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Joseph Haydn is one of the most towering innovators in the history of Western music, known to us today as both the “Father of the Symphony” and the “Father of the String Quartet”. While working in Vienna as a teaching and performing violinist in the early 1750s, he began experimenting with various forms held over from the Baroque era, such as trio sonatas, divertimentos, and serenades, eventually arriving at a combination of two violins, a viola, and a cello as his ideal ensemble for creating a new type of chamber music. He returned to writing for this type of ensemble over and over throughout the rest of his career as a composer, creating a body of 68 works that contain some of his most exciting, innovative, and enjoyable music.
This presentation by conductor and cellist Thomas Shoebotham, will examine the highlights of Haydn’s String Quartets, with their nearly inexhaustible invention, drama, and humor. Many of the musical examples for the evening will be played by a LIVE string quartet made up of local professional string players, to make the impact of Haydn’s genius as powerful as possible to the attendees of what promises to be a very memorable evening!
Thomas Shoebotham has taught and performed on the cello in the Bay Area for over 20 years. Maestro Shoebotham plays a 2004 Anthony Lane cello, which won a silver medal for tone at the Violin Society of America competition in Portland. Also a noted conductor, he has directed performances for a number of groups, including Opera San Jose, Berkeley Opera, Peninsula Symphony, West Bay Opera, Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra, Albuquerque Philharmonic, and Palo Alto Philharmonic.
