In her Sunday, June 24, 2007, New York Times Arts & Leisure article "Music That Thinks Outside the Chamber", columnist Anne Midgette pondered the death of traditional chamber music. Big concert hall performances do not seem to bring in the audiences since many people prefer hearing this music in a small, intimate space. I do not think we are witnessing the end of small group performances; instead, we are flocking to different, unusual venues like a bar, an individual's house, a playground, or a small theater for this experience. Composers and musicians will never stop creating and playing duets, trios, quartets, etc. It is up to the public to respond and reflect on these diverse efforts.
Children in this community are exposed to chamber music via concerts, private lessons, and the schools. One of the components of the Norwalk Youth Symphony is their chamber music program. Student ensembles, which are coached by professional chamber musicians, not only perform in a formal recital, but have the opportunity to perform at other prestigious engagements as well. This endeavor currently consists of mixed groups of strings with winds and/or piano, a flute ensemble, and a brass ensemble.
One of the newest chamber music organizations in this area is the Unquowa Ensemble. This group which includes flutist Jane Shelly and violinist Nina Crothers, is flexible in its outlook, personnel, and repertory. For their concert at the Fairfield Theatre on Sunday, July 15 at 7:00 p.m., they will be joined by violist Jody Rowitsch and cellist Tom Hudson in a program of Devienne, Joplin, Mozart, Rossini, and Johann Strauss. These freelance artists regularly perform in local Connecticut orchestras including the Greater Bridgeport Symphony, the Hartford Symphony, the New Haven Symphony, the Norwalk Symphony, and the Wallingford Symphony.
Examples of chamber music in the Library's collection include Ludwig van Beethoven's Complete String Quartets, Johannes Brahms' The Piano Quartets, Astor Piazzolla's Five Tango Sensations, and Franz Schubert's Trout Quintet and Death and the Maiden Quartet.
