HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA TO FORM A VIOLIN AND HARP DUO?
Janna: We met in Vancouver on the set of “The Light in the Piazza,” a beautiful show with an unconventional score and instrumentation that included violin and harp. After playing 21 shows and sharing a tiny dressing room we figured we could likely work together! At intermission we were always talking and throwing out ideas for collaboration once we discovered what a natural combination violin and harp turned out to be. Once the show concluded we got to work establishing CORDEI right away!
Albertina: I've always loved chamber music, and from working with Janna during Piazza (a musical that is more like a chamber opera), I thought we should definitely continue our collaboration. I was also still getting settled into Vancouver and the music scene here, so I thought there’s no better way to perform more than if I have my own group.
Albertina: I've always loved chamber music, and from working with Janna during Piazza (a musical that is more like a chamber opera), I thought we should definitely continue our collaboration. I was also still getting settled into Vancouver and the music scene here, so I thought there’s no better way to perform more than if I have my own group.
What does cordei mean?
Janna: Well it is kind of a play on words, “cordes” in French means strings, which we thought was suitable to incorporate, as between the two of us we have 48! We changed the ending as we thought people would say it incorrectly, and there is nothing worse than a mispronounced name!!! We chose “dei” for an ending as we liked the Latin reference to spirituality.
Albertina: Actually, I have 47 strings on my own so together we have 51!
Albertina: Actually, I have 47 strings on my own so together we have 51!
WHAT DO YOU DO FOR REPERTOIRE?
Janna: There is surprisingly little material written for violin and harp, so that means we have to spend a great deal of time searching for the music that does exist (Albertina is an amazing repertoire sleuth!) and arranging things written for other instruments that we want to play. One of our main priorities is working with composers and commissioning original pieces and re-working existing works for our combination. It’s incredibly rewarding to work together with a composer on a piece written just for us and to be the first ones to play it! We are currently waiting on three pieces that will be completed for us in 2014. The main challenge: it’s incredibly time-consuming, so we have to be patient as the pieces are completed!
Albertina: The bulk of our repertoire is 20th century and later, primarily because the concert pedal harp in its present form has only been around for around 200 years. I'm able to transcribe some things that were originally written for piano, but it is definitely so much more satisfying to play something actually written with your instrument in mind.
Albertina: The bulk of our repertoire is 20th century and later, primarily because the concert pedal harp in its present form has only been around for around 200 years. I'm able to transcribe some things that were originally written for piano, but it is definitely so much more satisfying to play something actually written with your instrument in mind.
JANNA, WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS ABOUT BEING A VIOLINIST?
My violin is quite sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, and dislikes flying. It takes the instrument a few days to adjust to a new location, or even a change in the weather! This can be very frustrating, especially in Vancouver weather…. my instrument hates humidity. This means seeking out a luthier (string instrument specialist) to make sound post and bridge adjustments to ensure the instrument stays open and easy to play after these changes.
My violin is my constant companion when I am running errands in between gigs, as it can’t be left in the car for the risk of temperature shifts and theft. I had one funny incident when my violin case got wedged in a shopping cart and I couldn’t get it out! I have travelled and performed in some unconventional and remote places in Russia and Tibet, and on one such trip I almost had my concert violin seized at the Russian border upon arrival. Fortunately after several hours both violin and I emerged relatively unscathed, but after that harrowing experience I bought a $500 “throw away” violin that I play on these trips, or when I feel like playing for the seals at the beach!
In regards to challenges performing in our combination, matching intonation with a harp is an ongoing and flexible thing that I am constantly adjusting to; as the joke goes, harpists spend 90% of their time tuning and the other 10% playing out of tune. It isn’t actually like that, but a great deal of rehearsal time is spent working through intonation issues between our instruments.
My violin is my constant companion when I am running errands in between gigs, as it can’t be left in the car for the risk of temperature shifts and theft. I had one funny incident when my violin case got wedged in a shopping cart and I couldn’t get it out! I have travelled and performed in some unconventional and remote places in Russia and Tibet, and on one such trip I almost had my concert violin seized at the Russian border upon arrival. Fortunately after several hours both violin and I emerged relatively unscathed, but after that harrowing experience I bought a $500 “throw away” violin that I play on these trips, or when I feel like playing for the seals at the beach!
In regards to challenges performing in our combination, matching intonation with a harp is an ongoing and flexible thing that I am constantly adjusting to; as the joke goes, harpists spend 90% of their time tuning and the other 10% playing out of tune. It isn’t actually like that, but a great deal of rehearsal time is spent working through intonation issues between our instruments.
ALBERTINA, HOW ABOUT THE PROS AND CONS OF BEING A HARPIST? ANY MISCONCEPTIONS YOU WANNA CLEAR UP?
Okay, for starters, I am VERY in tune so that's obviously a misconception, haha! But yes, tuning is an obvious con of playing the harp. It means that I always have to show up at a rehearsal or concert much earlier than everyone else so that the harp has a chance to settle a bit before I tune...each string…47 of them! Transportation always presents as another delightful challenge, but to all those people who ask if I wish I played piccolo instead, I say, "Never!". I played clarinet when I was younger and I'll admit it was pretty nice that I could transport it one-handed.
Anyway, despite the tuning and transport hardships, and also the fact that I can never have fancy manicured nails(tragic, I know), I get to play an instrument that is just as unique and amazing sounding as it looks. So that's a big win for me! People usually think that the harp is a soft and relaxing instrument and are often surprised by the volume of that can actually be achieved. One of the things I love most is the deep resonance I get when I really dig into the strings. There's really nothing like it and it's pretty magical to me!
Anyway, despite the tuning and transport hardships, and also the fact that I can never have fancy manicured nails(tragic, I know), I get to play an instrument that is just as unique and amazing sounding as it looks. So that's a big win for me! People usually think that the harp is a soft and relaxing instrument and are often surprised by the volume of that can actually be achieved. One of the things I love most is the deep resonance I get when I really dig into the strings. There's really nothing like it and it's pretty magical to me!
IT TAKES A LOT OF DRIVE TO STICK WITH A CAREER IN MUSIC. DID YOU ALWAYS KNOW FROM DAY ONE THIS WAS YOUR CAREER PATH?
Janna: I grew up in a musical family, so my transition into a music degree and career was pretty natural. However, it is an incredibly challenging career that has taken many different turns for me, and I am doing drastically different things than I thought I would be! For example, I always assumed that I would graduate from school and win an orchestra job and live happily ever after. Two things: firstly, what they don’t tell you in music school is that orchestra jobs are few and far between, and that it’s ridiculously competitive. The average orchestra musician plays between 30-40 auditions before winning a job, if they ever do. Secondly, once I did start freelancing with orchestras I soon discovered I didn’t fit the mold of an orchestral musician; I craved more independence and individual expression, so after several years of playing in orchestras I decided to turn my focus to my chamber and solo playing….which definitely has its own challenges. But I am more fulfilled by investing in myself as an artist and able to keep my focus on my own projects and skills rather than spending most of my creative time realizing someone else’s vision.
Albertina: I've been all over the map with career aspirations, from wanting to be a painter living in France to a race car driver. Having typical Asian parents, I was indoctrinated with the mantra that music was a hobby and medicine was a career so I compromised, and here I am as a harpist and moonlighting – or maybe in this case, daylighting - as a dentist. I'm actually much more diligent with my practising now compared to when I was in music school!
Albertina: I've been all over the map with career aspirations, from wanting to be a painter living in France to a race car driver. Having typical Asian parents, I was indoctrinated with the mantra that music was a hobby and medicine was a career so I compromised, and here I am as a harpist and moonlighting – or maybe in this case, daylighting - as a dentist. I'm actually much more diligent with my practising now compared to when I was in music school!
YOUR LIFE CONSISTS OF A LOT OF PRACTISING, REHEARSING, AND SCHLEPPING TO AND FROM GIGS.
WHAT NON-MUSIC STUFF DO YOU ENJOY DOING?
Janna: I am a devoted yogi and do yoga pretty much every day. It helps a great deal with countering the physical and mental demands of playing/conducting for hours a day. I am a food enthusiast. Hiking and kayaking are my favorite ways to spend the (occasional) day off, so I feel incredibly lucky to live in BC and love the natural wonders that surround me.
Albertina: I love all the arts whether it be visual, performing, literary, or culinary, so I enjoy going to concerts and the theatre, galleries, restaurants (I appreciate the culinary efforts of others so much more than my own), and also painting and making my own jewellery. Being a fashion junkie, I love shopping and am always on the lookout for the perfect dress and shoes to perform in.
Albertina: I love all the arts whether it be visual, performing, literary, or culinary, so I enjoy going to concerts and the theatre, galleries, restaurants (I appreciate the culinary efforts of others so much more than my own), and also painting and making my own jewellery. Being a fashion junkie, I love shopping and am always on the lookout for the perfect dress and shoes to perform in.
WHERE DO YOU WANT CORDEI TO BE IN FIVE YEARS?
Janna: I hope we can expand upon the foundation we have established over our first year of performing together, continuing to bring quality performances of contemporary and Canadian repertoire to broader audiences around Canada and abroad. We have recently delved into collaborating with visual artists, dancers and filmmakers, and incredibly enriching experience and I hope the years ahead hold a great deal more of that for us.
Albertina: I think Janna pretty much said it all! Harp and violin music for all!
Albertina: I think Janna pretty much said it all! Harp and violin music for all!
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