Page 6 / Sunday, March 20, 2011 Tallahassee Democrat / TLH

Bach fan shares Baroque with modern audiencesMost kids listen to

music while they are studying, and as a child, Valerie Arsenault was no exception. Her choice of music, howev-er, was not the typical teenage fare of pop and rock.

“My father brought home records of Bach’s solo violin pieces and I started listening to them a lot, especial-ly while I was doing my homework,” she explains. “The fact that so much music could come from a single vio-lin transfixed me.”

Growing up near Louisville, Ky., Arsenault had been involved in music at an early age. In fact,

before she started kin-dergarten her moth-er saw a demonstra-tion of a Suzuki music program – a popu-lar teaching meth-od for younger musi-cians – and decided to sign her up for violin lessons. Arsenault’s father helped her prac-tice, accompanying her on the piano until she became a teenager.

“He kept practice logs, and really helped me to develop the disci-pline to practice every day,” she says.

When Arsenault was 13, she attended a sum-mer music camp and met James Buswell, a solo violinist, and the teacher she would even-tually study with at the New England Conser-

vatory of Music. “One evening at

camp, Buswell was giving the students a demonstration, and he played the Bach piec-es I had been listen-ing to on recordings,” she remembers. “I was amazed to hear them played live.”

Her love of Baroque music led Arsenault to continue her education at Indiana Universi-ty, where she earned a master’s degree in early music performance and became interested in teaching as well as per-forming. In 2000, she came to Tallahassee on a university fellowship to get her doctorate in violin performance at the FSU College of Music, where she currently directs the University’s Baroque Ensemble. (“Baroque” describes the period from approximately 1600 to 1750 after the Renaissance.)

Arsenault is also the music director of the Tallahassee Bach Parley, a local group that performs concerts of Baroque music on period instruments so

that the music sounds very similar to the way it was originally per-formed.

“Of all of the styles, Baroque music has always come the most naturally to me and speaks the most direct-ly to my soul,” says Arsenault. “I want to share this music with

the audience, and show them that music writ-ten 300 years ago can be powerful today.”

The word “parley” means discussion; the Tallahassee Bach Par-ley aims to inform the audience and make the concert atmosphere more relaxed by offer-ing some conversation.

“At Bach Parley con-certs we talk to the audience to give them a hint about what to lis-ten for in the music,” she explains. “It’s a little like the way rock and folk musicians ban-ter with the audience between sets. It’s a way for us to break down the barrier between the musicians and the audience. We want it to

be more of a conversa-tion, a parley.”

Much Baroque music is actually dance music that was performed for social events, and first-time listeners are often surprised at some similarities this music shares with more mod-ern styles.

“The Bach Parley’s music has more in com-mon with jazz com-bos, or even folk or rock bands, than with a conventional sym-phony orchestra,” says Arsenault. “The harp-sichord, cello and bass form the ‘continuo’ sec-tion, which is just like the rhythm section in a jazz or rock band.”

The upcoming Tal-lahassee Bach Parley concert features French Baroque music and showcases the unique period instruments. The highlight of the concert is a piece called “Les Élémens” (The Elements) by Jean-Féry Rebel.

“ ‘Les Élémens’ illus-trates the creation of the world,” explains Arsenault. “It begins with complete chaos, and all of the instru-ments play a shocking loud and discordant noise. This gradual-ly resolves into order, with the four elements – water, air, fire and earth – emerging grad-ually from the chaos into the creation of the world.”

Arsenault goes on to explain that the flutes represent water and air, while the string instruments depict fire and earth. At the beginning of the con-cert, Arsenault – who

By Erica ThalerSPECIAL TO THE DEMOCRAT

Valerie Arsenault directs FSU’s Baroque Ensemble and is music director of the Tallahasee Bach Parley.

See MUSIC, pAGE 7 / TLH

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TLH / Tallahassee Democrat Sunday, March 20, 2011 / Page 7

plays violin in the Bach Parley as well as act-ing as the music direc-tor – will demonstrate some of these particu-lar sounds, so the audi-ence will know what to listen for during the piece.

In addition to playing the violin, Arsenault has a private studio, where she teaches about 30 students ages 4 to adult.

“Each of my students has a different learn-ing style,” Arsenault explains, “and I enjoy the challenge of fig-uring out how best to

help each one. I don’t expect all of my stu-dents to become profes-sional musicians, but I know they will car-ry an appreciation for music throughout their lives.”

Arsenault says that being a professional performer makes me her a better teacher,

and teaching has cer-tainly made her a bet-ter performer. Break-ing down challenges with her students helps her to practice better herself.

“I discover something new about playing the violin every week while working with my stu-dents.”

MUSICFrom Page 6 / TLH

Radio’s Tammy Webb bubbles with personalityA few artful questions

for Star 98’s morning radio host Tammy Webb

Q: Can you play a musical instrument?

A: My big brother, Jerry Landrum, was an amazing drummer. When I was around 10 years old, I made a deal with him. In exchange for him teaching me to play drums, I let his band practice in my playhouse in our back-yard in Bainbridge, Ga. I loved to sing and I knew all the words to “House of the Ris-ing Sun,” so they would let me sing lead with them on that one song. I thought I was a STAR.

A: Do you own any original art?

A: My only true piece of original art is a Native American hand-woven rug with inter-locking fish. I have

always loved antiques, and on one of my quests many years ago I bought an old mahog-any chair. When I took it apart to refinish it, I found the rug folded up inside the cushion. I had it framed and it has been hanging over my couch ever since.

Q: What was the first concert you ever attended?

A: My big sister tells me she took me to a high-school band con-cert when we lived in Paris, France, but I do not remember that. I vividly remember my daughter’s first band concert. We had just moved to Bainbridge, and Michelle was miss-ing her friends, when she met Joe Parisi, the band teacher. He was amazing, and he con-vinced Michelle to give music a chance. She went on to play flute

and piccolo all through her high-school career.

Q: What book is on your nightstand right now?

A: Tallahassee media-tor and attorney Mark E. Becker’s new book, “At Risk of Winning,” and “When God Winks at You,” by Squire Rushnell.

Q: When was the last time you danced?

A: Sunday mornings I like to listen to Al Green on my back porch and I always dance around with my little dog, Belle. The last for-mal occasion was with my husband, Chris, at the Leon County Humane Society Fur

Ball Fundraiser. We attend every year!

Q: What was the last live performance you saw?

A: George Strait, Reba McEntire and Lee Ann Rimes. Wow, what an amazing show. I have been in love with George Strait for more years than I care to admit, and my sweet husband bought the tickets for me for Christmas.

Q: What movie has most affected you?

A: “The Color Purple.”

It tells a horrible story of truth.

Q: What was the last thing you made by hand?

A: I don’t do arts and crafts so this one is tough to answer. I did make a splint for my son’s jammed finger last night!

Q: When was the last time you were on a stage?

A: I was the emcee for “Love My Dog Day” at the grand opening of the “Be the Solution” store in the Tallahassee Mall. It is so much fun to hang out with dogs; they love everybody and they are always happy to spend time with you.

Q: What artistic tal-ent do you wish you had?

A: I would really love to be able to use an easel and paint to paint all the beauty of St. George Island!

SPECIAL TO THE DEMOCRAT

Hear radio personality Tammy Webb co-hosting the morning show with John Dawson on Star 98.9-FM on weekdays.

MORE ABOUT COCAVisit COCA’s web-

sites at www.cocanet.org and www.more-thanyouthought.com. Send suggestions for artist profiles, news items, story ideas or fun facts to COCA at cultural@cocanet.org.

“It is so much fun to hang out with dogs; they love

everybody.”

Tammy WebbStar 98.9-FM

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