Chamber Players 1: Showcase

The QSO's Chamber Players series is a programme designed to put sections of the orchestra in the spotlight away from the crowded stage that usually holds more than 80 musicians at one time. The Chamber Players 1 showcase featured ensembles of players from the brass, wind and percussion sections. These are some of the orchestra's most interesting players to watch, yet they are usually stationed at the back of the stage, hidden behind music stands and the extensive string section.

Supporting the QSO's motto of 'Orchestra for Everyone', the programme is available on the group's website, with samples to stream and listen to before and after the concert. As well as seeing the beautiful instruments in action up close, this series gives an insight into the players' personalities, as the repertoire was chosen by the performers in each orchestral group. I was introduced to composers I've never heard of before, but they are now on my Spotify list for sure!

First was the chance to see the brass ensemble (French horns, trumpets, trombones and tuba) conducted by the entertaining Principal Conductor, Johannes Fritzsch. The beautiful pieces by 16th century Italian composer Giovanni Gabrieli, were composed in Venice and had young composers flocking to the city in 1597. As Johannes explained, the choir at the St Mark's Square Basilica performed on two opposite sides of the building and Gabrieli composed his pieces with this in mind - the brass section split into two, performing facing each other to mimic the vocal sounds (Justin Timberlake will be happy to learn he wasn't far off the mark when he commented that the Gibb Brothers' falsettos on 'Staying Alive' sound like trumpets!) The three pieces were the perfect introduction, transporting the audience to the waterways of Venice.

And then the group took us to London via New York during the Big Band Jazz era, with a 'Blues March' by Raymond Premu, composer, bass trombonist and session muso to stars like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and the Beatles. A brilliant choice for breaking down preconceptions that orchestra players can't swing!

The woodwind section (flutes, oboes, cor anglais, clarinets, bassoons, contrabassoon) performed a crowd-pleasing 'Serenade in E-flat Major' by Richard Strauss. They also closed the performance with a 'Little Symphony for Wind Instruments' by Charles Gounod and the performers' joy in their playing and the camaraderie and spirit between players was palpable. The QSO's studio in the ABC building is a wonderful venue for this type of performance, and it was very moving to hear Nicole Tait (bassoon) tell the audience how much it meant to the musicians to be performing for a live audience again.

The highlight for me was the penultimate piece composed by the QSO's own Section Principal Percussion, David Montgomery, performed with co-percussionist Jacob Enoka on two marimbas. The piece, 'Jiayuguan Marimbas', David explained later, was composed for a performance at the Silk Road Cultural Festival in China. This was certainly a lively introduction to the melodic marimbas, and another journey through rolling desert hills and lively Asian markets, courtesy of music's ability to transport and transcend time and place.

Once again these talented percussionists are usually well hidden at the back of the stage, visible only to audiences in the boxes or choir section of the Concert Hall, so this was a brilliant chance to witness their lively performance in close-up action.

We got to meet David afterwards in the Q&A, facilitated by Timothy Matthies (Director of Artistic Planning) alongside Alison Mitchell, Section Principal Flute. This was a wonderful opportunity to meet learn about their journey into orchestral music.

Defying popular perception, both musicians joined the classical world in their teens and not from an early age. And it was interesting to hear that their earliest musical influences were courtesy of their parents' record collection - with some standard classic albums, plus AC/DC for David! And I was fascinated to learn that David taught himself percussion after his passion for violin was shelved due to the nearest teacher being a 3-hour drive away. Both had been inspired by seeing a touring orchestra in their home towns (Melbourne for Alison and Parkes in NSW for David). So, hopefully our orchestra will be able to hit the road soon and inspire the next generation. Until then, these highly accessible and entertaining Chamber Players programmes continue at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre's Concert Hall, with morning timeslots and Sunday performances to allow a wider audience to access the music.

Check out the QSO website: https://qso.com.au/

Beth Keehn

Photos: Peter Wallis