Strings workshop with the Resol Quartet, Coldside Campus, 29 May 2024
Thirty one young people rehearsed and performed the Andante Festivo by Sibelius with the Resol Quartet. The players had been learning their parts with their teachers but they were from seven different Academies across Dundee and had never played the piece together before.
The workshop focused on ensemble playing without a conductor, which is the essence of chamber music. “Today we’re working a lot on leading, on working without a conductor. In a quartet we don’t have somebody telling us what to do.” Richard Montgomery, Resol Quartet 1st violin
The workshop began with warm up exercises.
Next the participants worked on a four part round on a tune that they had never heard before, which they learned and performed without music.
Work on the Sibelius emphasised the need for leadership to pass from one section of the ensemble to another while all members listen to what the others are playing. Individuals from all sections of the ensemble were invited to take turns in being up front leaders.
“I think it’s been a great opportunity because we’ve got to experience playing in a group, which some of us haven’t experienced and it’s been great to learn lots of things from the quartet and like just improve our technical playing and not just bashing out the notes”
The workshop ended with a performance of the Andante Festivo for parents. The improvement in ensemble playing achieved in two short hours was quite remarkable.
Watch a video of the performance by clicking on the play button here:
