On House Concerts

I’ve come to the conclusion that the fastest way to class up a party is to add live music. I’m definitely going into this query with a strong bias, as someone who loves to play for small crowds in intimate spaces, but bear with me. House concerts are excellent because:

1.     Everyone is more comfortable. Concert halls are great when you are in the mood to get dressed up and have a night on the town, but house concerts are a different vibe. You can take off your shoes, snuggle up next to someone you care about, and have a glass of whatever-you’d-like all while listening to the performance

2.     You can actually see what the musicians are doing. As a musician myself, this always adds to the wonder. I saw a great jazz fusion band at my amazing friend Alexa’s birthday party this summer, and being close enough to see what they did (and didn’t) need to say to each other or show each other was eye-opening. It made me want to find a group that I can gel with in that way. I don’t know that we always expect classical musicians to continue the performance between pieces, but I think it’s time to move in that direction.

3.     Lots of music was originally heard in contexts outside the concert hall. Putting on some Wagner scenes in your living room= bold choice, probably not a hit with the neighbors? But for chamber music, many of these works were written to be played in the home/palace, or first performed in salons where invited guests got to experience the newest innovations in art music. Being close to the musicians helps the details, and the interaction of the players and of the lines they play, reach you in the way the composer might have heard her/his own work performed.

4.     Any performance is definitely a conversation starter. If you’re having a party that’s bringing together different circles of friends, a concert gives everyone a common experience to chat about. Then they can move on to their opinions on politics, religion, and this season of the Bachelorette, but they started with common ground.

Check out my media page for a clip from my “Bach and Ballads” performance. You’ll hear ‘Georgia on My Mind’ with the radiant Abigail A. Head (soprano) and Baltimore’s resident polymath Roger Wu Fu (keys), and the gigue from Bach Suite no.1. Thank you to William Snider for hosting, Hana Abrams for filming, and all of the wonderful guests who sang a mean rendition of “Hey Jude” shortly after the clip ends.