Elaina Eakle
Ehe001@marietta.edu
The McDonough auditorium filled with the colorful lights and unique music of the Cordis Quartet, who performed as part of the Esbenshade Series at Marietta College on Oct. 1.
The Esbenshade Series, established in 1980, is endowed by the Frederica G. Esbenshade Memorial Fund to bring lectures, performing artists, and programs in the humanities to Marietta, according to Dr. Daniel Monek, Esbenshade Series director. All performances are free to attend and open to the community.
The Cordis Quartet plays modern music with instruments including cello, concert cimbalom, piano and percussion, as well as other custom-made ethnic instruments, which are all accompanied by a colorful light show. Quartet member Richard Grimes describes their music as straddling the line between rock and classical. The group takes care to ensure the unique instruments do not overshadow the music they produce.
“I don’t play the cimbalom because I want to play a weird instrument,” Grimes said. “I play the cimbalom because of the sonic potential that it has.”
The cimbalom is like a trapezoid box with stretched piano strings, Grimes said.
In addition to the music and instruments, the bond between the players makes the Cordis Quartet unique.
“When we have that connection with each other and we project it out, we always know that people hear it,” Grimes said.
Their performance was among several that Marietta College students and members of the community can experience as part of the Esbenshade Series this year.
“The series brings in nationally and internationally recognized performers and speakers in their area and we always offer these events without charge,” Monek said. “So not only is it a great way to experience some fabulous events, it’s a great way to experience something new without having to spend anything. After all, college is also about broadening our exposure!”
Grimes attests that in addition to students and community members, even professional musicians can learn from the performances of others.
“Absolutely the biggest thing is it opens their minds,” he said. “I get inspired when I see other people playing.”
Sarah Bishop, freshman music major at Marietta College, believes that the Esbenshade performances have value for the community as a whole in addition to the value for individuals.
“I feel that by listening to music, a community can really bond because as you listen to music you relate to it, and when you relate to the same music you can relate it to the people that are listing to the concert too,” she said. “I feel that this experience creates a relationship that enforces a community and makes the quality of everyone’s lives better.”
Bishop agrees that the performances can broaden the perspectives of students.
“When I first saw the instruments on the stage I thought that the performance was going to be filled with noises that were detached, separated, and that there was going to be little flow in the songs, but the performance was the complete opposite,” she said. “I really found that the chords used were interesting because they were used in a way that was not familiar to me.”
The next performance will be on Oct. 29 and will feature Ass3mbly, a flute, piano, and percussion trio performing new chamber music. The performance is at 7:30 p.m. in the McDonough auditorium.
“Everything on the program will be either a world or Ohio premiere and at least one of the composers will be in attendance,” Monek said. “Classical music is not just about music from long ago, and both this and the Cordis program are great examples of this.”
There are also three performances scheduled for the spring in the Esbenshade Series.
“In the spring we are doing something a little different this year with a small series within the series that explores the process two artists, composer Jake Runestad and painter Nancy Manter, use to create their work,” Monek said. “Both artists will be working with students while they are on campus. And the big end to our season comes with a very well recognized group, The Rose Ensemble. While the presentation is primarily musical it focuses on the humanities with its topic.”
An evening with Jake Runestad will be held on Feb. 11, an evening with Nancy Manter will be on Feb. 17, and the Rose Ensemble will perform on March 17. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. in the McDonough auditorium.
