"Amazing", "OMG they are so good," "How can just four players make so much sound?" "How can just four players make me feel so much?" These are just some of the comments brought on as the Madoc Quartet brought the All Terrain Tour home, once again. Four performances, four astounded audiences, four opportunities for happy conversation where everyone got to know how much fun classical music and classical musicians can be.
Most fun moment? Was it when the generator failed at Hazzards Corners Church? No worries; the band played on! Classical Musicians know their music by heart, more or less - they practice so much. No one missed a beat while audience members scrambled to offer cell phone illumination on the stands to keep the music going. At the interval industrial strength flashlights were found and then, in the words of a child attending, "It got REALLY spooky!"
I agree. Even I found it hard to focus entirely on the music when the light show - the shadows playing on the walls from the ultra-focussed stand lights were so fascinating.
But the music, Mozart's Hoffmeister Quartet, was so beautifully played, my attention could not wander for long, as was the case for the entire ATT program. If you missed it or want to read again what was involved see the program links on the blog under "All Posts." Better yet join us for our next meeting, where volunteers get the chance to talk about all our activity together, including discussing musical elements with our artistic director and the leader of MQ. And then there was the SURPRISE! An unexpected visit from Canadian Music icon, Patricia Morehead. See the blog entry, "Guess Who's Coming to Town" to find out just what all the excitement is about. Suffice it to say here that musicians and audience were thrilled to hear her speak about her own music as well as the other works on the program, and the life of the classical musician in general. Then there were the stories .... Patricia has been friends with Sebastian since he was an undergraduate in the University of Toronto music program. But, well, I won't put any of that in writing....
What I will repeat here is what Patricia had to say about MQ, namley that they are "One of the best concert quartets performing in North America." Now that, my friends, is high praise from someone who cares about who performs her music, and well earned. The tour was an outstanding example of what QSCM is capable of when we all work together and make it happen. Our volunteers, our private donors, our business supporters, as well as our musicians and most of all our audiences: you make it happen. Please consult the "Friends of QSCM" page to check in with our business donors. Small business don't always operate with much of a profit margin. Yet when we ask for help, they give. Let us applaud our musicians, and then add another round for all who contributed including The Municipality of Centre Hastings, Brad Aulthouse (Nesbitt Burns), Hunter Ford Madoc, Long and McQuade, Fina Vista Farm, Ontario Water Buffalo - "Buff Stuff", Vintage Kitchen Tweed, Goldmine Bakery Madoc, Madoc Foodland, Madoc Home Hardware and many private donors including my own local free-range egg provider. We couldn't have done it without you: Much gratitude. Now - onward. QSCM volunteer meetings are held as needed. If you'd like to join us, drop us a note at info@qscmusic.com . We'll make sure you know when and where we are getting together next. We'd be delighted to see you.
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