Five years hard work pays off for Capella Amadeus

By Gus Kairupan

JAKARTA (JP): Seems like only yesterday that a group of nine string players, known as Capella Amadeus, made its debut at Erasmus Huis. The performance five years ago, a realization of leader violinist Grace Sudargo's ideals, had all the trappings of a beginner: technical shortcomings, a program that was limited to easy-to-listen and, no doubt, easy-to-play works.

Easy to play? For the group of beginners, the music would have been anything but. However, as the years went by, the group progressed more and more. If in the first three years performances were rather more than less confined to music from such early classical composers like Albinoni, Vivaldi and early Mozart, Capella Amadeus now includes in its repertoire romantic and 20th century works from the likes of Benjamin Britten and even none-too-harmonic stuff like Canadian composer Alexander Brott's Critics Corner for strings and tympany.

No longer a group of nine, Capella Amadeus' players number about 14 members. This is the standard total of string chamber orchestras, so in at least the physical sense Sudargo may be said to have reached her goal.

But getting together 14 (or any other amount) musicians does not music make. You have to get them in shape to produce that, which is where the hard work comes in. That is Grace's job, and there is little doubt that she does it well, if the capacity audiences at Erasmus Huis, where Capella Amadeus performs twice a year, are anything to go by.

But the concerts, organized by Capella Amadeus itself, are not the only activities. During the past five years the orchestra's reputation has spread, and on about 10 occasions it has performed for charity evenings, as well as participating in events that featured foreign artists, such as the concert with two guitarists from Germany and a 1996 concert under Australian conductor Philip Green. Such is Capella Amadeus' reputation today that a former member of the orchestra who hails from Germany has made the effort to come back and join it again in the concert to be held Saturday.

They work hard during the rehearsals.

"No, no! (this to the low instruments, cellos and bass) "Give it a round, full sound... give it full bow." Or "play that in the third position... that would be better." Or (giving vocal indications of the rhythm) "Ya! Ya! Ya! Ya!" No wonder the members look (and are!) exhausted after the two-hour session of going through their paces until everything is right.

Exhausted, certainly, but also satisfied. Not a soft taskmaster, Grace, and she does yell, but never is there a harsh or unpleasant remark, and never does she show a trace of waning optimism. It must be the new way of teaching music. How well I remember the days with my second piano teacher, someone who was very difficult to describe as belonging to the human race. Remote, and ever ready to smite you with a sarcastic remark. This was far worse than the first teacher, who was merely armed with a ruler to administer raps on my knuckles.

The orchestra's members comprise teachers of the Amadeus Music School which, like the Capella Amadeus String Chamber Orchestra, is part of the Amadeus Music Foundation. Also the school's most advanced students, some of whom are in their early teens, like Peggy Seputra, 14, and Rebecca Wirakesumah, 13. Young they may be, but they match their elders in the understanding of music.

The result of Grace's drilling during rehearsals, and, of course, the sold-out concerts, are proof of her capabilities not only as a performer, but also, and perhaps even more importantly, as a teacher. A cum laude graduate of the Graz Conservatory in Austria, she is also a member of the European String Teachers Association, which was established under the auspices of one of this century's foremost violinists, Yehudi Menuhin.

Her background in education probably accounts for the desire to expand Capella Amadeus' activities, i.e. spreading appreciation for classical music.

"Most activities of classical music are confined to Java," Grace said. "I think that people in the outer regions should also be exposed to this art." But never having had a taste of such music, would there be enough interest out there? She is convinced there will, but then the orchestra should not just give concerts. Workshops must also be part of the program -- in Java too, of course, but even more so in places outside Java.

Beginning last year, Capella Amadeus for the first time "went abroad" and appeared in Medan before an appreciative audience of about 400 -- which happens to be a capacity audience even in Jakarta. This year's program features, beside the concert this week at Erasmus Huis, a tour to Bali, the main sponsor of which is the Radisson Bali Hotel in Sanur. The hotel will be the host of both a concert and workshop for students of classical music. Proceeds of the Bali concert will be donated to a music school that specializes in Indonesian music, but also has a small department that concentrates on classical music.

It may be just five years old but Capella Amadeus String Chamber Orchestra can already look back on an admirable track record.