By Lisa Devlin, Standard-Times correspondent
August 11, 1999 12:29 PM
Charles Stegeman has returned to Marion this week to serve again as concertmaster in the third annual Buzzards Bay Musicfest tonight through Sunday.
The world-renowned violinist will perform in the first of four free concerts tonight at 8 at Tabor Academy's Fireman Performing Arts Center on Front Street. The orchestra concert will feature Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major, and Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 in C, K 467 and Symphony No. 41 in C (Jupiter), K 551.
"It's a real pleasure playing in Marion," said Mr. Stegeman. "It's a wonderful hall with beautiful acoustics, and it's a great audience that really responds to the music. That makes a big difference to the performer."
Mr. Stegeman is no stranger to the area, since he spent several summer vacations as a boy on Cape Cod. A Canadian citizen, he grew up in Vancouver.
Mr. Stegeman has a great deal of experience with audiences, since he began playing the violin as a preschooler. He started college at age 14, received his master's degree from Juilliard, and is a professor of strings at Duquesne University. He is an international performer and currently serves as concertmaster for three orchestras, including the Pittsburgh Opera Ballet. He also is the artistic director of the Western Slope Summer Music Festival in Crested Butte, Colo., where he spends his summers. Interestingly, he plays an Italian violin which was crafted in 1776.
As concertmaster in Marion, he will be playing under the direction of his friend and colleague, Maestro Russell Patterson, formerly of the Kansas City Orchestra and Lyric Opera. Mr. Stegeman and Mr. Patterson have worked together for many years. Their musical partnership began in 1986 when they founded the Sunflower Fest in Topeka, Kansas. For the last three summers, they have come together at the Buzzards Bay Musicfest.
The concertmaster is usually the first violinist and is the "primary musical voice in the orchestra. He is No. 2, after the conductor," explained Mr. Stegeman. The concertmaster's role is to musically assist the conductor in leading the orchestra. He unifies the strings and makes the first sound at the start of a beat pattern. In general, "the concertmaster quells any kind of problem in the orchestra," he said.
The second orchestra concert in Marion will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, with performances of Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra, Haydn's Cello Concerto in C, and Schubert's Symphony No. 5 in B flat.
Two chamber music concerts will be given, at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Featured on Friday will be Mozart's Quintet for Horn and Strings; Poulenc's Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano; and Moskovsky's Suite for Two Violins. Saturday's selections are Mozart's Divertimento No. 12 in E flat major; Popper's Requiem for Three Cellos and Piano; and Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence. All of the performances will be held at Tabor and hosted by volunteers of the Marion Art Center.
Mr. Stegeman said performing chamber music is a treat for musicians, because "it's music that doesn't get heard all that much and is some of the best music ever written." Chamber music is played by a small ensemble of two to six players. Mr. Stegeman said it was originally written to be played in people's living rooms, during an age when classical music was the pop music of the time and everyone played it.
Some people who are unfamiliar with classical music can be intimidated by it, Mr. Stegeman said, but he suggests coming to one of the concerts and trying it out.
"It's a blast. It's fun," he said. "If you're acquainted with classical music, you'll know what to expect. If not, come and try it. I think you'll like it."
He noted that a lot of pop musicians -- such as Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Billy Joel and Sting --draw from classical music for their compositions.
"Most of the tunes in pop rock are based in classical music," said Mr. Stegeman. "So come and enjoy ... Just don't expect any words."