Tesla Quartet Masterclass Experience

    My masterclass experience with the Tesla Quartet from 8.6.15 was great! Our quartet performed the first movement of the Dvorak String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, "American". We had some great feedback on bringing out different lines and having a conversation through our different musical parts. At the beginning of the piece there are melodic lines and stylistic elements in each separate instrumental part that are passed around. We worked more on bringing out these lines as a team and listening to each others' interpretations of these lines.
    Did you know that Dvorak had an obsession with steam locomotives: trains? It was said that he would spend hours at a railway station in Prague observing the sights and sounds there. Within the "American" Quartet some of his inspiration is evident through the recollection of the sound of these trains, Native American Music, and American Spirituals.
    Before the masterclass we rehearsed in the Martha Miller Rotunda at the Hope College Campus as the new music building was in the final stages of construction.

Have a great start to the school year!
Larissa

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