TIMEFORTHREE
Cue sheet FOR STUDENTS
At the Performance
At the Kennedy Center you will attend a performance presented by Time for Three, a trio that performs music in a variety of styles. In addition to playing music, the musicians will talk about their artistic influences, how they got together as a group, and their process for writing and adapting music for their performances. The performers in Time for Three are Nick Kendall (violin), Zachery DePue (violin), and Ranaan Meyer (double bass). They met while attending the Curtis Institute for Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though they share a common background in classical music training, each brings additional musical influences to the group, helping to create their unique sound. During the performance, listen to how the performers in Time for Three use their instruments to play different styles of music. Non-traditional techniques, such as tapping the instruments with their hands and scraping the strings add a variety of sounds not commonly heard from string instruments. Trio - a musical group consisting of three performers Fugue - a musical form that features distinct instrumental voices that each present a melody (musical theme) in deliberate order, creating a complex, intertwined musical structure; common during the baroque era (1600–1750 CE); from the Latin word for “chase”
Time for Three are (left to right): Nick Kendall, Zachery DePue, and Ranaan Meyer.
Eclecticism Eclecticism is an artistic style that combines elements of other styles, often in unexpected ways (in music, eclecticism is sometimes called cross-over music). Some examples of eclecticism in music might be samples of rock music inserted in a rap performance; a rock musician performing a baroque fugue on electric guitar; jazz music performed on toy instruments; or dance beats added under an operatic aria or Gregorian chant. Each of these examples combines elements of music that do not commonly exist at the same time and creates a musical performance that “crosses-over” more than one style.
Gregorian chant - a spoken/singing style developed by 12th century European monks for church services; named for Pope Gregory I (540–604 CE)
The music performed by Time for Three crossesover many musical styles. During the performance you will hear jazz improvisation, bluegrass fiddle, the expressiveness of gypsy violin, the slaps and pops of a funk bass, and the delicate precision of baroque counterpoint.
Counterpoint - two or more distinct melodic lines that when performed together create the harmonic texture of a piece of music; from the Latin for “note against note”
Some styles, like bluegrass, are commonly played by violin players, while others, like funk, are not common. What types of music do you expect a violin to play?
Aria - a melodic song performed by a singer, usually in an opera; from the Italian for “air”
Resources
Meet the Musicians Nick Kendall (violin), Zachery DePue (violin), and Ranaan Meyer (bass) came from musical families and met while attending music school. While each had spent many years training to be a classical string musician, they each had other musical influences: Before taking up the violin, Nick began as a drummer listening to Hip Hop, R&B, and gospel; Zachery grew up listening to and performing bluegrass; Ranaan’s interests lie in jazz, rock, and world music. Though bassist Ranaan Meyer writes much of the trio’s original music, each member of Time for Three helps arrange the music for performance, incorporating improvisation and their diverse interests and influences to inform the group’s eclectic style. Time for Three has also commissioned original music from other composers, as well as adapted existing music, from familiar bluegrass pieces (“Orange Blossom Special”) to songs by The Beatles (“Blackbird”). Time for Three performs more than 120 concerts each year, from appearing with The Philadelphia Orchestra to presentations in schools. They have recorded three CDs and performed on the soundtrack to a History Channel documentary. World music - music that incorporates elements of musical styles and instruments from around the world Arrange - adapting music from one style to another, or for different instruments
Chamber ensembles - small groups of instruments, such as a string trio or a woodwind or brass quintet
artsedge.kennedy-center.org/perfectpitch kennedy-center.org/pwtv timeforthree.com
Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, a program of the Kennedy Center Education Department. For more information about the performing arts and arts education, visit our Web sites: kennedy-center.org/education artsedge.kennedy-center.org Questions, comments? Write us at cuesheets@artsedge. kennedy-center.org. © 2008, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts The U.S. Department of Education supports approximately one-third of the budget for the Kennedy Center Education Department. The contents of this Cuesheet do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
Commissioned - having music written specifically for a performer or group
The String Family The orchestral string family is comprised of the violin, the viola, the cello, and the double bass. These instruments formed the core of the European orchestra in 16th century, and remain essential to contemporary orchestras. They are also commonly used in small chamber ensembles and as solo instruments. Though they vary greatly in size and pitch, they share similarities: they are made of wood; they can be played by plucking or using a horsehair bow; and their hollow bodies amplify the sound created by their four vibrating strings. Both the violin and double bass are frequently found outside of classical music, most often in bluegrass and jazz.