 | Catherine Consiglio
is currently Associate Professor of Viola at Wichita State University, Principal Violist of the Wichita Symphony and violist with the Fairmont String Quartet. A native of Wichita, Ms. Consiglio earned a bachelor's degree from WSU and received her Masters degree from New England Conservatory in Boston, where she was assistant to the renowned pedagogue Heidi Castleman. She went on to join the faculty of Oklahoma University, Rice University, the University of Connecticut and Philips Academy outside Boston. Ms. Consiglio has been Principal Violist with the Oklahoma Symphony, the Boston Philharmonic, the New England Chamber Orchestra, and Assistant Principal for the Houston Chamber Orchestra. Ms. Consiglio co-founded the "Chamber Music at The Barn," summer concert series and serves as Artistic Director. You can contact Ms Consiglio at 316-978-3840, or by E-mail vlacc@yahoo.com. The Chamber Music at The Barn can be reached at (316) 264-4662, by E-mail cmatb@aol.com. |
Entertainment
2002-06-01 14:02:00
Chamber music...
Question: What is chamber music? Can it be in any type of music?
Answer: A literal definition of chamber music might be; music performed by a small ensemble with out a conductor. Now it makes sense that if no electrical amplification is used the venue will need to be smaller than say... Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Thus the term chamber music, which in days of old was basically a living room or area of a home. Remember humanity didn't always have television and "The Mall" for relaxation and entertainment. As long as someone sang, someone played a simple drum (banged on a table) or wooden flute (whistled) it was 'chamber music'. It doesn't matter what the instruments are...just that the performers are making music together. They feel something the same way and are interested in what their fellow musicians have to say. Truth is it's just a conversation between friends. Trying to express an idea, a feeling, an emotion, an opinion about something...anything, deep or not. Another key element is the way in which the musical conversation takes place. In any good chat there are moments of listening, moments where you banter back and forth, moments of empathy, anger or infectious enthusiasm. So much that you might end up talking at the same time!Body motion is mandatory in chamber music because there is no conductor. To do something as simple as start and stop someone (the delegated leader at the moment) has to make a gesture everyone else can understand and follow. There are certainly more complex musical issues such as timing, articulations, tempos, balance, interpretation and even tone colors that have to be talked about and then worked out in rehearsals. But all of the actual music making boils down to an ability to communicate with each other and interpret this great thing we call music!Chamber music is definitely a part of other types of music. Classical, folk, jazz, blues, even those songs while you clean up the dinner dishes and in the car on family vacations qualify as chamber music.
