THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 8, 1996 TAG: 9603070165
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 179 lines
``There will always be a human need to hear music and to create music.''
- Suzanne Schreck, violinist with the Hardwick Chamber Ensemble
IT WAS A bright Sunday morning in Chesapeake, and the cozy, wall-to-wall carpeted living room at Hardwick Circle was alive with a 16th century folk tune, ``La Basque,'' written by Jean Marais.
The piece was warm and lively. It was played with elan, force, vigor and a playful spirit. The work allowed each of the four passionate performers to shine, ending it with a flourish.
For a change, this particular piece included the participation of all members of the classy Hardwick Chamber Ensemble: violinist Suzanne D. Schreck, pianist Jeanette R. Winsor, French horn player Marlene M. Ford and clarinetist John H. Winsor Jr.
Underlying the homey atmosphere of the ensemble's Sunday rehearsal sessions, the group was temporarily accompanied on ``vocals'' by the Winsor's dog, known on this morning as ``the Hardwick Poodle.''
But the four talented, affable and creative members of the ensemble didn't mind at all. It was all part of being a chamber group, they all said.
``Chamber music is musicians getting together to play for fun,'' said Schreck, who, when not playing, constantly caressed her violin and nervously and every so lightly plucked its strings and fingered its frets.
``Chamber music refers to rooms in homes,'' Jeanette Winsor said. ``It's intimate music, played by intimate ensembles for small, intimate audiences.''
``It's the most intimate experience for a composer,'' John Winsor said. ``I like the intricate interplay between members.''
The group, now a non-profit organization, was founded in 1988 with the purpose of fostering the community's appreciation of classical chamber music and cultivating the understanding, the taste and the love of music.
With so little in the way of music literature to suit the group's instrumental makeup of piano, violin, clarinet and French horn, the group usually performs in solo, duo or trio configurations and sometimes more when working with a guest artist or two.
The song it performed during that Sunday rehearsal session was arranged by Schreck, designated by the other members as the group's official arranger.
``Arranging is one of her great talents,'' Ford said after the piece was completed. ``She takes specific compositions and then arranges them for our particular instrumentation.''
``It's a good way to close a program,'' Schreck said. ``It's our `after dinner mint.' ''
But not all of the ensemble's programs are musical confections like the Marias piece.
The group prides itself on performing classical, contemporary, obscure and even original chamber music penned by the ensemble's own resident composer John Winsor, a winner of the national 1995 Delius Keyboard Award for his piece, ``Three Preludes'' for solo piano.
Winsor also won the 1992 Delius Vocal Award and the 1992 and 1994 Virginia Music Teachers Association Commissioned Composer Awards.
Besides John Winsor's own chamber creations, the group has performed music by American composers and works by African-American composers.
The Hardwicks once performed a concert of all Prokofiev and Copland compositions simply because both men were born during the same year, John Winsor said. But the concert worked, he explained, because it showed how different each composer was.
``It pointed out how Russian Prokofiev was and how American Copland was, while highlighting each man's unique musical genius,'' he said.
Since 1988, the ensemble has performed assembly programs on its own and as part of the Young Audiences of Tidewater Inc. for thousands of school children, delighting them with such youngster friendly works as the Marais piece and other fun and musically educational compositions.
The four say they choose music that will be enjoyable to perform, will please themselves and will naturally please their audiences.
``We try to play what audiences will enjoy,'' Jeanette Winsor said. ``Then we try to nudge them along, educate them.''
``If the audience is older or musically astute, we shut our mouth and play,'' Schreck said. ``But if the audience is young or highly distractible, we fool around a bit.''
It has performed scores of recitals for colleges, universities and other organizations throughout the commonwealth. It has also performed, to much critical acclaim, at various workshops, concerts and festivals in New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and throughout the United States.
The ensemble publishes a regular newsletter to keep patrons abreast of its concerts and of the achievements and work of its individual members.
It is funded through private donations and contributions and has received grants from the Virginia Commission for the Arts as well as grants from arts commissions of Chesapeake, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
Along with work within the group, individual members also perform solo recitals and work with other area musicians, musical groups and orchestras.
Even the way the group began underlies its individuality and occasional informal nature. It was a question of neighborliness and Brahms.
The Winsors were living on Hardwick Circle, which gave the group its name, when a new neighbor moved in.
The newcomer to the neighborhood was Schreck, who already knew Ford.
When Jeanette Winsor found out a skilled violinist had moved next door, the welcome mat was quickly rolled out.
``When I found out she was a violinist, I accosted Sue even before she had a chance to unpack,'' she said. ``I asked her, `Would you like to get together?' I was thrilled to have her move in. Now it was complete. Marlene, Sue and myself could now perform the Brahms Horn Trio.''
The three worked on that piece for about a year. During that time they said they got to know one another and got the opportunity to discover each member's talents and musical tastes.
Finally, when John Winsor wrote a piece for the group called ``The Hardwick Quartet,'' the chamber ensemble was born at the outset to serve as a performing ensemble for Young Audiences of Virginia.
The Winsors and Schreck jokingly said they've tried to coax Ford, a Virginia Beach resident, to move into their neighborhood to make the Hardwick concept complete. With Ford resisting the move, they now say they're hoping for more of the same serendipity that brought Schreck to their home turf.
``We're now hoping a cellist moves in,'' Schreck said with a laugh.
Although the group is dead serious when it comes to its purpose and music, all four members are witty and highly creative individuals who enjoy each other's company, even away from the stage.
``We share cars, we share pet care and we share household keys,'' Schreck said. ``I use their fax, and they use my copier. Between us we have a complete office.''
``I remember at our first recital, Jenny (the Winsors' daughter) fell asleep on my shoulder,'' Ford said. ``Now, in a short time she's getting married.''
But just because they play beautiful music together doesn't mean there are no disagreements.
``We always perform compositions all of us think is a valid piece of music,'' Schreck said. ``If just one of us thinks it's a piece of junk, we don't play it.''
``We do argue quite a bit over what to play,'' Ford said. ``At least two of us are very hot-headed.''
``We don't always agree, but if we did it would be boring,'' Jeanette Winsor said.
``We are a multi-faceted creature,'' Schreck added. ``Within the group there's a lot of give and take, but the final reward is the music itself.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Cover, Color photo]
CHAMBER MADE
Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
The Hardwick Chamber Ensemble rehearses for an upcoming concert in
the home of one its members.
Staff photos, including the cover, by MORT FRYMAN
The ensemble, from left: clarinetist John H. Winsor Jr., violinist
Suzanne D. Schreck, French horn player Marlene M. Ford, and pianist
Jeanette R. Winsor.
SUZANNE D. SCHRECK - VIOLIN
Chesapeake resident originally from Jamestown, N.Y. Bachelor of
music degree with distinction from Eastman School of Music. Directs
Twinklers to Sizzlers, a Suzuki violin studio in Chesapeake. Has
played with the Syracuse Symphony, Virginia Opera Association
Orchestra and Virginia Symphony.
JEANETTE R. WINDSOR - PIANO
Chesapeake resident originally from New Washington, Ohio. Cum laude
bachelor of music degree from Heidelberg College and master of music
degree from Kent State University. Teaches piano in Chesapeake and
at the Governor's School for the Arts, accompanies the Virginia
Beach Chorale, adjunct instructor at ODU.
MARLENE M. FORD - FRENCH HORN
Marlene Ford is a Virginia Beach resident originally from Cleveland,
Ohio. Bachelor of fine arts from the Ohio State University, master
of music in horn performance from Norfolk State University. Member
of Virginia Symphony, Williamsburg Symphonia, Eastern Virginia Brass
and the Prelude Woodwind Quintet.
John Winsor is Chesapeake resident originally from Bucyrus, Ohio.
Bachelor of music degree from Heidelberg College and master of arts
degree in music theory from Kent State. Senior computer
programmer/analyst for Unisys. Has taught music theory and designed
bandsman training materials at Armed Forces School of Music. Also
taught clarinet, music theory and composition at the Governor's
School for the Arts.
UPCOMING CONCERTS BY THE HARDWICK CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
[For a copy of the list, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB