Ethel & Friends

Hello everyone, I decided to attend a performance on a group called Ethel and friends at the metropolitain museum of art on Saturday.  Ethel and friends are a string quartet that has traditional roots in classical music, however they focus on making classical music more relatable to the present day audience.  How? They perform modern songs using classical techniques.  If you would like to listen to an example here are the following links. https://www.ted.com/talks/ethel_performs_blue_room

It’s unfortunate for me because I didn’t get to see the string quartet that day.  I was able from a far to see a pianist and a flutist.  From what I heard they were improvising back and forth. I couldn’t hear a clear melodic phrase or theme.  The pianist was playing fast arpeggios like the flutist was soloing/improve, I believe in a major key.  They both were enjoying themselves, however the crowd was oblivious to them.  They were playing in the food court/bar area on the balcony of the museum. I was across the balcony but was able to still listen to some details due to the acoustics in that hall. I wish it had been in a room where they both were appreciated.  I also wish I could of been closer to give a more detailed report on their musical performance.

One comment

  1. tuan ngo says:

    I like this performance a lot. The environment is very cinematic which insinuate epic to the performance. I also consider the music pieces itself is epic. The group performance started with a staccato progression which requires unison. It sounds familiar to me because my favorite composer is Han Zimmer. He is notable known for film scoring music. He also does music that has the same trait that insinuates courage emotion. The group seems to use that staccato melody and use it as base sound. They continue and other melodies on top of that base layer. Overall this pieces was very sound pleasing and also visually pleasing. When I heard it the start it provided me with the empowerment of courage. Did this piece provide you with emotion? If so what was it?

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