Rhapsody Quintet
For more than 20 years Nova Scotia’s Rhapsody Quintet has thrilled
and delighted audiences with its sparkling renditions of a wide range of music,
including light classical, salon, musical theatre, jazz, tango, klezmer, movie
music and more. Recently AE caught up with the group’s double-bassist David
Langstroth to discuss their latest CD Passion, and their concert this Wednesday
night at The Carleton Music Bar & Grill in Halifax.
For a 'part-time' gig,
Rhapsody keeps very busy - what has the band been up to lately?
Rhapsody
quintet has been preparing for concerts in Truro, Halifax and Lunenberg, and
for a variety of private functions. We've also been considering some
interesting offers such as an invitation to perform at a festival in South
America. We have been getting to know the musicians who have been playing
violin and clarinet with us over the winter while Anne and John are away, and
we are writing new arrangements
You explored a lot of
new ground on the last CD - was that intentional?
Rhapsody
Quintet loves to go wherever our creative impulses take us. If there is music
with a good melody and harmony we will go there. But the specific direction can
be unexpected. There are three tracks on the CD that relate to the Titanic
commemorations in Halifax last year (Dream of Autumn, My Heart Will Go On, and
Nearer My God to Thee). There is some music on the CD that we were requested to
play for a particular wedding (Don't Stop Me Now), and a lot of tangos which
come from Anne and John's recent interest in tango dancing. The final CD
repertoire is a product of all these organic processes and was never planned in
advance.
Do you have a favourite
track from that CD?
That's
like asking a parent if they have a favourite child.
What can audiences
expect at the February 13 concert?
For
February 13 we are starting the Valentines theme early. Audiences can expect a
lot of beautiful passionate and romantic music from many different genres of
the past 100 years: everything from Edith Piaf to Celine Dion.
Are young people still
drawn to the classic songbooks?
Young
people are no different than older people in their appreciation of good music.
What's next on the
group's agenda?
We're
developing some new arrangements - we hope to say more about this shortly.
Rhapsody Quintet,
Wednesday February 13, 8.30pm
The Carleton Music Bar
& Grill, 1685 Argyle St. Halifaxwww.rhapsodyquintet.com
