Tafelmusik brings Baroque to aspiring musicians

By Jessica Depatie

As the old adage goes, if it’s not “Baroque”, then don’t fix it. But for the musicians who are a part of Tafelmusik, a baroque orchestra and chamber choir, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

As part of its seasonal tour, the Toronto group travelled through the Ottawa Valley and performed to packed audiences, most of whom were familiar with their style. But on Feb.5, the musicians played for a gymnasium full of high school students who are part of the music program at Lisgar Collegiate.

The students from 13 musical performance groups along with others invited from Vincent Massey, Hopewell, and Alta Vista Public Schools, were treated to the sounds of parts of Vivaldi’s

“Four Seasons of the Sun,” and learned how normal performance instruments are transformed into baroque pieces similar to those from the 17th century.

“It was amazing to see that calibre of performance,” says William Burr, a clarinet player and Grade 12 student at Lisgar.

Along with the Baroque instruments, the students listened to various international instruments including the Pipa from China, the Serangi from India and a performance by Throatsingers from the Inuit tradition.

“I’ve never seen or heard anything like this,” says Grade 12 Lisgar student Denise Sun, a bassoon and piano player.

“It changes what I want to do,” says Jessie Lyon,a Grade 10 student at Lisgar.. “It expands your horizons.”

That is exactly what the concert was intended to do, says Trudy Bradley, the music director at Lisgar Collegiate who was involved in organizing the Tafelmusik performance. She believes it is an experience that many of the students may have never gotten otherwise.

“This is something very special for our school.” she says. “It’s very exciting to have them here.”

Tafelmusik’s members realize the importance of exposing students to diverse music styles, which is why they perform for students while on tour as well as in their hometown of Toronto.

“Tafelmusik has a very strong commitment to young musicians, and is very aware of the need to develop young musicians for the future,” says Colleen Smith, a former teacher and now the director of education and finance for the Orchestra. “It’s something high school students don’t get to see often.”

As part of their experience, the members of the senior string ensemble at Lisgar also had a member of the Tafelmusik orchestra conduct them in a master class on Friday morning.

“It’s great to have another point of view, to have someone else tell the students maybe the same thing I’ve been saying but in a different way,” says Bradley.

Funding for Tafelmusik’s educational outreach program comes in part from the Ontario Arts Council. They are currently coming to the end of a three-year outreach plan.

“We would like to do it every year,” says Smith. We think it’s great.”

During the summer, Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute is an intensive program for senior students, pre-professional and professional musicians.

It focuses on both instrumental and vocal baroque performance practice.

Other stops on their week long tour included the University of Ottawa, De La Salle High School and performances in Montreal.