Chamber Music -- Something for Everyone explores the interaction of music and art, and involves the participation of a visual artist and SATORI’s ensemble musicians in a multidisciplinary project. Each presentation features 4-6 SATORI musicians, and blends chamber music, art, narration, discussion, and audience questions. The program is most suitable for students K-5, though older students will also appreciate it. SATORI’s Chamber Music – Something for Everyone project was awarded a Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission grant for innovative, creative programming in 2003.

    The music selected for this program ranges from Mozart, Handel, and Bach to modern blues and swing, and is changed each academic year. Ensemble instrumentation ranges from solo instruments to quartets, and is accompanied by an interactive, ongoing array of artwork suggested by the music. Demonstrations of individual instruments are also featured, with visual accompaniment.

ONCE UPON A TUNE

A blend of music and storytelling, setting either European fables or American folk tales in a framework of classical chamber music. Students hear dragons, dances, and magic, or the stories of a younger America -- in music as well as words -- and are introduced to both wind and string instruments.  SATORI's ensemble musicians set the stage for professional storytelling, and offer musical motifs to supplement the events and characters of the tales unfolding.

 Students learn to identify the sounds of individual instruments, and also gain an appreciation for the power of music to enrich spoken words and create images. This program is most suitable for students in Grades 1-5, and is approximately 45 minutes-1 hour in length.   Once Upon a Tune offers opportunities for associated teaching in reading , theater, and creative writing.

Four or five SATORI musicians – an ensemble of flute, strings, and classical guitar --perform selections from the classical chamber music repertoire, featuring several pieces with a Latin flavor. Music presented includes selections from the Baroque, Classical, and Contemporary periods, and instrumentation ranges from duets to full quartets. Sambas with Attitude! includes introduction and discussion of each selection, as well as time for audience questions, and is suitable for middle school and older students.

The guitar’s Hispanic musical tradition is emphasized in numerous selections. The music of Brazilian and Argentine composers features folk idioms, strong rhythms, and Latin lyricism. A trio of violin, flute, and guitar play a dynamic 20^th century samba arrangement, which includes striking special musical effects on each instrument as well as lilting melodies. More traditional chamber music is also included in the performance, involving the guitar as a continuo instrument – essentially filling the role often occupied by a harpsichord or piano.

Music—A Small World is a duo performance for flute and classical guitar. The programming features compositions from around the world, and is most effectively presented with a world map in view for demonstration. The selections range from Polish waltzes and Appalachian folk tunes to German lullabies, Brazilian sambas, and many more. Music – A Small World is most suitable for smaller groups, in view of the limitations of two acoustic instruments, and for students in grades K-5. The program’s content is flexible, and selections from specific regions of the world may be available to coordinate with ongoing studies; a wide range of music from Latin America is routinely available. Pieces are introduced individually, and there is an opportunity for student questions.

Exploring the six basic elements of music – melody, harmony, rhythm, tone color, form, and expression – through chamber music, narrative instruction, and student participation. Selected chamber music is performed by an ensemble of SATORI musicians, and students are given the opportunity to discover, recognize, and respond to the six elements of music through listening to live performances. Musical selections include works by Beethoven, Handel, Vivaldi, Brahms, and others. Students are introduced to the six elements of music, and participate, under the guidance of a moderator, as chamber music selections demonstrate these elements. This program is most suitable for students in Grades K-5, and is structured to run from 45 minutes to 1 hour in length.

CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERTS

For older students, more formal chamber music concerts can be arranged. These can feature great works from the chamber music repertoire, or can be constructed to coordinate specifically with curriculum – as examples, music of a particular time period, country, composer, or artistic movement can structure a performance. Ensemble instrumentation will vary with the program selected.

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