A Portrait of a Musician in Lockdown
/The Edinburgh Quartet performing Haydn String Quartet op 33 no 5 - 2nd movement - Largo
The Covid19 Pandemic and social restrictions have been tough on everyone, making ordinary things we take for granted impossible.
For many the cancellation of live music performance has been one of the hardest things about lockdown. Live music, normally an uplifting experience which would help us get through difficult times was abruptly stopped, with no knowing when we would be able to enjoy this experience again. The situation has been incredibly hard on musicians, not only having to cancel concerts and lose out on box office income but also not being allowed to play together. Sound Producer Matt Thompson got in touch with the Edinburgh Quartet suggesting they each record their separate parts individually and then he would ‘stitch the parts’ back together. They were delighted to try this interesting experiment which would make good use of the time spent in enforced separation.
The project proved to be much harder than anticipated and really highlighted the reality that a string quartet need to play together to produce the high-quality music that we are used to enjoying. After many hours the Edinburgh Quartet and Matt could not produce a piece of the same quality as one of their concert performances; simply not being together meant anticipating timing was almost impossible without the subtle visual cues, which normally work beautifully when playing together. While they were all playing the same piece of music and started and ended at the same time, in between they were all still alone.
To try and get around this, the Edinburgh Quartet started the recording again, this time Mark videoed himself playing the cello so that there were visual cues for when the other musicians played again one by one.
This video version is by no means perfect, but the Edinburgh Quartet have decided to share it as testament to what it is like for a performer in a quartet during these sad times.
“This started out as an interesting experiment and ended up being a surprisingly emotional journey. I love being a musician and being without concerts and separated from my colleagues has been harder than I would have ever imagined. Finding myself standing in my music room trying to coordinate with various audio strands and a video cue was surreal and difficult and proved to me that the best chamber music experiences are based on the most complex multi layered interaction between colleagues who trust and respect each other. There is no substitute for being together! However, despite the difficulties, I feel this video does reflect something of the strangeness of these times and there is a poignancy in this beautiful movement that speaks of the sadness that we are all feeling” Catherine Marwood
“I was uncertain at first but also eager to try the experiment. It was a great occasion to work again with my dear colleagues of the quartet and the lovely Matt Thompson from the comfort of my living room. I miss playing music with and to people!
The experiment has proved to be challenging but interesting, and made us realise how irreplaceable the live connection between the musicians is, and with the audience.
It also made us think outside the box since we never approached music this way!
In the end we decided to present the loneliness of a musician in lockdown; more than a traditional concert experience, it is a portrait, that everyone can relate to - musician or not.” Gaelle-Anne Michel
“When Matt first got in touch with us with the idea of making a recording remotely, I was apprehensive – how could it work? Each one of us recording individually with no human interaction; the most basic and fundamental part of the process missing!
With Matt’s guidance and much patience we attempted a purely audio recording with limited success. The idea then came of having a video of one of us for some visual cues. I was elected! I found it challenging putting down just the bass line in isolation, even conducting when I wasn’t playing!
What we have is a story, a snapshot in a way of these strange times. It shows there is no substitute for live music making. Music is about communication, spontaneity and living in the moment. The sadness comes across I think and the feeling of isolation – myself a solitary figure missing my dear colleagues.” Mark Bailey
We are excited to learn that restrictions are gradually lifting and even though the Edinburgh Quartet cannot yet play to audiences, it is great to be pencilling in future concerts and to be making plans to record together in the near future.
If you would like to make a donation towards the Edinburgh Quartet, which will help fund future recordings and work which the Quartet do with Care Homes and in education settings, please visit: www.justgiving.com/campaign/edinburghquartet.
For more information about this, or any other of the Edinburgh Quartet’s projects, or about other ways of supporting the Quartet please contact Sara McCarter: friends@edinburghquartet.com.
