Jupiter Quartet Pay Musical Visit to Hommocks

by Cornelia Zell

(November 2, 2005) The Jupiter String Quartet, young professional musicians affiliated wiht the Caramoor Center for Music and Arts in Katonah, grabbed the attention of seventh and eighth grade orchestra students at Hommocks Middle school on Monday, October 30 with eerie, exhilarating sounds appropriate for the day before Halloween.

Using works by a wide variety of composers, including Beethoven, Hayden and Dutilleux, the award-winning quartet exhibited masterful string techniques, playing fast and fluently.

The Jupter Quartet offered pre-Halloween selections for Hommocks orchestra students: Nelson Lee, violin; Liz Freivogel, viola; Daniel McDonough, cello; and Meg Freivogel, viola.

After their performance, the players received and asked questions of the audience. The students wanted to know: How do you play so well together, with no conductor. They learned the trick was in the body movements of this active group.

How long do you practice? The students learned that the group practices for months to master a new piece and that, once mastered, they will play the piece for years.

The students also wanted answers to more personal questions, such as how long the players had been playing, how they met, how they decided to become a quartet. The members admitted that at the end of graduate school, they weren’t ready to commit to a large orchestra, so they formed their group in 2001 and have traveled across the globe.

The quartet members learned that Hommocks orchestra students know much about their music, as they could identify various string techniques and were able to answer all of the questions asked, including one on Beethoven’s teacher. The students also got to display their musical skills by performing for the guest musicians.

“This is a meaningful way to inspire students, to show them what type of music they can choose to play as they continue practicing and playing in orchestral groups," said Andrew Sussman, the Hommocks orchestra director. He had arranged for the quartet’s visit and work session through Caramoor’s String Quartet in Residence Program, underwritten in part by the Ernest Stiefel Chamber Music Initiative.

The Jupiter String Quartet invited the students to attend their Caramoor concert on November 6 at 4:00 pm at no cost. Parents are invited to attend at half price. The group stressed that young, interested audiences are a rare treat and they hope to see the Hommocks musicians.

Caramoor’s Managing Director, Paul Rosenbaum, supported the program by attending the Hommocks event. Mr. Sussman said he felt honored and pleased with the symbiotic relationship that Caramoor has made available to his students.

The Hommocks musicians got a chance to display their skills to the visiting Jupiter Quartet.

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