Violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins recounts Music Kitchen's 59th Performance, Garth Newel Piano Quartet at Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen:
This morning I was delighted to present the Garth Newel Piano
Quartet for a Music Kitchen performance at the Holy Apostles Soup
Kitchen. I originally met the quartet when they attended my performance
at the 2010 Chamber Music America conference. They have since
invited me to play several concerts with them at the beautiful Garth
Newel Music Center in Virginia, so it was my absolute pleasure to
present them in a Music Kitchen concert while they are in New York for
this year's CMA conference. They are the embodiment of everything
Music Kitchen seeks to accomplish: The artists are friendly and
approachable and their performance is at once spirited, warm,
virtuosic, polished. Even before they started playing, there were
clients eagerly waiting- several people asking when the performance
would begin. "I don't want to miss it; I want to be sure to be here!"
We had arrived early and there continued to be a steady stream of
clients in eager anticipation, so I decided to have them just start 10
minutes early! I quickly did my rounds to nearby tables, introducing
myself and welcoming people to the concert. One woman surprised me
by recognizing me from the Olivieri Center for Homeless Women, where,
due to their program shift, I have not presented a performance for 3
or 4 years. From my photographer Greg Routt's marvelous photos of a
past Music Kitchen performance, I recognized a gentleman who eagerly
sat down nearby, glued to the artists before they played a note. As
they dove into their first piece, the Schonfield Café Music, he smiled
knowingly and said to me, “The roaring 20s!” Though the piece was
written in 1987 in Minnesota, he was absolutely right about the spirit
of the work’s character. Further, it was a perfectly chosen work for
this environment- intended for a lively bustling environment of
diners. This was an amazing performance in every way and it captured
many around the room in a more individual, though no less profound
way. I suddenly noticed another gentleman, this time a soup kitchen
volunteer who had stopped his tasks to come closer to listen. He was
positively taken with the performance, his face in a dumbfounded stare
until he finally turned to me, saying slowly and deliberately, voice
dripping with awe- “Where- did-you-find-them??” After I told
him that the artists hail from Virginia, he melted onto the floor,
drinking in the charms of the performance. After that, he continued, “I don’t even believe in God, but now, after this, I believe. There must be a God!”
All four players were in now, playing the Brahms Piano Quartet,
sure to charm any lover of chamber music. Brahms is my favorite
composer for chamber music and even if you don’t know the work
specifically, his rich compositional style and voice-leading are
unmistakable. The same volunteer turned to me once again and said,
“Pretty soon we are going to have to pay to volunteer!!”
Listeners sometimes identify with individual artists as they watch and
listen, and this was one of those times. A man got my attention to
say, motioning to the violinist Teresa Ling, “I could stand here and
listen to her play all day!”
For some, it’s not at all what they say with their words, but it’s
their body language that tells all. During a emotionally wrenching,
sentimental and nostalgic passage in the Tchaikovsky Trio, a new client
was entering the area with his meal tray. He was so taken, so
touched by the music, his face filled with awe and raw emotion as he
stared from one player with the soaring melody to the next, he forgot
himself and his tray tipped more and more towards the floor. He kept
walking closer, not believing his eyes and ears, his grip on the food
tray slackening with each step. He had obviously come for food, but
something different now pulled at him. Though his eyes looked as if he
were weeping, they were filled with joy. Fortunately he did not drop
the tray, but I was not too concerned about that- I too was taken with
seeing his reaction. I will not soon forget that man and the effect
the music had on him nor the soaring performance by the Garth Newel
Piano Quartet and the effect it had on me!
Following are the notes from the listeners:
GREAT Never before have I heard this live, and seen it live, my first time.
Thank you. – Derrick
Liked it very much. The concert was impeccable - from Guest
I like classical music and I like the music this group is playing.
A-OK, GREAT – Old Man
Thank you for your support of Music Kitchen Concerts!
Sincerely,
Kelly Hall-Tompkins
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