Chamber music gig a hit; more to come

By Y. Bintang Prakarsa

JAKARTA (JP): A classical music concert organizer once said that chamber music is not marketable, but a performance of piano trios by pianist Ary Sutedja, violinist I Gusti Bagus Wiswakarma, and cellist Leonard van Hien (Erasmus Huis, Sept. 19) proved that she was wrong. It was a bit surprising that the pay-to-enter concert was well-attended, bearing in mind that free concerts are normally taken for granted at Erasmus Huis.

The musicians nicely performed Haydn's Piano Trio in D major, Hob XV no. 24, Mozart's in C Major, K 548, and Beethoven's "Archduke" in B-flat major, Op 97. Haydn's and Mozart's works are basically simpler than Beethoven's, because they were composed with amateurs in mind.

Beethoven's trio, which is longer, more difficult, and assigns more independence to the string section, is more appropriate for accomplished musicians. Ary, Bagus, and van Hien succeeded in keeping the intimate nature of chamber playing by cooperating closely, giving way to the other partner when necessary.

In brief, nothing in excess. One wished, however, for a greater piano presence, not in terms of volume, perhaps, but in assertiveness and command.

However elaborate the string parts, these trios are compositions where the piano is placed in virtual leadership. Even in Beethoven's trio, the violinist and the cellist cannot assume a more significant role than the pianist, for whom more confidence and display is entirely appropriate.

This pleasing concert was but the beginning of a promising series of Classical and Romantic chamber music concerts with piano accompaniment. Beginning with this one, there will be another five monthly performances at the Erasmus Huis. In all, it will involve 12 leading Jakarta string players, pianists, and clarinetists, who are to present fourteen works for various instrumental combinations by six composers ranging from Haydn through Brahms (for a complete listing of the series of programs and performers, visit the Chamber Music Series homepage, http://www.chambermusic.or.id/).

This is no small effort with program conception through to contacting artists and booklet publishing being done without the help of professional organizers. Bagus Wiswakarma did most of the work in conjunction with van Hien, assisted by the Sekolah Musik Internasional Jakarta.

Everything is commendable, down to the informative booklet with complete programs, artists, and notes about the works for the entire series, which will extend to March next year.

According to Bagus, he had been dreaming of this chamber music series for two years before he finally began to realize it with the support of van Hien, who is a businessman by profession. He sounded out the idea with musicians, who responded with enthusiasm. Bagus then assumed the role of musical director, and succeeded in bringing together performers from many different backgrounds.

"Personal chemistry is fundamental," said Bagus. "I admit that this plan is very ambitious. To involve different pianists in every concert is really a crazy idea. But this is the key: the artists were assigned on neutral ground, which encouraged them to engage in fair competition."

For the next concert, (Thursday, Oct. 19), Bagus, together with Iswargia R. Sudarno (piano), and Sulistyo Utomo (cello), will perform Beethoven's Piano Trio in E-flat major, Op. 1 no. 1 and Schubert's Piano Trio in E-flat major, Op. 100. Further information may be obtained from Yayasan Pendidikan Musik at 829 2469 or Yayasan Musik Internasional at 913 6259.