String Quartets and Plays

    Playing in a string quartet is like acting out a play. Artists communicate, rehearse, express, and perform together; bringing their own unique techniques and interpretations to works.

    The main themes in quartet music are like major characters in a play. They appear often and are the focuses of the play or music. Their voices are the most prominent and obvious to the audience. However, they cannot stand completely alone in the context of the entire work. The voices become more meaningful when interacting with others, showing development and reflections of character. The other actors or players support the major characters or themes and lead them through the rise and fall of action.

    Interactions between people and/or instruments are portrayed through sound, body language, and facial expressions. Like a heated argument between actors on stage yelling, scowling, and stomping their feet; a string quartet can communicate the same emotions through two instruments passing a melody back and forth, communicating with each other with intense eye contact, and playing with firey bow strokes.

    To coordinate a performance, artists must rehearse. Actors spend hours in classes and memorize thousands of lines at home. They pour over their scripts until every word is ingrained. Musicians practice music for what can seem like all day, attend masterclasses and lessons, and learn every note in pieces. When it’s time to rehearse as a group, each artist brings their experience learning the work on their own to fit their part in with the other’s. Equal work from every artist has to be done to rehearse effectively. The parts learned alone take on deeper meanings. A response of dialogue becomes a witty comeback. Seemingly out of place faster notes in a slow section move the music into a new theme.

    When words and notes fit together, the interpretation crafts what’s on paper into art. Communication of parts flows naturally like conversation. Actors add their own interpretations of lines and take on the identity of their character. Musicians interpret the emotions of the music and take on character of different melodic themes.

    When the performance finally arrives, there is a new energy and permeating tension in the air. Both actors and musicians know how much personal and group work it takes to reach same goal. The success of the performance does not depend on one person’s perfect line-memorization or note-playing, rather the cooperation of all artists. The cast and players matter; the flow of the entire changes dramatically with an absence or sub. Each performance is cannot be replicated: the slight nuances and different interpretations of the work from the artists shape the work into a one-of-a-kind experience.

    Art is beautiful, historic, eternal, and unique. The cooperation of people to create art such as play productions or string quartet performances is crucial for the most impactful performances. When all artists are on the same wavelength, the energy in the air is irresistible: pulling the audience to the edge of their seats and drawing the artists deeper into their dynamic performance.