
The Steinhardt String Quartet
April 1, 2012
Hartz-4-Artz
your internet culture source
April 1, 2012
From the Music Desk: Arnold Steinhardt To Form New String Quartet
Arnold Steinhardt, first violinist of the Guarneri String Quartet that retired in 2009, has announced plans to form a new string quartet. Mr. Steinhardt recently told Hartz-4-Artz reporter N. Nam Trebor that he deeply misses the great string quartet literature after having played in the Guarneri Quartet for 45 years.
Steinhardt’s decision has caused some surprise in chamber music circles that he would again form a quartet after the Guarneri’s distinguished and long running career. There have also been lifted eyebrows over his choice for the new group’s name: The Steinhardt String Quartet. Steinhardt said that unlike the Guarneri and most other contemporary quartets that operate on a democratic basis, he plans to revert to a model more in fashion during the first half of the twentieth century. He pointed to the Busch and Capet String Quartets of that era that not only took their names from each group’s first violinist but also their powerful and unique musical vision. “Democracy is a messy and time consuming business,” Steinhardt explained at his Manhattan apartment where the interview took place. “After having played quartets for almost half a century, I feel that I have the wisdom and experience to run the show myself.”
One member of a high profile string quartet who requested anonymity expressed dismay over Steinhardt’s most recent quartet enterprise. “This goes against every democratic principal we hold sacred in the string quartet medium,” he said. “You’ve heard of the iPhone and the iPad. Never mind The Steinhardt String Quartet. Why doesn’t Arnold simply call his new group the iString Quartet since he seems to regard himself as the only one of any importance in the group.”
Steinhardt brushed off this kind of criticism with a laugh. “I’ve managed to find three people to join me who have voiced no objections whatsoever to the Quartet’s name or philosophy, and who apparently will agree without comment to all my musical ideas. You might call this a benign dictatorship but I call it the best of all possible worlds.”
The Steinhardt String Quartet, which plans to begin booking concerts immediately, has yet to release any information about its other three members. The press poster below is the first to be released by the new group. Arnold Steinhardt is second from the left with the sunglasses.
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Comments
Bravo! Arnold for your inspired decision to create a new quartet under the flagship of the Steinhardt String Quartet, and for acknowledging the non democratic nature of art. (Could one imagine Dostoyevsky writing his books as a teamwork? Or Proust? or any other great writer? Or Bach, or Mozart?)
I am In fact incredulous and in owe when realizing that the Gurneri persevered democrtically for 45 years, and without bloodshed, as did most other democracies throughout the ages.
Besides all the good reasons for doing so. it is a delight of pure selfishness in looking forward to hearing you play again, a pleasure much missed.
So happy birthday to you Arnold, and the new Steinhardt String Quartet. You are giving us all a great gift. Welcome home.
Tu nous mène en bateau, mon cher Monsieur. No more Mr. Nice-guy, that’s my motto. I have a few self-effacing cellists to suggest when you’re ready to do the Schubert C Major Quintet and perhaps a clarinetist I know with an ego worthy of this group. iTunes is waiting……..
I mean “Tu nous mènes…..” pardon my French, LOL.
When I was 7 or 8 years old, I played a joke on my dad for April Fool’s day: I called information for the number of the L.A. Zoo, and left a note for my dad to call it and ask for Mr. Wolf. It wasn’t very original, as I had gotten the idea from a radio program, but my dad was a good sport and called the number as instructed. I could hardly wait to hear what happened, and he told me that the man who answered his call, apparently not for the first time, told him that Mr. Wolf had been a bad boy and was confined to his cage. Furthermore, he said that this was the “z-o-o,” and wished my dad a happy April Fool’s Day.
So, Mr. Steinhardt, I am sure that Mr. Mann will join me in wishing you good luck with your new string quartet, and a very happy birthday to you and all the poor fools whose birthday, like yours, falls on that very special holiday.
Enjoy the balance of your April 1st !!!!
And a Happy April 1 to you too!!!!!
Ha ha! But seriously I hope you do get to play quartets rom time to time “just for fun”.
I think I’ve met some of those other members of the new quartet before. Having trouble believing Arnold will ever fit in with them. Nice to see he chose a token woman though…or is she?
Dear Sir:
Best of luck in your new musical endeavor. Given their model good looks, I have attempted to contact the other members of SSQ in hopes of arranging a cover shoot — but my queries have been met with disciplined silence. It is clear they defer to your judgment. Our offices are at your service should you wish to avail yourself to them. Until such time I remain
Sincerely Yours,
Ed.
I like N. Nam. Trebor . . .
Best wishes on this Festive Day!
Alan McConnell
Dear Arnold,
I dont play, but think I can supply the quartet with bagals with the biggest holes.
Yours truly,
Sigmund
212 740 4050
APRIL FOOL!!!!!
Arnold, I think that’s it’s so very important to keep a sense of humor at all times… if possible.
Seriously I feel you and your new colleagues should find common ground in a special musical arena that needs a great quartet to promote it. Minimalism needs, no, deserves, a champion! Certainly interpretation must be important when playing the great minimalistic masterpieces, and you with your vast musical experience will certainly access without peer the subteties of this, errr, music.
Congratulations on your new enterprise and the best of luck!
Thank you for making me laugh!
You couldn’t find better members for your string quartet: blind, deaf and dump, I am sure you have chosen them also because they are tuneful for your delight.
Let me know about your first dated concert.
Maru Ranel
Your new string quartet, the SSQ, sounds so intriguing! What does it matter if it’s run as a benign dictatorship? I’m sure you’ll be kind to the other players. After all, you do seem like a nice guy.
I must say, though, that the other three do look rather stiff, as if perhaps they don’t agree with your basic premise. I’ll bet they’ve joined the quartet only for the money, which they so obviously need for healthcare (anyone THAT pale…). And the woman, well, she’s so thin she appears to be levitating! I’ll bet she plays the harp.
The only disappointment, at least for me, is that you have not included Tessa in your SSQ. You and she sang such a stunning duet last year that I was sure Tessa would somehow be part of any new endeavor. You could still call it the SSQ, because Tessa doesn’t play a stringed instrument (obviously).
Actually, truth be told, the whole thing gives me paws. I’m not concerned about you, of course, but those other three … I doubt they’ll hold up under a rigorous concert schedule. Maybe just you and Tessa?
Arnie,
Why don’t you invite me to play second violin in your new quartet, part of the time at least, and you can then call your new group The Goldman Quartet and silence your critics?
Ron
and you can give all the orders…
Lirpa Loof. Why didn’t N. Nam Trebor have enough chutspah to name HIS quartet the Trebor Quartet instead of the Drailliuj.
I am delighted that you found three dummies to play with.
Lirpa Loof.
N. Nam Trebor COULD have named his quartet after himself, but lacked sufficient chutzpah. Maybe he was afraid he’d meet the same fate as his fiddle teacher in Oregon. It’s good that you found three dummies to play quartets with.
Mr. Steinhardt, why do you torture me like this?! I would pay good money to see you play in person, even if it was with three mannequins.
Dear Mr. Steinhardt,
Happy belated Birthday! What a great picture :-)
You could have added the names of the Joachim Quartet in the 19th and Sandor Vegh’s quartet in the 20th centuries to your list of cited dictatorial quartets. I once saw the Veghs perform at the Braunwald Festival in Switzerland. Gad, what a fantastic experience! The sheer personality and individuality of the group fully justified the hierarchical arrangement and I’m sure yours will too. (If this is a real announcement and not an April Fool’s joke.) Anyway you can get to play the Kreisler Quartet anytime you like without arguing with anyone. Will the ASSQ be coming to a theater near me anytime soon? Good luck. Isidor
WE.The old guard of the Guarneri Quartet flying commandos are looking forward to your 1st concert in Amsterdam Concertgebouw. The building will be secured by the Israeli Mossad,not to worry.
We hope you will play our favorite Kreisler Quartet and P.Hindemith Mini Max.
Joking aside, I have a question about the Guarneri: when the group was formed, how was it decided who would be first violinist? Was it a foregone conclusion that it would be Arnold? Or did the guys experiment, seeking the arrangement that seemed best — perhaps with the help of an outside, impartial judge or two?
I haven’t yet read Arnold’s book on the quartet’s history, so perhaps I will discover the answer there. Obviously the correct decision was made, but even so, I am curious as to how the democratic process applied at the time.
Anyway, I should like to express my gratitude for the years of listening pleasure the Guarneri provided me. And do keep up with the stories. Very entertaining.
Happy discovery finding you!
Brilliant! Just brilliant!
I salute you!
Big fan,
JC
11-year-old Elvy and I were at an open rehearsal in 2000 of the Dvo?ák Serenade for winds. Vrbsky stops the group and says to the bass player, “Sumire, you made a face.” Sumire says, “I don’t know, maybe we should pause a bit more before the a tempo.” They play the transition again, and Vrbsky says, “Sumire, did I detect that you were not quite satisfied?” They stop again. Sumire says, “Maybe just a tiny bit more.” Again they play from the transition. This time Sumire nods at the a tempo, and they continue. In the row behind us, Statler and Waldorf have been following closely. One mutters to the other, “I hate this democracy shit.”
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