I recently interviewed Scott Flavin, Director of the Frost Chamber Orchestra and the UM Baroque Ensemble and Professor of Violin at the University of Miami (FL). Mr. Flavin plays second violin with the Bergonzi String Quartet, a cornerstone of the Pine Mountain Music Festival for the past 13 years. In their 14th appearance in the Festival, the quartet will present the world premiere of Scott Flavin's composition: Beautifully Mundane.
Scott Flavin, composer and Bergonzi String Quartet violinist. In their 14th Pine Mountain Music Festival appearance, the Bergonzi String Quartet will perform the world premiere of Beautifully Mundane, Flavin's original composition. Their Houghton performance will be June 30 at the Rozsa Center. (Photo courtesy Pine Mountain Music Festival)Intrigued by this new chamber piece with the exotic name, which also involves a video projector and a screen, I contacted the composer for some details.
(McKellar) Mr. Flavin, would you please describe the genesis for Beautifully Mundane?
(Flavin) Beautifully Mundane developed out of an idea I had of mixing two art forms: in this case, cinematography and live string quartet music. My concept was to allow both forms to be as equal as possible, not just to make "movie music" in the background, but by utilizing a film without sound, to present both on equal footing. Live string quartet performance is visually quite interesting, especially the physical interplay between the four string instruments; and I think the parallels with film are fascinating.
(McKellar) Is Heili Basham related to Glenn Basham, and how does her film relate to your composition?
(Flavin) Heili Basham is a daughter of Bergonzi Quartet violinist Glenn Basham, and is a talented graduate film student at the University of Miami. I asked her to put together a short (under 15-minute) silent film, either with or without a plot, but utilizing visually striking elements; and she did a really great job of it.
(McKellar) Over time, the word mundane has accumulated shades of meaning that speak to the average or boring aspects of activities or things, but its roots pertain to worldly and earthly things. How does your composition define the beauty in the mundane; and is there a story in this piece that you would like the audience to take with them from the composition, the film and the performance?
(Flavin) The "mundane" in Beautifully Mundane refers to the everyday routine of our lives, and the beauty and/or meaning we can find in that routine. The film shows everyday people at work, going through their lives. I think the images in this film can mean many different things to different people, and that indefinable emotional connection makes this project so interesting to me.
(McKellar) Is this combination of multimedia (video, graphics, etc.) and live performance intended only for live performance or will it develop into something more? Also, is this a new direction for chamber music and a natural progression for the genre?
(Flavin) My intent in creating this project was mainly for live performance. I am fascinated at the idea of combining a film with a live musical performance, with all its quirks and (hopefully) spontaneous magic. There are some inherent difficulties in synchronizing live music with film, which presents a great challenge, though most of the music is designed to enhance a given atmosphere rather than mimic exactly what is on the screen.
My colleagues in the Bergonzi Quartet and I are continually interested in opening up the string quartet genre to as many new people as we can; this is music that we believe in, and have committed our lives to presenting. Hopefully, adding an extra visual element to our performance may encourage those who have never been to a chamber music concert to "take the plunge" and see that, rather than being a "snobbish" art form, our music, and the way we present it, is relevant across the centuries and through each generation of listeners. Heck, it's even fun!
(McKellar) Is this a new direction for you personally, or an interesting side track on your musical journey?
(Flavin) Composition is a new area for me. As a musician I've been exposed to some of the most noted composers and their work, and as an arranger I've begun to grow more comfortable in trusting my "inner ear," so perhaps the time is right. I also have been and continue to be inspired and supported by my dear colleagues in the Bergonzi Quartet; their generosity in tackling the compositional idiosyncrasies of their second violinist is staggering, yet totally within their character.
On a personal note, I feel so honored to be presenting the world premiere of this work in the UP, as there are such wonderful, supportive audiences there.
The Bergonzi String Quartet will perform during the Pine Mountain Music Festival on June 25, 2008, at Immaculate Conception Church in Iron Mountain; on June 28 at Reynolds Recital Hall in Marquette; and on June 30 at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts in Houghton.
All performances are at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are available by calling the Rozsa Center Box Office at 877-746-3999 (toll free) or 906-487-3200. For information on local ticket outlets, visit www.pmmf.org. Tickets will be available at the door. Cost is $20 for adults and $10 for students/children. This year's Bergonzi String Quartet performances are sponsored by The Boldt Company and The Blodgett Foundation.
*Editor's Note: Guest writer Mick McKellar is Marketing and Development Associate for the Pine Mountain Music Festival.
No comments:
Post a Comment