Using the old Bob Dylan lyrics, a simple twist of fate has brought me down to Virginia, (Lynchburg specifically), to perform at the Seven Hills Chamber Music Festival. This is an incredible festival founded by my dear friend and colleague, violist Dudley Raine, in its fourth season. All I can say is that Lynchburg is lucky to have such a festival taking shape, and I look forward to seeing how this festival grows and evolves in the future! It is a chamber music festival that is striking the balance between new music (featuring composers like Jessica Meyer, who is this year’s composer in residence, as well as Joan Tower, William Susman, Paul Wiancko, and Erin Rogers, among others).
I learned only a week ago that I was going to be joining the festival, and that I would be jumping in on two pieces. One of the pieces was the premiere of the string quartet version of William Susman’s piece Zydeco Madness (officially titled String Quartet No. 4). It is a beautiful haunting and riveting piece dedicated to those affected (and lost) during Hurricane Katrina. It was also a great thrill getting to work directly with Bill Susman on the piece, along with one of my favorite cellists, Diana Golden, and violinists Akemi Takayama and Christi Salisbury. We performed at the Lynchburg Museum (housed in the city’s former courthouse, built in 1855), and a room filled with history.
I am looking forward to the rest of my time here this weekend, getting to perform Vivaldi’s Winter with violinist Jennifer Ahn as soloist. I am also excited to get a bit of down time this week, with time to run, read, and practice.
Gregory K. Williams 