Thoughts from the Artistic Director: Interplay of Disciplines

Tuesday marks the third year RH has partnered with the Poetry Foundation in combining words with music. We have had a history together of what I might call “experimental collaborations.” For the last two years, the Poetry Foundation commissioned poets to write for J.S. Bach’s Two Part Inventions and Three Part Inventions for keyboard. This year, the Poetry Foundation’s Stephen Young and I have created another interplay of disciplines: talented young people (all winners in the Chicago region of the Poetry Out Loud national recitation contest) reciting poems of their choice, and world-renowned clarinetist and veteran artist Larry Combs improvising music to their words.

What to listen for? You will hear a “single word” strung together with other “single words” to make a poem, create a feeling, an experience, a mantra. And, you will hear a “single note,” gradually added to other “single notes” to form “music” – a feeling, experience or statement in sound. Together, they will enhance each other and take the individual experience to another level of richness and depth.

I am delighted to welcome these multi-talented and dynamic students to Rush Hour. Larry Combs and I have collaborated on a wide variety of projects over the last twenty-five years. He is a remarkably versatile artist, at home equally on the symphony stage, in chamber music performances and with jazz groups. Not surprisingly, he welcomed the challenge of today’s new direction in RH’s “words-and-music” offerings. Here’s what he had to say about it:

“The program of poetry for RH will be a new experience for me, not that I haven’t improvised, as in the jazz sense, but in matching totally improvised music to the spoken word. I would emphasize that this is not jazz, although it could take on a jazz-like flavor. It will be a big challenge!”

We hope you enjoy the exchange of ideas offered in this year’s partnership.

- Deborah Sobol

6/24 – Concert Recap

This week, the Rush Hour audience accompanied violinist Bernard Zinck and guitarist Rene Izquierdo on a musical exploration of the tango, starting with the sultry Bordel 1900 of Astor Piazzolla’s History of Tango and ending with the lively Polo of Manuel de Falla’s Canciónes Populaires Españolas.

Audience members began their journey through Argentine culture in the pre-concert reception, which featured delicious empanadas and cookies. We extend a sincere thank you to El Mercado restaurant for helping to provide the food in our pre-concert reception, making the concert event an authentic and complete Argentine experience!

Play the video below for comments from audience members about Rush Hour and Tuesday’s concert:

Artistic Director Deborah Sobol interviews violinist Bernard Zinck and guitarist Rene Izquierdo for the “Rush Hour Conversations” podcast

Executive Director Megan Balderston smiles with friend Aja Gohram at the pre-concert reception

Volunteers Peggy and Max help prepare the empanadas and cookies before the doors open

Audience members begin to fill the cathedral before the performance

Thoughts from the Artistic Director: Dance With Me

Last fall, Rush Hour was very pleased to invite Megan Balderston to join its staff as Executive Director. Her talents and vision beautifully complement Rush Hour’s mission to bring great music to busy lives throughout the summer. I thought you would enjoy hearing from her today.
- Deborah Sobol

For this week’s classical dance music of the tango, I thought it would be appropriate to write about the dance of philanthropy. My parents tell stories about learning to dance at the Arthur Murray Studios in their respective home towns. It was a part of their growing up experience; the language of the culture at that time stated that you needed to at least learn the basics of formal dance. (My dad still regrets that he was not a more apt pupil!)

Most people of my generation and younger were raised with a volunteer ethic, but not necessarily a philanthropic one. Because up to 25 percent of our audience each week is under the age of 40, we were intrigued by the idea of turning these attendees and “doers” into givers.

The Irving Harris Foundation jumped at this idea, and gave Rush Hour a challenge: the Foundation will match, dollar for dollar, all gifts from those under 40, up to $5,000. I jumped at this opportunity to support Rush Hour, and I hope you will consider it as well. I wish I’d had the opportunity 15 years ago to support my favorite causes in a meaningful way by forgoing a cab ride or the cost of a couple of trips to Starbucks. For this challenge, the act of support is more important than the level of support and each gift is effectively doubled!

The art of giving, like ballroom dance, is not something we often consider until we are older. As a generation, we know all about giving our time to organizations. Join me in adding new dance steps to repertoire by adding support to your wonderful actions. I assure you, there is no more appreciative audience than Rush Hour.

-Megan Balderston

P.S. When you contribute to this challenge, please indicate that you are doing so. We have a short form that indicates that you are participating in the challenge available inside the donor envelope in your program.

6/17 – Concert Recap

Rush Hour was delighted to welcome members of Fifth House Ensemble on Tuesday for A Composer’s Fire Rekindled: Johannes Brahms Clarinet Trio, Op. 114. Clarinetist Jennifer Woodrum prefaced the ensemble’s performance with a heartfelt talk on her appreciation of Brahms’ trio and her approach to the complexities and subtleties of chamber music. She was joined by cellist Herine Coetzee and pianist Adam Marks for an exquisite rendering of Brahms’ classic work.

Audience members, the artists, and members of the Fanfare Committee enjoyed hot dog flights, refreshing drinks, and stimulating conversation at the post-concert happy hour at nearby Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap.

Play the video below for comments from audience members about Tuesday’s concert:

Members of Fifth House Ensemble in rehearsal

Intern Ian Ford awaits the audience members’ arrival

Clarinetist Jennifer Woodrum speaks to an audience member at the pre-concert reception

Artistic Director Deborah Sobol interviews the performers for the “Rush Hour Conversations” podcast series

Fanfare Committee members and friends gather at Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap after the concert

Thoughts from the Artistic Director: With a Little Help from My Friends

You know that old Beatles line, “I get by with a little help from my friends”? The back story to Tuesday’s music (Brahms’ Clarinet Trio, op. 114) gives new meaning to it. I’m pretty sure Mr. Brahms was a bit sad as he declared he was finished composing… but then along came Mr. Mühlfeld with his clarinet in the Meiningen Orchestra. The rest is history. As a pianist and a devotee of Brahms (As I’ve said before, I’d be howling at the moon on his doorstep if he were alive and composing today), I’m particularly grateful to Brahms’ friend Mr. Mühlfeld not only for today’s trio, but for Brahms’ op. 116, 117, 118 and 119, which are in my opinion some of the best solo piano works ever written – intimate, powerful and concise at the same time.

In Tuesday’s trio you will hear an unusual combination of woodwind (clarinet) and string (cello) instruments and piano. The only other well-known piece with this mixture of instruments is Beethoven’s Clarinet Trio, op. 11. It takes great craftsmen like Beethoven and Brahms to unite the timbres, ranges and inherent capabilities of one instrument which blows across a reed, one which rubs against a string and a third which strikes a key. You will hear that Brahms does this masterfully, allowing each instrument to be heard transparently in combination with the others. And then the music… Brahms is an old man by this time – but the great passion and tenderness which marked his entire life are the underpinnings of this work as well.

We hope you’ll enjoy this remarkable trio, and be grateful for your friends!

Speaking one last time of friends: a group of 20 and 30 yr. olds, full of their own brand of energy and passion, formed a RH adjunct board of friends this past winter. They call themselves the Fanfare Committee and are dedicated to raising awareness of Rush Hour in the under-40 age demographic and to fundraising projects that will help keep Rush Hour free and open to all throughout the summer. The Ensemble gift table at the back of the cathedral (as you exit) is one such project. Please stop by when you’re next at Rush Hour and purchase a RH t-shirt or umbrella for a friend and in so doing, endorse the Fanfare Committee’s good efforts on behalf of us all.

6/10 – Concert Recap

We were pleased to welcome the Chamber Singers of the Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum on Tuesday. The Chamber Singers specialize in performances of Renaissance music, and the Rush Hour audience reveled in a stunning program of a cappella works by Renaissance masters Guillaume Du Fay and Josquin Desprez, among others.

We wish to extend special thanks to the Consulate General of France in Chicago for their support of Tuesday’s concert event.

Play the video below for comments from audience members about Tuesday’s concert:

Click here to listen to our latest installment of Rush Hour Conversations with conductor Matthew Hall and four members of the Chamber Singers.

The Chamber Singers in rehearsal

Student conductor Matthew Hall warms up the group before the performance

Members of the Chamber Singers enjoy tasty refreshments provided by the Consulate General of France at the pre-concert reception

Fanfare Committee member Travis Stalcup and friends enjoy the pre-concert reception

Fanfare Committee members Ashley Lapin and Charles Cooney sell Rush Hour umbrellas, t-shirts, and Chamber Singers CDs after the concert

6/3 – Concert Recap

Rush Hour’s June 3 season opener saw many brave concertgoers whose passion for music triumphed over the torrential Chicago weather. Our theme this season focuses on the role of the listener, and our intrepid attendees asserted their essential role in the concert experience despite the difficult circumstances. These music lovers were rewarded with an array of snacks, wine, Argo tea, stimulating conversation, and a Rush Hour premiere of Clancy Newman’s String Quartet (2002) by the Chicago String Quartet.

String Quartet’s dynamic performance by the Chicago String Quartet was met with an enthusiastic response from audience members, with many raves that the piece was “exciting,” “interesting,” and “really really great!”

Many thanks to the staff of St. James Cathedral, the volunteers, and the Chicago String Quartet for helping to make our first concert a success! See you next week…

The Chicago String Quartet warms up before the performance.

Students from the Kaplan Aspect English school at IIT help assemble the program booklets.

Two young concertgoers at the pre-concert reception.

Composer and cellist Clancy Newman speaks to a concert attendee after the concert.

Artistic Director Deborah Sobol smiles with RH supporter Martha Anne Yandle at the pre-concert reception.

For more pictures, please visit our Flickr photo album of Tuesday’s concert. Also, Rush Hour is pleased to present the second installment of Rush Hour Conversations with an interview of Clancy Newman. Click here to listen.

Thoughts from the Artistic Director: A Journey to the Renaissance

Dear Friends,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome the Chamber Singers of the Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum to their first Rush Hour appearance on Tuesday. Chamber singers are to a chorus what an instrumental chamber ensemble is to an orchestra – smaller, more intimate, perhaps more accessible. You will be able to hear individual voices blending together in a way that allows you to hear individual singers and the group simultaneously. And, because they are unaccompanied, you may be able to feel a certain “nimbleness” and directness in the music-making. This music was written for large, generous spaces like St. James, with ceilings that take the sound, “mix it,” and send it back down to the listener enhanced with natural, glorious acoustics and overtones.

This past week at Rush Hour, we heard Clancy Newman’s String Quartet, written in 2002. Tuesday’s music was written in the 1500 and 1600s, in a period known as the Renaissance, when a rebirth of life and art emerged after one of the most devastating plagues in history. It was a time which knew no cell phones, no international air travel, and no instant messaging. Yet, it held the same human need for quiet, beauty and inspiration as today.

It’s a rich exercise of the imagination for me to encounter this music, knowing that J.S. Bach was “around the corner,” Mozart not yet even on the radar screen… and Debussy, Bartok, Stravinsky… Tan Dun… still in the firmaments! It becomes a vibrant experience to touch the humanity of that time through its music while knowing the human story which followed to this day.

We’ve had the opportunity to interview Matthew Hall, the director of this talented group, along with several members of the Chamber Singers around their rehearsals here in Chicago, to learn more about their own interaction with this music as well as what life is like in a college vocal chamber group these days. Look for it next week in the Rush Hour Conversations area of our website. As always, we welcome your feedback and input.

Enjoy Tuesday’s journey to the Renaissance!

- Deborah Sobol