Violin Octet new voices for the 21st century Vol. 2, No.2, Fall 2004 Albert Consort Concludes First Season Photo: Green Bean’s Productions. The Albert Consort (l to r); Rachel Evans, soprano, Carrie Reuning-Hummel, mezzo; Michael Griffin, bass (foreground); Stephen Stalker, alto; Elisa (Lizzy) Evett, baritone; Sera Jane Smolen, tenor, performing at the First Unitarian Church, Ithaca (NY), May 23, 2004. It’s been a busy year for the quartet consisting of soprano, ber program in April 2004 at the took the bass, I wasn’t sure that newly formed Albert Consort, mezzo, alto, and tenor violins. Steadman Theatre for the music the varnish was dry,” Spear says. which completed its first sea- Music using these four voices department at Mansfield Univer- son in May 2004 with concerts was arranged for the perfor- sity in Pennsylvania, followed by Both the smallest and the larg- in Binghamton and Ithaca, NY. mance given at the Ithaca First two May concerts in New York est of the instruments are cur- The ensemble, which plays on Unitarian Church on November state. Between the April and May rently on Spear’s bench, but second-generation octet-family 30, 2003. However, by that performances Spear finished a since the treble violin will likely instruments, has managed to date Spear had completed a bass, so the quintet suddenly be finished first, the next concert cope with a host of unexpected baritone, so the quartet be- became a sextet. While Spear will see the sextet grow into a events, according to luthier came a quintet, and several se- rushed to finish adapting music septet. Spear doesn’t know how Robert Spear, who built the in- lections including the baritone to include the latest addition, long it will take him to finish the struments. were added. bassist Michael Griffin accepted contrabass--the smaller bass re- the daunting challenge of prepar- quired more than 350 hours--but Becoming an Octet. The consort performed an ing a solo on an unfamiliar instru- when he does the group will fi- The group began as a tenor abridged version of the Novem- ment in two weeks. “When Mike nally be at full strength. see Albert, next page Newsletter of the New Violin Family Association 2 New Violin Family Association Newsletter Albert Consort programs usually concept, and many in attendance and supportive audience we not be resolved,” Spear notes. begin with a short lecture by have lingered for almost two have. Any individual or group of “Our alto player has retired and Spear and include demonstra- hours after the performance to octet instrument players who moved on to other things, so we’ll tions of the individual instruments talk with the players. Roberta performs for such an audience have to regroup before we can by members of the ensemble. Crawford, a violist who served as will find the experience extremely perform again.” Each talk has been a little differ- the house manager for the first rewarding.” ent, touching sometimes more concert, commented that every Concert-date conflicts with play- on acoustics and sometimes single piece of literature about Growing Pains. ers in other ensembles happen more on history. These talks the new violin family had been Spear notes that plans for the all the time and are usually re- have been so well-received that snapped up from the foyer desk ensemble have changed from his solved by engaging a substitute player. This is not yet an option I think it’s safe to say there is tremendous interest in the new violin family. for the Albert Consort. Spear Robert J. Spear, luthier notes that there aren’t any avail- able soprano, alto, or tenor play- they have become a regular part before the concert, and when the original idea to have one or two ers out there yet, but he believes of each concert. house was cleaned up afterward concerts each year. Following the problems faced and resolved not a single one had been left be- their debut, the group received by groups like his and the The first program included solos hind. Crawford said this was a many requests to play, but only Hutchins Consort will one day on the tenor and baritone violins, “first” in her experience. one could be accepted. Albert prove of great value to others and works arranged for various groupings of the five instruments. Spear, who studied with Carleen This included four excerpts from Hutchins as a member of the Bach’s Art of the Fugue for so- Montclair “Garage Gang” in the prano, mezzo, alto, and baritone; 1970s, formed the Albert Consort pieces for string quartet by in the spring of 2003 and named Mendelssohn arranged for tenor if for Albert Mitchell Zalkind, his quartet (soprano, mezzo, alto, late father-in-law. The group and tenor); and two works for the presently consists of six instru- full quintet, Conrad’s Elegie, ments; the soprano, mezzo, alto, which received its world pre- tenor, baritone, and bass violins. miere, and Vaughan William’s Phantasy Quintet. The latter Spreading the Word. brought the audience to its feet, For their second performance, and the players were recalled to tenor violinist Sera Smolen ar- the stage several times. ranged to have the group play in the Steadman Theatre at After the performance, attendees Mansfield (PA) University where Albert Consort playing at Mansfield University. were invited to meet the players. she teaches cello. The consort Many present were student mu- played a shortened version of Consort is presently an all-volun- who form octets. He is optimistic sicians, private music teachers their November program for a teer group, and many members about the future of the group in and faculty from area institutions small but rapt audience of stu- have what Spear calls “real jobs” particular and the new violin fam- of higher education, and some dents in the department of mu- and other obligations that must ily in general. “The response to tried their hand at playing the new sic. “The question-and-answer receive priority. the Albert Consort has been won- violins. This practice has become period after the concert was most derful,” he says.“ I think it is safe a part of most public perfor- gratifying,“ Spear says. “It be- “We had to cancel a major con- to say there is tremendous inter- mances since. Audiences have came very clear to me that young cert because two of our players est in the new violin family here shown keen interest in the octet musicians are the most receptive encountered conflicts that could in Ithaca. We’ll be back.” New Violin Family Association Newsletter 3 Officers and Board Letter From the Editor Interim President Dear Readers-- first newsletter. A number of toward helping new luthiers R. J. Miller There is much of interest people who made important avoid reinventing the wheel. packed into our second issue, contributions deserve to be Readers, let us know how you Vice-President so let’s get right to it! recognized. Margaret Sachter like it, and luthiers, send us your Joseph F. Conrad II gave much time and many tips, photos, and drawings! Octet 2005: Celebrating the thoughtful suggestions for Secretary Hutchins New Violin Family. improving clarity and Survey Results. Margaret H. Sachter, Esq. We are pleased to announce readability, and she also The returns on our recent the first international assisted with editing our lead questionnaire are mostly in, and Treasurer convention of the New Violin story. Edith Munro supplied it is safe to say that our Charles J. Rooney, Jr. Family Association scheduled many of the photos we used in membership is not a dull group! for October 30 - November 3, digital format, and André The results of what we learned Executive Director 2005 at the Holiday Inn in Larson made available will be reflected in the Carleen M. Hutchins downtown Ithaca, New York. photographic materials for the newsletter beginning with this articles about holdings at the issue, and a full tabulation will Trustees We’ve been working to make National Music Museum. appear in a future newsletter. John Cavanaugh this event informative and fun, Francis Furlong and one that will finally bring Paul Laird contributed Redesigned Web Site. Daniel Heifetz together everyone interested in information for our article on the Our updated web site went on Godfrey Howard the promotion of the new violin Hutchins Consort, as did Alan line in March, 2004. Bob Miller, Theodore A. Jones family. We need to assess your Carruth and Don Bradley for our outgoing Webmaster, has Paul R. Laird interest for purposes of our piece “Generations” on the done a wonderful job initiating André P. Larson reserving lodging facilities and history of the original sine-wave a full redesign of the site, a task Donald Joseph McNalley performance venues, and to get generator. Ephraim Segerman now assumed by our incoming Edith Munro a general idea of numbers to gave considerable background webmaster, Tim Trott. Notable Joseph Peknik, III help us negotiate the best rates. for “What’s Old is New Again.” new features include sound F. Scott Ponicsan Please take a moment to look Last, but certainly not least, clips of the various performing Pamela Proscia at the enclosed information, Carleen Hutchins saved me octets and instruments, links to D. Quincy Whitney and if you have any questions (the individual “me”) from musicians who have recorded about hotel registration or innumerable goofs and gaffes. CDs with octet instruments, and Violin Octet Newsletter suggestions for presentations, To say that her experiences are a constantly updated concert published twice each year by send me an email or letter.