Euclid Quartet performs at next Chamber Music concert
By Joanne Fox Journal staff writer | Posted: Saturday, February 24, 2007
There's nothing that quite matches the soothing sounds of stringed instruments, their trademark being a melodic, relaxing ambience. But that doesn't mean those instruments can't move an audience with a different presentation.
The next concert of the Sioux City Chamber Music Association will feature the Euclid Quartet, the resident string quartet at Morningside College, with some unique composers and pieces.
The song list for the Sunday performance includes: Mozart, K. 499, "Hoffmeister;" Ginastera, String Quartet No. 1; Turina, Bullfighter's Prayer; Janacek, and String Quartet No. 1 "Kreutzer Sonata."
"It's a very varied program," said Euclid Quartet first violinist Jameson Cooper. "Most people are familiar with Mozart's style, but we're also playing the Ginastera piece which is a tremendous contrast."
Argentinian composer Alberto Ginastera may have studied with Aaron Copland in the U.S., but his style incorporates South American folk music. Baby Boomers may recognize the fourth movement of his piano concerto which the rock group Emerson, Lake & Palmer adapted and recorded on their album "Brain Salad Surgery" under the title "Toccata."
Cooper contrasted the Ginastera composition with the Czech composer Leos Janacek's piece.
"The Janacek sonata is very romantic," he explained. "It's best known for its connection to a love-tragedy story by Tolstoy."
The Euclid Quartet will also present Joaquin Turina "Bullfighter's Prayer (La Oracion del Torero)," originally composed as a lute quartet and later recomposed for a string quartet.
"The Turina piece is a Spanish impressionist piece," Cooper explained. "It again presents a very unique style."
Except for Mozart, "none of these composers are household names," Cooper acknowledged.
"And it's not Beethoven's Fifth," he added. "But it's still a wonderfully diverse program."
In addition to Cooper, the Euclid Quartet includes violinist Jacob Murphy, cellist Amy Joseph and Luis Vargas with viola. In 2001, the Euclid Quartet was appointed Resident Quartet of the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra.
The four musicians have earned significant recognition at major competitions, recently winning Third Place at the Osaka (Japan) International Chamber Music Competition, and Grand Prize at the Hugo Kauder International Competition for String Quartets at Yale University.
In 2004, the quartet was appointed Resident String Quartet at Morningside College, where they teach private lessons and coach chamber music. They have also given master classes at Eastern Michigan University, Reed College, and high school music programs throughout the state of Iowa.
Formed in Ohio in 1998, the quartet takes its name from the famous Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, home to a wealth of artistic and cultural institutions.
The Euclid Quartet will perform as part of the Chamber Music Association's concert season at 3 p.m., Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, 608 Nebraska St. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and will be available at the door. For more information, call Sioux City Chamber Music board member Gene Dierking at 258-3293 or e-mail scchambermusic@aol.com.
The next concert of the Sioux City Chamber Music Association will feature the Euclid Quartet, the resident string quartet at Morningside College, with some unique composers and pieces.
The song list for the Sunday performance includes: Mozart, K. 499, "Hoffmeister;" Ginastera, String Quartet No. 1; Turina, Bullfighter's Prayer; Janacek, and String Quartet No. 1 "Kreutzer Sonata."
"It's a very varied program," said Euclid Quartet first violinist Jameson Cooper. "Most people are familiar with Mozart's style, but we're also playing the Ginastera piece which is a tremendous contrast."
Argentinian composer Alberto Ginastera may have studied with Aaron Copland in the U.S., but his style incorporates South American folk music. Baby Boomers may recognize the fourth movement of his piano concerto which the rock group Emerson, Lake & Palmer adapted and recorded on their album "Brain Salad Surgery" under the title "Toccata."
Cooper contrasted the Ginastera composition with the Czech composer Leos Janacek's piece.
"The Janacek sonata is very romantic," he explained. "It's best known for its connection to a love-tragedy story by Tolstoy."
The Euclid Quartet will also present Joaquin Turina "Bullfighter's Prayer (La Oracion del Torero)," originally composed as a lute quartet and later recomposed for a string quartet.
"The Turina piece is a Spanish impressionist piece," Cooper explained. "It again presents a very unique style."
Except for Mozart, "none of these composers are household names," Cooper acknowledged.
"And it's not Beethoven's Fifth," he added. "But it's still a wonderfully diverse program."
In addition to Cooper, the Euclid Quartet includes violinist Jacob Murphy, cellist Amy Joseph and Luis Vargas with viola. In 2001, the Euclid Quartet was appointed Resident Quartet of the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra.
The four musicians have earned significant recognition at major competitions, recently winning Third Place at the Osaka (Japan) International Chamber Music Competition, and Grand Prize at the Hugo Kauder International Competition for String Quartets at Yale University.
In 2004, the quartet was appointed Resident String Quartet at Morningside College, where they teach private lessons and coach chamber music. They have also given master classes at Eastern Michigan University, Reed College, and high school music programs throughout the state of Iowa.
Formed in Ohio in 1998, the quartet takes its name from the famous Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, home to a wealth of artistic and cultural institutions.
The Euclid Quartet will perform as part of the Chamber Music Association's concert season at 3 p.m., Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, 608 Nebraska St. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and will be available at the door. For more information, call Sioux City Chamber Music board member Gene Dierking at 258-3293 or e-mail scchambermusic@aol.com.
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