Jan 16, 2020
Seattle Chamber Music Society’s Winter Festival brings together some of the finest musicians in the world, offering six exceptional chamber music concerts and a fun Family Concert during the last two weekends of January. To prepare us for this incredible festival, SCMS and Town Hall presented a special preview discussion focused on the immortal string quartets by Ludwig van Beethoven, nine of which will be performed at the Winter Festival by the Ehnes Quartet.
Geoffrey Block, musicologist and author of Experiencing Beethoven: A Listener’s Companion, presented a brief overview of the composition of Beethoven’s string quartets, which traversed the breadth of his compositional life. He shared his favorite passages in these legendary pieces of the chamber music repertoire, unpacking the techniques of this legendary composer and highlighting what makes them special and memorable. Sit in for a preview of the SCMS Winter Festival!
Geoffrey Block is Distinguished Professor of Music History Emeritus at the University of Puget Sound. Block has published widely on Charles Ives, American musical theater and film, Beethoven, and Schubert. His recent books include The Richard Rodgers Reader, Richard Rodgers, Experiencing Beethoven: A Listener’s Companion, and Schubert’s Reputation from His Time to Ours. He is also general editor of the Yale Broadway Masters series and series of Oxford’s Broadway Legacies.
About Seattle Chamber Music Society: Each year, SCMS presents a winter festival in January and summer festival in July at Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall in Benaroya Hall. In addition to its high quality performances, SCMS offers community engagement programs for adults, youths and the community-at-large to encourage audience appreciation and understanding of chamber music. These programs bring audiences of all ages in close contact with musicians and their music through informal, accessible and enjoyable formats.
Presented by Town Hall Seattle and Seattle Chamber Music Society. Recorded live in The Forum on January 12, 2020.