A program by a string quartet would usually means selections by some of the old masters like Mozart or Bach, but not so with this unusual concert. Adding a classical twist to music from television, film and even British rock bands, the Chi Phil Chamber Players filled the City Winery on Randolph Street in Chicago with memorable music, while patrons sipped wine and enjoyed a brunch buffet. Led by violist and composer Benton Wedge, who also arranged all of the pieces, it was an afternoon full of surprises.
Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Players rock
The brief program opened with the quartet of two violins, a viola, and cello playing a lyrical and beautiful arrangement of Seal’s Grammy award winning Kiss from a Rose, which was used in the Batman Forever film soundtrack.
This was followed by a rather haunting rendition of the theme from television’s Game of Thrones by Ramin Djawadi. The joyous song from the Bollywood movie Slumdog Millionaire, Jai Ho, was next and featured some pizzicato on the cello. Mr. Wedge requested that the audience not sing along with the next selection, but said that “head bobbing” was mandatory. His rendition of Queen’s Hungarian Rhapsody was both distinctive and faithful to the original. In fact, it sounded as if the song itself had actually been written for a string quartet, and yes, there was head bobbing in the audience. Mad World, written by Ronald Orzbal for the British band Tears for Fears was followed by a surprising interpretation of John Williams’ Imperial March from Star Wars, getting an amazing sound from just four string instruments. It was easy to imagine Darth Vader striding into the room.
An original composition
Benton Wedge introduced his own inventive String Quartet No. 1. It began with a lively allegro movement, followed by a fun tango section. The third movement, which is titled Rock and Roll Casserole, was described by the composer as a combination of all the ingredients from the previous movements, baked at 350°. The final piece was another Grammy Award winner entitled Smoothie Song written by Chris Thile. A bluegrass tune originally performed by the group Nickel Creek, in one section Wedge actually strums his viola like a mandolin.
An amazing afternoon of music
This was a one-time performance. But it was a sample of what to expect from this group and an enticement to check out the Chicago Philharmonic orchestra. For more information about the Chi Phil Chamber Players and the Chicago Philharmonic visit the Chicago Philharmonic website.
Chi Phil Chamber Players
Dawn Gingrich, violin
Heather Boehm, violin
Benton Wedge, viola
Matthew Agnew, cello
All arrangements by Benton Wedge
Steve Bellinger was born and raised on the West Side of Chicago by a single mom who worked nights for a printing company. She would bring home books and magazines to encourage her kids to read. This is how he discovered Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke and the other masters of classic science fiction. It didn’t take long for him to get the itch to write. Over the years he’s written everything from newspaper articles, comic strips and radio drama to short stories and fan fiction. He is the author of the science fiction time travel novel The Chronocar. His second novel, Edge of Perception, is due to be released in 2018.
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