January 16, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … Come hear Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony performed like you’ve never heard it before when The Four Violas, led by Symphony Principal Violist Joël Belgique, return to perform at Chamber Music on Tap, the Oregon Symphony’s popular chamber music series that presents four-star music in a beer and pizza setting, on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 6 p.m. Chamber Music on Tap, the “listener-friendly” chamber music series, is sponsored by BridgePort Brewing Company, and presented by Fortissimo, the Symphony’s young professional volunteer organization. The BridgePort BrewPub is located at 1313 N.W. Marshall.
Belgique and his partners in this unusual venture, Symphony violists Mara Lise Gearman, Charles Noble and Brian Quincey, delight in presenting familiar works arranged, in Belgique’s words, “as only violas can play them.” Their program will feature Mozart’s Queen of the Night Aria from “The Magic Flute,” the first movement of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony in C minor, performed, as Belgique describes it, “in a 70's sort of way,” and Mendelssohn’s Scherzo from “A Midsummer night’s Dream.” Scherzo), as well as the American premiere of a transcription by Japanese composer Ichiro Nodaira of the Bach Chaccone for four violas.
On the lighter side, Belgique and his partners will revisit several earlier eras of popular music with a “Weren’t the 50’s Great” suite that includes “Holiday for Viola and “Plink, Plank, Plunk.” They’ll continue with some heavy metal and standard rock, including Jimi Hendrix’ “Purple Haze” and Queen’s magnum opus, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and some dance selections that Belgique describes as “so NOT hip, they’re hip!” including the Macarena and the Hustle. The evening concludes with a tribute to country music legend Johnny Cash.
Chamber Music on Tap is held on the third Wednesday of each month from October through March. The concerts provide audience members the opportunity to interact with musicians and socialize while sampling the brewery’s homemade pizza and handcrafted, award-winning ales in the pub’s unique building, a 100-year-old former rope factory.
Tickets are $6 for Fortissimo members, $12 for the general public and may be purchased in advance at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office (923 S.W. Washington), Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or charged by phone at 503-228-1353 or (800) 228-7343. Tickets also may be purchased at the door, if available. All proceeds from the evening benefit Fortissimo.
Joël Belgique first became enamored with the C string while attending the Interochen as a violinist at the age of 13. Not only did he discover the C string’s rich, warm, fat and smokey sound, but he also realized that the C string might be a source of much opportunity, and in fact, not a bad way to make a living. Never getting the tune was just fine by him. He would savor every “oom pah-pah,” and every “boom-chick boom-chick.” This was life-fulfilling, and doing it up where there are no positions, no tapes, nothing to guide you, only the wild and unpredictable space that is the C string, proved to be most satisfying. He would soon be given the nickname “Sul C,” meaning “on the C,” and shortly thereafter would establish the term “C string Challenge,” an entertaining practice enjoyed worldwide by violists today. Still he climbs, one octave, two octaves, three octaves and even four when his finger tips crave the feel of rosin. Mmm…
Mara Lise Gearman, being a Gemini, is known to have two or more personalities on hand at any given time. Growing up in Seattle, she is very happy to have moved back to the Pacific Northwest, having missed the 40 degree May rain and hail. Mara Lise is a natural tennis player, but needs to practice more consistently on the court-a bit difficult to maintain with Portland’s consistently inconsistent weather-and stop injuring herself with the racket during follow-throughs. After finishing her studies at the Curtis Institute of Music, also known as “The Institute,” Mara Lise realized she also had a knack for hair dressing, and is currently pondering going to beautician school. It was inevitable she would become a professional musician, so a child, Mara Lise often dreamed about such careers as race car driving, and airplane mechanics that would actually make decent salaries! Several highlights of this first year in Portland have included: the discovery of a Baskin Robbins just minutes from the Schnitzer Hall, a great transportation system, and classical music concerts at a brewpub.
Charles Noble came to Portland in 1995. Having nothing better to do, he went to Maestro James DePriest and asked to audition for a job as a percussionist in the Oregon Symphony. DePreist said there were no openings at that time, but that he knew the perfect place for a person with Charles’ rhythmic abilities—the orchestra’s viola section. In a matter of days Charles had learned all he needed to know about playing the viola and was promoted to the first stand before playing one note with the orchestra! Since then, Charles has dedicated himself to two pursuits. As a computer enthusiast, he has successfully hacked into the CIA’s mainframe computer and found the top secret government research to weaponize Brian Quincey’s flatulence. As an avid mountain biker, Charles hopes to one day find out if one can still play the viola with one broken arm, two broken ribs and a foot turned sideways.
Brian Quincey, a native of San Diego, California, comes from a proud family of accountants. Brian became a huge disappointment to his family when he was forced to give up his accounting aspirations for the viola at age 11 after an unfortunate surfing accident left him unable to count. Doctors have declared Brian’s recovery as nothing short of a miracle as he quickly regained his ability to count to three and 7/8ths. Scientists have developed a sophisticated electronic shock device to assist him with more complex forms of counting which has made him employable but unfortunately leaves him with uncontrollable gas. His colleagues in the Oregon Symphony have been very supportive of his condition and give him plenty of olfactory space on the stage. Brian is an avid sportsman and in his spare time enjoys skydiving, rugby, Greco-roman wrestling, big game hunting and long romantic walks on the beach.
