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The Jack Quartet makes its Oberlin debut on February 22
by Mike Telin
One of the most interesting phenomena in the classical music world has been the incredible number of excellent young string quartets which have suddenly appeared on the scene in the last two decades. All of them are accomplished ensembles who have something to offer to audiences, but the challenge has been to figure out how to carve out your own niche in order to make a living, especially after you leave the conservatory. From its very beginning, the Jack Quartet decided their niche would be contemporary music. The group came out of the contemporary music scene at Eastman, where all were members of OSSIA, a student organization that produced eight to nine concerts a year and developed its own process for choosing repertory. As Ari Streisfeld, one of the violinists in Jack recalls, “We played crazy music throughout our time at Eastman. There was an atmosphere of experimentalism amongst the performers and a lot of support from various members of the faculty, which gave us the confidence to tackle the most complex of contemporary scores.”
Though Mr. Streisfeld and his colleagues, violinist Christopher Otto, violist John Pickford Richards, and cellist Kevin McFarland played together frequently in school, the first time they actually performed together as a quartet was when they were chosen to represent Eastman at a music festival in Mexico in 2004.
Their decision to continue playing as a quartet specializing in contemporary music was a conscious one. “Chris Otto and Kevin McFarland have degrees in composition and both John and I have experience in composing as well. It wasn't a difficult decision. But we never expected to be as busy as we are, and are really grateful that audiences have been so enthusiastic about our concerts”.
Happily, there is plenty of repertory for the Jack Quartet to tackle, due in large part to their predecessors and mentors, the Arditti and Kronos Quartets, as well as to their own efforts to inspire new compositions. Ari Streisfeld: “We really like to explore the spectrum of contemporary music. Composers are writing in so many different styles. Often our concerts will juxtapose various styles of contemporary music, highlighting the rich repertoire that exists. We love the repertoire that both the Arditti Quartet and Kronos Quartet have created during their careers. We had the opportunity to study with both of these amazing groups early in our career. However, we also are starting to create our own repertoire through commissioning and working with a lot of young composers”.
Many critics often refer to a Jack concert as “an experience”. And indeed, listening to the Quartet invites the audience into an active relationship with the music. “It happens all too often that audiences come to classical music concerts to relax and allow the music to just wash over them. However, classical concerts should be an active listening experience. You should expect to be moved and have your emotions set off in new directions never before traveled. This is what makes live performance so exciting! We often play music of different sound worlds and textures that you wouldn't think a string quartet could make. At our concerts you should expect the unexpected”.
When we asked his thoughts on the many writers and critics who have referred to the Jack in terms they would usually use to describe a rock band, Mr. Streisfeld responded, “I don't view us as a rock band. A lot of New York contemporary groups are focusing their image and taking a cue from Rock & Roll, and pop promoters, to make classical music seem a little less stuffy. Classical music should be considered music for everybody”.
While at Oberlin, the Jack Quartet will give four master classes, a lecture on contemporary string techniques and a concert featuring works by György Ligeti, Aaron Cassidy, Oberlin faculty composer Lewis Nielson and Iannis Xenakis. In some of its appearances, the Quartet leavens its repertory with arrangements of avant-garde music from previous centuries by Machaut and Gesualdo. But at Oberlin, the audience will be treated to a full-blown Jack Quartet experience.
“The Oberlin program is geared to what we know Oberlin students will love to hear — they are adventurous like Eastman students. Eastman produced the contemporary music ensemble Alarm will Sound, and they are some of the original players from OSSIA. Oberlin has produced eighth blackbird and ICE. In terms of the level of performers and enthusiasm for contemporary music, I see the two schools as if they are twins. The program is very intense but they're going to love it”.
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