The Magic of Making Music with Others

As our social distancing continues, it's a perfect time to think about what makes playing music with others so special. The act of playing music can bring us to a very magical place, whether we are making music in the privacy of our own homes or in a sold out concert hall. Those who have had the privilege of playing chamber music (duets, trios, quartets and even larger groups) know the joy of creating something that is much more than the sum of its parts . . . it's a uniquely satisfying artistic experience. And we who are lucky enough to take part in the music making of the Portland Community Orchestra can attest to the fact that those types of experiences are not only for professionals or virtuosos!

That magic of making music together is clearly displayed in a piece I love dearly, and which features three of my favorite instruments - Debussy's Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp (1915). In 1914, Debussy was encouraged by his publisher to compose a cycle of six sonatas for various instruments. Debussy explained in a letter that the cycle of sonatas would feature “different combinations [of instruments], with the last sonata combining the previously used instruments.” Unfortunately, only three of the six sonatas were completed at the time of Debussy’s death in 1918 - the Sonata for Cello and Piano (1915), the Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp (1915), and the Sonata for Violin and Piano (1917). All gorgeous examples of chamber music - true conversations among equals.

Here's a beautiful performance of the first movement of Debussy's Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp, featuring members of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Enjoy!