XTET Chamber Ensemble

By
Lyn Bronson

Sometimes when Chamber Music Monterey Bay (formerly The Chamber Music Society of the Monterey Peninsula) presents a concert there are only two people on stage and on other occasions there are more. Well, on Tuesday, November 24, there was a whole bunch of people on stage (and even more instruments) as the Society presented XTET Chamber Ensemble.

Spokeman and bassoonist John Steinmetz related to the audience that XTET is a chamber ensemble of Los Angeles-based musicians founded in 1986 to "explore and expand the domain of chamber music." The "X" in the group's title stands for a variable between two and twelve, thus permitting the group to present music for various combinations and numbers of musicians. Mr. Steinmetz commented that the group most often presents music by "live" composers, but that on this evening's program, there were actually two "dead" composers represented, an anonymous 13th century composer and Robert Schumann.

The program kicked off with Estampie by the 13th century anonymous composer. It turned out to be an example of a medieval dance tune (only the melody has survived) that XTET has arranged into an energetic and charming work. There were some novel effects in this piece, one of the most striking of which was performed by pianist Vicki Ray drawing a piece of wire through a bass string of the piano creating a lovely drone.

The following piece, "Anniversary Greeting" by Steven Stucky, was certainly the briefest work on the program, and it was humorous, for hidden in its energetic twisting and turning was a sly reference to the tune "Happy Birthday."

One of the major offerings in this concert was Lou Harrison's "Varied Trio" for violin, piano and percussion. The percussion in this case was augmented by some unusual instruments, a series of ordinary rice bowls partially filled with water to vary the pitch and struck with a set of ordinary chopsticks. The first movement, "Gending" simulated the sound of a Javanese orchestra and opened with a duet between percussion and the piano. Violinist, Elizabeth Baker, joined the duet and contributed a most moving violin solo. The second movement, "Bowl Bells" featured the rice bowls and demonstrated the neat dexterity of percussionist David Johnson. In the "Elegy" that followed, once again violinist Baker showed her exquisite sound and solid musicianship. In the muted "Rondeau in Honor of Fragonard" we again heard some enchanting violin playing by Baker and some novel pianistic effects by pianist Vicki Ray. The work closed with an energetic "Dance" which proved to be a satisfying ending to this colorful piece.

Donald Crockett's work "Extant" which closed the first half of the program was written for XTET to explore the high register of the bassoon. XTET's bassoonist John Steinmetz worked closely with composer Crockett in the development of this piece and this collaboration has resulted in a major work that is a welcome addition to the literature for solo bassoon. The first movement of the work, Adagio, also contains some beautiful writing for clarinet and bass clarinet that featured the marvelous playing of Emily Bernstein. Bassoonist Steinmetz is a magnificent musician who draws the most beautiful sounds from his instrument, and he makes it look so effortless. The concluding movement, is a short, energetic finale that effectively compliments the preceding Adagio.

After intermission clarinetist Emily Bernstein, violist Kazi Pitleka and pianist Vicki Ray performed Schumann's Märchenerzählungen, op. 132. It was interesting, for a change, to hear some lush romantic music after the romp through the 20th century, and the three musicians made the most of it. Ms. Pitelka exhibited a warm, round sound most appropriate to the character of the music, and Ms. Bernstein gave further proof of her lovely expertise on the clarinet.

The following work, "Rain Spell," by Toru Takemitsu, was an example of beautiful sounds that went nowhere. This was an aimless, unfocussed piece that quickly wore out its welcome. The final offering on the program, Donald Grantham's fine work, "Fantasy on Mr. Hyde's Song" (which we heard in an orchestral performance a few weeks ago by the Monterey County Symphony) demonstrated in spades what we were missing in the Takemitsu, and that is rhythmic vitality.

The Grantham work was the highpoint of the evening. Meticulous ensemble (the piece has its ensemble difficulties) and fabulous playing by the musicians resulted in a knockout performance. The piano part, so nicely played by Vicki Ray, was much more prominent in the small ensemble than it had been during the large-scaled performance by the Monterey County Symphony.

Chamber Music Monterey's next scheduled performance will be the New York Philomusica with pianist Robert Levin on Thursday, February 11, 1999.

End