Muss es sein?: Leben im Quartett

by Sonia Simmenauer

Alban-Berg-Quartett, Guarneri-Quartett, Hagen-Quartett, Vogler-Quartett – berühmte Ensembles, denen Sonia Simmenauer ihr Leben als Konzertagentin widmet. Für die einen ist das Streichquartett die reinste Form der Musik, für andere ein ehrfürchtig beäugtes, abs­trak­tes Gebilde. Dabei handelt es sich um vier ­Menschen, die Musik machen und, wenn sie das ­professionell tun, miteinander leben, arbeiten, reisen, auftreten, sich streiten und sich lieben – ein idealer Kampfplatz für Neurosen, Beziehungsprobleme und die Auseinandersetzung mit anspruchsvollster Musik. Sonia Simmenauers Buch ist eine berührende, sehr unterhaltsame Beschreibung dieser Lebensform – mit viel Musik und einigen der bedeutendsten und interessantesten "Quartettisten", die zu Wort kommen.

Genres: Music

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Philippe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable reflections on life in a string quartet. Sonia Simmenauer is founder of a prestigious agency that represents many of the most sought after quartets today (the Belcea, Jerusalem, Ebène, Arditti, etc). She used to be married to the primarius of a quartet too. So she has been a privileged witness to this ensemble's very peculiar form of personal and artistic symbiosis. Simmenauer also relies on Walter Levin and Günther Pichler, two emeriti quartet players (with the former LaSalle and the Alban Berg, respectively), to reflect on their own professional experiences. The book's main theme is what is needed to allow four highly skilled peers to live together intimately and intensely over long periods of time. While many of the stories are (pleasantly) anecdotal, they provide food for thought on the challenges of decentralised decision-making that are confronting many organisations today. What is missing, however, is a female perspective. Most, if not all, historic top string quartets were exclusively male (the Quartetto Italiano's Elisa Pegreffi comes to mind as the only woman who was part of a top ensemble. She was married to the Quartetto's primarius Paolo Borciani. Pegreffi died earlier this year at the blessed age of 93). Today, mixed-gender quartets are the norm and even all-female quartets are quite common. Also, there is very little in the book that gives insight into the kind of relationship these musicians have with their audience. Quartet listeners are portrayed as somewhat nerdy, attending performances with the pocket score on their knees. But that too seems to be a vestige of a rapidly disappearing past. So I would definitely be interested to read up on how younger quartet members reflect on their distinguished predecessors' experiences.

[raquel roldán i montserrat · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10. un must read si t'agrada la cambra al punt que hi dedicaries tota la teva vida. molt interessant i fàcil de llegir. 100% recomanat!!!!!!

[Pablo · Rating 4 out of 5]

"En el fondo la música tiene que ver con la generosidad. [...] Con el tacto de nuestro sonido, posiblemente la experiencia humana más profunda, compartimos lo más íntimo e intangible de nuestras almas. [...] Vivo el tocar en un cuarteto de cuerda como un ejercicio de generosidad: saber cuándo se está en primer plano y cuándo hay que dejar brillar a otro, cuándo adaptarse y cuándo resistir."

Una ventana a la vida de los miembros de un cuarteto de cuerda y a las relaciones interpersonales entre ellos, a las muchísimas dimensiones que abarca el tocar en un grupo de cámara, no solo la musical.

Al formar yo también parte de un grupo de cámara (a pesar de ser de metales y no de cuerdas), conmigo ha resonado especialmente, he visto reflejada mucha de mi vida con el grupo en este libro. Al mismo tiempo, he visto las diferencias con el cuarteto de cuerda, la profesionalidad y la agitación que conlleva dedicarse en exclusiva al grupo, como muchas de las personas que se mencionan.

Ha sido una lectura muy interesante y amena, con multitud de anécdotas y citas de músicos contando su experiencia desde dentro.

[Chris]

This book about how four individuals create one amazing listening experience is insightful. It makes me think of the precarity of doing anything in a group, marriage, weekends at the cabin, team sports, democracy.
Simmenauer shares a lot of her experiences herding the four cats of her quartets to concerts and tours, but even more edifying are the numerous descriptions and stories from members of various quartets.
There is mention of a Goethe quote: Hearing a string quartet is like listening to the conversation of four intelligent people.

[Bradthad Codgeroger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful look behind the music stands into the world of string quartets (the physical embodiment as well as the abstract genre). Made me wish I was more musically attuned (ha!) to performances of various quartets...

[Katja Gottschewski · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice read for all string quartet fans, giving a lot of insights into the life and work of professional string quartets, as well as thoughts about the nature of this genre. I only give it three stars because I found it a bit lacking in the form and language.

[Josine van Heek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as interesting as I hoped.