’s works were much more technically complex…

Although string quartets overshadow other chamber music combinations in their popularity, there are a tremendous variety of instrumental groupings. String trios (violin, viola and cello), piano trios (violin, cello and piano), and piano quartets (violin, viola, cello and piano) are but a few of the additional string combinations.  Playing chamber music requires special skills, both musical and social, which are different from the skills required for playing solo or symphonic works…

This is mostly for brides and families that are hiring our musicians for weddings.  Once the music is selected and pieces to be played for the wedding ceremony are solidified, we are all set to go.  The only other thing that we need to know is when to stop playing the prelude music and when to start the first piece for the ceremony, usually the piece for the seating of the parents or grandparents.  We do need a cue from someone who will be familiar with the flow of the ceremony, such as a wedding coordinator. That person could give us a nod from a distance (we do watch for those even while we play), or simply come up to us and tell us to stop the prelude and begin the ceremony music.  Even though we are usually told the specific time for the start of the ceremony – it almost never works out exactly on time.  We don’t like to take the risk of staring the first requested piece at, for example, 5:30 and the parents for whatever reason are not being seated yet.  Once we have a cue – we know what to play, and after that everything flows accordingly, with the entrance of the bridal party, then the bride, or any order that was established.  Sometimes, however, there is no such person as wedding coordinator who can give us the cue for the start of the ceremony.  In that case, the solution might be to use the entrance of the groomsmen or of the person administering the ceremony as a cue.  Once we see them – we quietly fade away the last piece of the prelude, wait until they are present and then start the first piece for the ceremony itself.  Basically, a cue is needed for the musicians to let them know that prelude is over and ceremony is about to begin. 

On July 25th myself and my colleague cello player played at a small gathering at Penn State University, Eberly Campus in Uniontown, PA.  It was an open house for the University House which has an interesting history, going back to 1850’s. Originally, it was a farm house on the Wood farm. The Wood family purchased the farm from the son of Christopher Gist in the 1740’s. The land was part of a settlement awarded Christopher Gist by King George the Third of England for his service as a guide for General Braddock during the French and Indian war. The house had eight different owners before becoming part of the Penn State in 1967. Amazing how little places can hold a lot of history, not far from your own house! It was a very pleasant place to perform, with gardens all around us. Unfortunately, we had to play inside due to the unexpected rain, but I did get a chance to go outside during a break when it stopped raining and look around – it is such a beautiful and peaceful place! The people we played for were  so welcoming and appreciative of our playing, we felt very comfortable and at home. It was one of our more memorable performances.  I saved the program from the open house with its’ history, and here is the sketch of the house. 

For over fifteen years now, I have been a part of Musik Innovations Summer Chamber Music Camp as a string coach. Students from the schools around the area get together in small ensembles according to their level, and form string quartets, quintets, sextets and even octets. After a week of being coached by instructors from our school of music (in between music games, water balloon fights and a pizza party), kids give a concert on a Saturday afternoon, performing pieces that they had only one week to work on. The number of participating kids is not as large as it used to be, but the spirit of music is still in those who attend and we love them for that! Here are some photos from this year’s camp.

…We have two cats, Hobbes and Brahms ( one of them had to be names after a musician!) and a dog, chocolate labrador  - Schubert. This is a photo of him, my violin and his favorite pass time – tennis ball: it is on the photo to the right of him. I can’t recall this dog ever going anywhere ( including my in-laws) without a tennis ball. On the days when I have students coming to our house, he knows the drill: the minute he hears a violin or a viola, he grunts and lays down by the student’s instrument case, patiently waiting until the lesson is over and the tennis balls can once again, become the priority not only of his but our lives. I brought my violin to the barn where my husband was working with horses that day. Of course, Schubert found a tennis from this previous adventures there! 

With summer weddings and other events taking place outside, one of our major concerns is to protect our violins, violas, and cellos from harsh weather, especially sun. 

It is easily understood by everyone that wood cannot be allowed to get wet, but sometimes we are asked why can’t we play in direct sun.  Here is an excerpt from an article on instrument care. 

…”Heat joins sudden change as the other serious menace to instruments. Luthiers purposefully use wood glues which soften when heated (to 145F) so that an instrument can be disassembled for service when necessary. Direct sunlight is hot enough to soften the glues in your instrument and weaken or destroy the joints in the piece. Do not display any instrument anywhere that will be exposed to sun as the light  will damage glue and varnish…”

Here are some things that can be done for musicians if we are to play outdoors.  Provide a tent, gazebo or any sort of overhead protection where the musicians will be playing. There are times when it is impossible.  In that case – position the chairs under a tree or in a shady area: if you are setting up in advance,  you may calculate where the sun will be during that time of day.  You may also consider a second “playing site” in case if the sun moves and starts beating on the musicians.  We have played at weddings, where very thoughtful brides had ready for us two playing areas: one was for the beginning of the ceremony, and the other was preset in case if sun rays reaches us, which they did. Overall, we have never encountered a problem with playing outdoors, and were always able to move our positions based on the sun…

This topic has come up several times with our clients.  Sometimes our groups are asked to play along with a singer, especially at wedding ceremonies:  it could be  a classical piece of music, or a popular song that has a special meaning for a couple.  The misunderstanding comes when we are asked to see if we have that piece in our repertoire.  Quite often we do, and in this case we did have the needed song.  However, speaking in musical terms, our version of the piece was in the key of D, and, as I found out by contacting the singer directly, her version was in the key of F, which means that these two versions could not be played together since they are in different keys.  

The concept of a piece of music being  in a specific “key” is not familiar to non-musicians.  Here is an attempt to present it in a different way. People’s voices are of different pitch, which is why we recognize the voices of our relatives and friends among strangers.  In music, we also have more than one pitch, more than one note. A piece of music or a song can start on ANY of the primary seven existing notes in music (there are more than seven, but I am keeping it simple). In order for us to play with a singer, we have to have the same version of a piece, one that starts and ends on the same note, otherwise our parts will “clash”, and not fit together in harmony.  Another way of saying it – the pattern of notes within the piece has to be the same, they have to match, and in terms of music theory – they have to be in the same “key”…

Today is April 4th, 2010. Last year on that date three Pittsburgh Police officers were violently shot and killed: Kelly, Sciullo and Mayhle.  Several days later, on April 9th, the caskets were laid out for public at the City-County Building.  With the help of my husband, who also is a police officer, I have asked several musicians to come and play that day.  In view of what had happened, it might not have been much – but it was better that doing nothing.  Thank you to all of those violinists, violists and cellists who took the time to come and play that day, changing their schedules last minute. One of the violin players that I have known for years, planned on staying for an hour or so -she ended up staying the whole day. Once again, thank you to all of you – it meant a lot to people, and to myself, as a wife of a police officer.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09099/961697-53.stm

I started this list to give our clients an idea of some places where we have performed in the past.  Obviously, I can’t put down every single place since we have played at many churches, fire halls, banquet halls, private family residences, golf and country clubs, even beaches.  However, some of the following places are somewhat popular for booking weddings and events.  If the place you want us to play at is already on this list – it is another bonus, since we already know how to get there,know the layout and its’ acoustical potential, which gives us a good idea of where toplace the group.  Also, the staff sometimes remembers us from previousjobs and makes it easy to communicate with.  

• Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens – Pittsburgh, PA
  
• Seven Springs Resort – Seven Springs, PA
• The Fallingwater – Mill Run, PA
• Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall –  Pittsburgh, PA
• The Atrium – Prospect, PA
• Sheraton at Station Square – Pittsburgh, PA
• Carnegie Museum of Natural History – Pittsburgh, PA
• Linden Hall Mansion – Dawson, PA
• Buhl Mansion – Sharon, PA
• Tara Country Inn – Clark, PA
• Morning Glory Inn – Pittsburgh, PA
• Foggy Mountain Lodge – Stahlstown, PA
• Felicity Farms – Beaver, PA
• Omni William Penn Hotel Grand Ballroom – Pittsburgh, PA
• The Pennsylvanian – Pittsburgh, PA
• Old Economy Village – Ambridge, PA
• Duquesne Chapel – Pittsburgh, PA
• Mt. Troy Ballroom – Pittsburgh, PA
• Four Seasons Banquet House – Gibsonia, PA
• Brady’s Run Park – Beaver Park, PA
• Riverside Landing – Oakmont, PA
• Sunset Delight – McHenry, MD
• The Edgewood Country Club – Pittsburgh, PA
• The Mansion and Maple Heights, PA
• Upper St. Clair Country Club – Upper St. Clair, PA
• Ross Mountain Club – New Florence, PA
• Long Vue Golf Club – Verona, PA
• The Shiloh Inn – Pittsburgh, PA
• Steubenville Country Club – Steubenville, OH
• Sunny Ledge – Pittsburgh, PA
• George Washington Museum – Wilmerding, PA
• The Pittsburgh Golf Club – Pittsburgh, PA
• FedEx Ground Conference Center
• George Washington – Washington, PA
• Plaza Deck – Farmington, PA
• Grove City College – Grove City, PA
• Oxford Centre – Pittsburgh, PA
• Schenley Park Center – Pittsburgh, PA
• City County Building – Pittsburgh, PA
• Bakersville Fire Hall – Somerset, PA
• Bakersville Fire Hall – Somerset, PA
• Bella Sera – Canonsburg, PA
• Penn State University, The Eberly Campus – Uniontown, PA

This is mostly for those who book wedding receptions and dinners with us.  When our groups play at these,  we usually put together our own program, mixing classical pieces with a few oldies, Beatles and such.  However, keep in mind that we can play some pieces for you on request.  You might have a special song for the bride and groom upon them being introduced, or may be another one played during the Father/Daughter dance, or the Bride/Groom dance.  If needed, we can always arrange a song to fit your requests.  During one of the wedding dinners we played “Happy Birthday” for a grandmother who turned ninety on the day of the wedding – it was a simple gesture and she loved it! So, please remember that these options are there – let us know and we will make it happen for you!