Rainbows End at Strings

"My favorite memory of Strings is the rainbow before Kathy Mattea’s performance.”

Strings Music Festival Tent - 1996

Last week, we were graced with another beautiful rainbow as we celebrated 25 years of Strings. It seemed especially fitting that it ended at the Pavilion.

Strings Music Pavilion - 2012

Spotlight: Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds

“A seriously funky collective capable of bringing elements of deep soul, New Orleans funk, Stax/Memphis stylings and earthy R&B together . . . Kincheloe wove a sultry, sexy spell with her incredible blues-soaked lines and deep-in-the-groove dance moves.” -The Buffalo News

Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds

Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds have hit the ground running since 2010 with the release of their debut, self-titled album. The band is the next hottest thing, having opened for the Black Keys, the Neville Brothers, Dr. John, the Rebirth Brass Band, and the Soul Rebels Brass Band, and with lead singer Arleigh Kincheloe’s voice being compared to Adele, Amy Winehouse, and Janis. Their music turns jazzy New Orleans blues into rock ‘n roll, and the crowd can’t resist the urge to dance.

Below you can watch the band’s newest music video, 'Another Ride.' Kincheloe says, “The whole carnival idea, “Another Ride” is about life, but the imagery is directly inspired by being a little kid at the Margaretville Fair.”

Classical Music 101

Chamber Orchestra - Strings Music Festival

The other day I was at one of our Outreach Programs at the Boys and Girls Club with our artist-in-residence string quartet, the Tesla Quartet.  They asked the group of 6-10 year olds, “does  anyone know what pizzicato is?” As my mind went blank, a curly blond haired kid, no more than 6, raised his hand and confidently said “plucking.”  If you are wondering if he was right, keep reading because this post is for you. 

Chamber Music: Written for a small group of instruments, the word "chamber" signifies that the music can be performed in a small room with an intimate atmosphere. This could also be compared to the modern day “jam session.” 

Orchestra: A large instrumental ensemble with sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments, led by a conductor. These have different names depending on size. A smaller-sized orchestra (of about fifty players or less) is called a chamber orchestra. A full-size orchestra (about 100 players) may sometimes be called a symphony orchestra or philharmonic orchestra.

Concerto: This basically means solo with the orchestra. Here you will want to pay attention because someone is about to show off some mad skills. 

Applause:  Here is the moment you have been waiting for to show your appreciation. Well sometimes you have to wait a little longer. Somewhere in the early 19th century it was decided that applause interrupted the momentum of a piece, which is why we now hold our applause until all movements (little songs within a piece) are complete. It looks like Mozart lost this battle years ago when he expected that people would eat and talk over his music, particularly at dinner, and was delighted when his audience would clap during his symphonies.

Pizzicato: Plucking - he was right.

Cristin Frey is the Marketing Director for Strings Music Festival. Look for more of her posts debunking classical music terminology.

Blurring the Lines Between Music Genres

"Music was never divided by genre in my mind. It's about singing good music." -k.d. lang

Since the beginning of music, artists have refused to be labeled as only one particular genre. Where once classical, jazz, rock, and country seemed to describe pretty much every type of music, more and more categories have cropped up to accommodate artists who are pushing back against being stuck in one genre. Now indie, punk, bluegrass, and alternative country, alt rock, and pretty much alt anything else are acceptable categories. The rest of this post will focus on a few unlikely collaborations that may be the beginning of the next new genre. 

One of the most popular musical styles today is R&B, or Rhythm and Blues. R&B is actually a subgenre in and of itself, branching out from the broader category of hip-hop. Rihanna has been dominating the genre for five plus years, and her newly released video Princess of China is a collaboration with Coldplay. Coldplay is a British alternative rock group, who has also been labeled as “blue romantic.” Watch what happens when hot and sultry Rihanna mixes with cool and mellow Coldplay in their video. Perhaps they’re onto the next groundbreaking genre. Shall we call it RR&B - Rock, Rhythm, and Blues?

Since hip-hop is so prominent today, hip-hop artists love experimenting with artists from other genres to find that new sound that pushes their music to the top of the charts. Kanye West, who’s been leading the hip-hop scene since 2004, released a song with Bon Iver on his latest album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Bon Iver exploded on the indie folk scene this year, taking home two Grammys in 2012. Kanye West and Bon Iver found an “indie-hop” sound in Lost in the World. The ethereal slow synthesized tones of Bon Iver provide the perfect backdrop for Kanye’s lyrics about trying to find a way through our urban jungle. Recently they released a music video that further enhances the trapped and lost message of the song.

And then there’s the band whose name is also the title of the new genre it created: Gangstagrass. Rap lyrics laid over the sounds of banjo and fiddle, make the ultimate leap in pushing back those genre lines. Founder of the band, Rench’s influences come from listening to hip-hop music at school in southern California and honky-tonk at home with his Oklahoman dad. Rench says, “Hip-hop was music of the streets and country was music of the hills, but it was rooted in these communities that were making music to express the struggles of their daily lives, which has a lot of overlap.” Rench hints at the idea that a collaboration or a mashup will be a success, regardless of the genre, as long as the two styles match in meaning and the feeling.

These collaborations do more than just boost artists to the top of the charts. They remind us to keep listening to music. As one blogger wrote, “Listening to what we know we like keeps us from hearing what we know nothing about.” So break out of your own genre box and put the radio on scan because you may just discover your new favorite song.

Favorite Strings Musicians

David Deveau - 22 Seasons with Strings Music Festival

Many of our audience members have seen all 25 years of Strings’ concerts, but what you may not know, is that some of our artists have been here just as long! Thirteen musicians have returned to Strings for more than half of the years the festival has been in existence. Below you can find out who they are, how long they’ve been here, when they first performed, and when they’re performing this year.  

Ken Greene, 24 seasons, 1988 (June 23 – July 28)

David Deveau, 22 seasons, 1990 (July 28)

Andrés Cárdenes, 21 seasons, 1992 (June 23 – August 4)

Anne Martindale Williams, 18 seasons, 1992 (August 1, August4)

David Hardy, 17 seasons, 1994 (July 28 – August 4)

William VerMeulen, 17 seasons, 1994 (June 23, June 27)

Mark Nuccio, 16 seasons, 1995 (July 7, August 1)

Katherine Collier, 15 seasons, 1994

Yizhak Schotten, 15 seasons, 1994

Cary Lewis, 14 seasons, 1994

Sylvia VerMeulen, 13 seasons, 1996 (June 23)

Debra Ellet-Holland, 13 seasons, 1997

Brent Rowan, 13 seasons, 2000 (July 6)

For more live music in Steamboat Springs, visit the Strings Music Festival website.

The Founders of Strings

Betse Grassby, Annie DeGroff, Kay Clagett - 1992

"Kay and Betse- you rock! Remember when you were so nervous about how Strings would manifest? Well, wow!"
"Betse, Kay, Anne working out of one small office at Storm Meadows."

These three have been with Strings since the beginning. Join us tomorrow night for the Opening Night Orchestra concert, when they relive some of the highlights from the past 25 years. Strings is so successful because of you!

Strings Silent Auction Items 2012

This Saturday, Strings Music Festival kicks off the season with Opening Night Orchestra featuring cellist Gary Hoffman. Before the concert, check out the Silent Auction, hosted by the Guild of Strings Music Festival in conjunction with the Kitchen and Garden Tour. Bidding is available at the evening concerts June 23-July 20 and 8:30-9:30am on July 21 at the Strings Music Pavilion.

Featured kitchen on the Kitchen and Garden Tour

Silent Auction Items

Trips & Experiences

Golf tournament in Augusta: 3 day attendance (not play) and 4 night stay at Country Inn & Suites. Two practice rounds and the par 3 contest.

Hahn’s Peak Roadhouse: Two night stay in 1-bedroom cabin, with $50 gift certificate

4 Rodeo tickets and BBQ for 4

Birding day trip to North Park and Arapahoe National Wild Refuge, includes lunch

1-hour ride with policeman and donuts from Milk Run

Steamboat Flyfisher gift certificate and hand tied flies by Robert Thiesen

Golf

18-Holes at Catamount Ranch and Club: one round of golf for four, with cart

Rollingstone Ranch Golf Course: one round of golf for four, with cart, and men's v-neck sweater vest and striped golf shirt

Music

Reserved parking space at Strings for 2013

Premier front row seating for Chris Botti and dinner at Riggio’s Ristorante

Premier front row seating for Lee Ann Womack and dinner at the Laundry

Premier front row seating for k.d. lang and the siss boom bang and 4-course chef-prepared dinner for 2 by Damon Renfroe

Two Steamboat Symphony Orchestra 2013 season passes

1-hour piano lesson with Baya Kakouberi

1-hour violin lesson with Gary Levinson

2-hour master class with Monique Mead

1-hour cello lesson with David Hardy

Strings street sign 

Personal Fitness & Beauty

Jim Hooper Personal Training: 2 sessions and 10 class punch card

Pilate Body: 3 private sessions with Monika Reineke

Forever Fit: 2 personal training sessions with Sarah Coleman

Acqua Salon and Spa Gift Certificate

Look good, feel good: 2 sessions gentle strength massage, gift certificate to Dragonfly, spa pedicure from Wildhorse

Food & Cooking

McKnight’s Irish Pub & Loft: private party

1-hour consulting with The Main Event: private parties, reunions, weddings

Taste of Steamboat: Cider Fixins, Daniela’s Chocolate, server and cookbooks

Cooking with Kramer: 5 course meal for 6, demonstration, preparation, eating

Evening of flower design, wine and tapas for six by Tall Tulips and Classic Wines

Art

Handmade local ceramics by Julie K. Anderson

Limited edition art print by B.J. Stych

Family portrait by Jessica Maynard: up to 6 people, includes CD with images

One of a kind paper sculpture of a violin by Becky Rupnow

Winter in Yellowstone: Photographed and framed by Michael Lichtenstein

Christmas Time on Lincoln Ave: photographed and framed by Michael Lichtenstein

Photographic pigment print 15”x15” by David Patterson

Lance Whitner Mixed Media Painting 12”x12”

Jewelry & Accessories

Judith Ripka Heart Dangle Bracelet: sterling silver with white sapphire pave heart

Triple strand turquoise necklace and earrings by Tibby Speare

Black leather bubble purse, Elliott Lucca and women’s “chunky” St. John’s necklace

Design your own necklace with Marion Kahn 

Around the House

Man Camp: 25 bottles of beer, portable grill, camo bin with gloves, belt, bison

FUN4KIDS: Steamboat Arts and Crafts Gym, bean bag chair, House of Bounce

Puppy Love: Gift certificates to Pet Kare, Paws & Claws, Weavers’ Wash, Happy Tails, 4Paw Spa

One tree two baskets: 1 aspen nursery tree, 2 hanging baskets
8 Christmas ornaments with hand painted Steamboat scenes from Art Studio Company

Set of 3 thermal totes from Thirty-One: large with wheels, picnic tote and lunch size

Tole painted gardening box

Stamp chest from Olivia’s Home Furnishings

Lotus Crystal Bowl

Towel ring and TP holder in rustic copper, with installation

Hooked pillow, gift certificate to Annie’s Home Consignments