In support of the release of their new album The Brooklyn Rider Almanac, string quartet Brooklyn Rider performed a selection of pieces at a recent Notables event at Carnegie Hall. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the quartet is made up of brothers Colin Jacobson (violin) and Eric Jacobson (cello), Johnny Gandelsman (violin), and Nicholas Cords (viola).
The Brooklyn Rider Almanac is a collection of newly commissioned pieces by a range of composers, many of whom, as Cords explained at the start of the performance, operate outside of the classical music sphere. Each composer was asked to create a piece that paid homage to an artist of his or her choice. The result is an album that is eclectic, innovative, and sure to draw a new set of fans to the quartet. The pieces on the Almanac span a range of musical styles and sounds, and allow the quartet to use their instruments in effectively unexpected ways.
The concert opened with an original arrangement of a Pete Seeger song. This was followed by “Maintenance Music” by composer Dana Lyn, which opens with the simple sounds of the string quartet tuning. “Tralala” is composer Christina Courtin’s tribute to Igor Stravinsky. In “Five-Legged Cat,” in which composer Gonzalo Grau drew inspiration from jazz musician Chick Corea, a sense of mischief and humor comes through particularly through the percussive elements, achieved by the members of the quartet not only stomping their feet, but also tapping the sides of their instruments with their hands and playing the strings with the wooden side of their bows. Composer Aoifie O’Donovan’s beautiful “Show Me” carries a lilting fiddle tune inspired by her reading of William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury.
To close the concert, Brooklyn Rider put to rest any question of whether a string quartet can rock out by performing composer Rubin Kodheli’s energetic, driving piece “Necessary Henry!”
Following the concert, attendees were able to mingle with the musicians and composers at a reception in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Terrace Room and Weill Music Room. The beer selection was provided by Brooklyn Brewery; cocktails were provided by The Balvenie, Hendrick’s Gin, Milagro Tequila, Monkey Shoulder Whiskey, and Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum; and an assortment of delectable desserts—including flourless chocolate cookies, coconut rochers, financiers, macarons, madeleines, and palmiers—were provided exclusively by Financier Patisserie.
Carnegie Hall Notables is a membership program for music enthusiasts in their 20s and 30s. The Notables program is particularly known for its support of the music education programs of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute. To learn more about membership, visit http://www.carnegiehall.org/Support/Notables/
Twisted Talk: What was the last show you saw at Carnegie Hall? Will you follow the music of Brooklyn Rider? Discuss below!
