Loose Leaf Notes

Who knew the cello could sound like a violin, guitar, drum or voice and sometimes at the same time?  I guess Community Cello Works cellist Lisa Liske-Doorandish, who organized Wednesday’s “Celebrating the Cello” Give Big fundraiser for Springhouse Community School, did her job showcasing the unaccompanied cello as a concert instrument in its own right, because now I’m sold on it.

“This is the fist time I’ve seen a green haired cellist,” whispered my friend Jayn when a Springhouse Community student (Lisa’s daughter Eleanore) performed Julie-O by Mark Summer, a jazzy, beatnik modern work that lends itself to one-man-band musical poets.  The memory of Michael Hedges, the acoustic guitarist who pioneered percussion fingerstyle guitar, came to my mind.

“I feel like a schlep,” I whispered back later, referring to comparing myself to all the practice, talent and skill it must take for the musicians to create such passionate musical extensions of themselves.

One of the evening’s highlights was Lisa’s performance of “Moments at Walden Pond,” five interludes composed by her late friend Patrick Simpson that she performed to the accompaniment of spoken word.  Joe Klein, Springhouse co-director (and my husband) read from Thoreau’s Walden, reflections on simple living in natural surroundings.

Lisa announced several upcoming concerts featuring the cello at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the New River Valley.  The first Cello Ensembles, Soliloquy in Dialogue, will be performed on Saturday from 3 – 4:00.  Some of her professional colleagues, including conductor Farncis Yun from Ohio, are in town for that.   Along with Lisa, an ensemble of her students and colleagues also performed at the fundraiser, which was held at the Floyd EcoVillage as part of Give Big, a giving initiative of the Community Foundation of New River Valley.  See more on that HERE.  

The Cello Ensemble will also perform An Evening of Schubert at the church at 7:30 on Saturday, and Music for Cello Alone, Sunday at 2:00. Cellists ages 4-adult will perform at this family-friendly concert. Donations will be accepted at the door.  Springhouse Community School provides project and place based learning opportunities for 7 to 12 grade students and is now accepting enrollments for the 2016/2017 school year.  Visit them on Facebook and HERE.   Also good to note, Virginia’s Blue Ridge Music Festival with Maestro David Wiley will be performing a Mozart in May concert at the EcoVillage on May 7, at 7:00.