Orange Presbyterian Church
  • Home
    • About >
      • Staff
      • Who We Are
      • A Brief History >
        • OPC from 1908 to 1923
      • Committees
      • The Session
      • OPC Virtual Tour
    • Matthew 25
  • Ministries
    • Online Giving
    • Cents-Ability
    • Christian Emergency Council
    • Blessing Box
    • Blessing Line
    • Ways to Get Involved
    • Faith Explorers
  • OPWS
    • Staff
    • Tuition/Registration
    • OPWS My Morning Out
    • OPWS Newsletter
    • Elinor and Jean Scholarship
    • Curriculum
    • FAQ
    • Contact
  • Worship
    • Community Lenten Service
    • Worship Safety Guidelines
    • BlueChristmas
    • What to Expect
    • Video Worship Archive
    • Wedding Policy
    • Funeral Policy
  • Sermon Audio Archive
  • What's Happening
    • OPC News and Views Blog
    • Monthly Calendar
    • OPC Spring Market
    • Red Cross Blood Drive
    • Easter Lilies
    • Prayer Chain
    • Presbyterian Resources
    • OPC Newsletter
    • Newsletter Archives
  • Contact

OPC News and views

Garth Newel Piano Quartet Shines

4/17/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Garth Newel Piano Quartet
Sunday, April 16, 2023
Orange Presbyterian Church

Gustav Mahler: Piano Quartet in A minor
David Biedenbender: Red Vesper
Johannes Brahms: Piano Quartet No. 2 in A major, Op. 26


The Garth Newel Piano Quartet performed an engaging program at Orange Presbyterian Church. These are world-class musicians, so of course the playing was at the highest level.

A pleasant surprise was the church's acoustics. The sanctuary's brick wall would seem a detraction. Audio waves bouncing off of hard surfaces tend to sound harsh. But the acoustics proved ideal for chamber music. The bricks' rough surfaces slightly diffused the sound, giving it more warmth.

Plus, the ambiance of the space allowed the sound to travel. Reverberations were audible enough to further smooth the sound. But they weren't loud enough to muddy it.

The sanctuary's Andrews Steinway piano received a workout. And it was up to the task. Jeannette Fang played the instrument with a full range of expression. She could make it whisper beautiful melodies or thunder massive chords with authority (and everything in between).

The ensemble sound of the quartet was first-rate. These musicians know each other well and play with one accord. They embodied the highest ideal of chamber music. That is, to make the music seem like a spontaneous conversation between friends.

The first half of the program featured a student work by Gustav Mahler. Composed in 1876, the Piano Quartet in A minor is a single-movement torso. Mahler abandoned the piece after completing just the first movement.

Stylistically, the music embodied the emotional excess of the late-Romantic era. And so did the quartet in their performance.

First violinist Teresa Ling played with a rich, dark tone that oozed emotional drama (or was that dramatic emotion?). The ensemble emphasized Mahler's melodic motifs each time they appeared. This helped guide the audience through this unfamiliar work. The power of the tutti unison at the end was thrilling to experience.

Next was a short work by American composer David Biedenbender. Red Vesper evoked a spiritual moment in the woods. In this composition, silence was as important as sound. Biedenbender used both effectively.

Most impressive were the rock-steady harmonics played by the strings. They're not easy to play. Yet the tones never wavered. And all three instruments were perfectly in tune with each other.

Picture
Johannes Brahms' Piano Quartet No. 2 in A major, Op. 26 made up the second half of the program. Brahms completed the second of his three piano quartets in 1861 when he was 27.

As violist Fitz Gary pointed out in the introduction, the work is a mix of influences -- Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, and Bach. Yet Brahms brings it all together in a cohesive whole lasting 50 minutes.

Here the Garth Newel Piano Quartet really shone. They played the slow second movement with such delicate beauty that applause broke out at the end. It wasn't a breach of concert etiquette -- rather. it was a spontaneous response to the music. The performance was just that good.

The quartet had a warm yet bright sound throughout the piece. And when the finale kicked in, the musicians cut loose. The finish was furiously fast and joyful.

It was an exceptional afternoon of music-making. As the eighty-one people in the audience can enthusiastically attest.

 - Ralph Graves
Program Director, CharlottesvilleClassical.org, host of "Classical Sunrise" on WTJU.net
OPC Communications Team Leader

0 Comments

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    July 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019

    Categories

    All
    Advent
    Anchor House
    Annual Report
    Bailey Family
    Berckman Family
    Bill Nickels
    Birthday
    Blessing Box
    Blessing Line
    Blue Christmas
    Book Review
    Book Study
    Breeden Family
    Chamber Music
    Chelsea Holt
    Choir
    Christian Education
    Christmas Eve
    Coffee Hour
    Community Outreach
    Concert Review
    Congregational Meeting
    COVID-19
    Denny Burnette
    Dolley Madison Garden Club
    Easter
    Epiphany
    Fellowship Hall
    Flowering Of The Cross
    Fun Band
    Gardner Family
    Garth Newel
    Graduate Recognition
    Habitat For Humanity
    Hazard Family
    Hazzard Family
    Hill Family
    History
    Holiday Bazaar
    Holladay Family
    Isaiah
    Leland Lord
    Lent
    Lloyd Parcell
    Love Outreach Food Pantry
    Luke
    Matthew 25
    Memorial Garden
    Men Of The Church
    Ministry
    Mission
    Mozart
    Music
    My Morning Out
    Newmann Family
    Norris John
    Ober Family
    OPC Christmas Bazaar
    OPC History
    OPWS
    Orange Presbyrterian Weekday School
    Orange Presbyterian Weekday School
    Orange Youth Fellowship
    Organ
    Pastor Rebekah
    PCUS
    Photos
    Picnic
    Podcast
    Presbytery Of The James
    Preschool Sunday
    Ralph Graves
    Rev. Isaac W. K. Handy
    Rev Richard Taylor
    Rev. Richard Taylor
    Rise Against Hunger
    Safety Team
    Sally Rawlings
    Sanford Family
    Shady Grove Academy
    Sherman Family
    Socktober
    Somerville Family
    Sparks Family
    Stanford Family
    Stewardship
    Susan Steinberg
    The McClung Family
    Vasquez Family
    William W. Nickels
    Women Of The Church
    Worship
    Youth Activity
    Zoom

Orange Presbyterian Church  |  162 W. Main Street, ​Orange VA 22960  |  Map  |  540.672.4240
UNITED IN OUR COMMITMENT
Orange Presbyterian Church is a fellowship diverse in backgrounds yet united in our commitment to Christ and one another. We welcome you to join us on our spiritual Journey.  Learn More >>
NAVIGATE
Home
Worship
Weekday School
Contact

Privacy Policy  |  Copyright 2024 Orange Presbyterian Church

  • Home
    • About >
      • Staff
      • Who We Are
      • A Brief History >
        • OPC from 1908 to 1923
      • Committees
      • The Session
      • OPC Virtual Tour
    • Matthew 25
  • Ministries
    • Online Giving
    • Cents-Ability
    • Christian Emergency Council
    • Blessing Box
    • Blessing Line
    • Ways to Get Involved
    • Faith Explorers
  • OPWS
    • Staff
    • Tuition/Registration
    • OPWS My Morning Out
    • OPWS Newsletter
    • Elinor and Jean Scholarship
    • Curriculum
    • FAQ
    • Contact
  • Worship
    • Community Lenten Service
    • Worship Safety Guidelines
    • BlueChristmas
    • What to Expect
    • Video Worship Archive
    • Wedding Policy
    • Funeral Policy
  • Sermon Audio Archive
  • What's Happening
    • OPC News and Views Blog
    • Monthly Calendar
    • OPC Spring Market
    • Red Cross Blood Drive
    • Easter Lilies
    • Prayer Chain
    • Presbyterian Resources
    • OPC Newsletter
    • Newsletter Archives
  • Contact