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Show Freedom is chamber music credo Chamber music players are stiff, refined and poker-faced. Right? Wrong, said Leslie Blackburn, who is music coordinator of this summer's Deer Valley Chamber Music Festival. Chamber players are artists freed for the moment from fitting in to the large intricate workings of a symphony orchestra. In a small group, they interpret, refine and feed each other suggestions sugges-tions on a musical work even as they are playing itl In this summer's festival, Blackburn Black-burn said, you will rarely hear a musical work as the group rehearsed it. Each player is sending signals to the others. It begins, Blackburn said, with the lead player. The tempo he begins with sends a signal to the others, but the way he lifts his instrument or his bow might also have a meaning, too. Likewise through the work, one player may introduce a phrase while the next player repeats it more subtly or more expressively. "Under pressure you may make changes. You know the rest of the group is hearing you," Blackburn said. Playing requires communication and cooperation. There's little room . for mavericks. But that is what rehearsal is for, Blackburn said to iron out the rough edges. She scheduled musical pieces for the festival that were already familiar to the musicians, so time was spent refining them, not learning them. And for the audiences, she looked for favorite, exciting pieces from the chamber repertoire. Each chamber concert, she said, has featured two to five guest artists. These are musicians who are appearing for fees far below their normal rates to work with Utah artists in the setting of Park City. Blackburn said all have expressed an interest in coming back to future festivals. They play with the Festival Chamber group four regulars from Utah who fill in as needed at the concerts. These include Blackburn on the viola, Ellen Bridger on the cello, Jeffrey Wagner on the viola, Richard Stout on the violin and Ridden Nobis on the piano and harpsichord. The festival also has included solo piano and vocal recitals. Aside from guest artists, Blackburn Black-burn also received help from Park City. Deer Valley offered in-kind services, such as its facilities. The festival also was able to acquire a non-profit status by working under the aegis of the Kimball Art Center. "Otherwise it would have taken a year to get incorporated. They've been very helpful." Four concerts remain in the series, which ends Aug. 31. (Please turn to ."What's' GOing On" In this Section for a complete schedule. ) And Blackburn said it's not too late for interested businesses and individuals to sponsor any of them. For more information on tickets or sponsorship for the festival, call Carole Cordray at the Kimball Art Center, 649-8882. |