The Juliet String Quartet performing during the Toyota US Woordfees. From left to right: Matthew Stead (violin), dr Annien Shaw (violin), Babette Roosenschoon (cello) and Emile de Roubaix (viola).
PHOTO: Juliet String Quartet Facebook
Four Stellenbosch University (SU) alumni returned to their alma mater to perform a programme designed to relieve stress and tension, during the recent Toyota US Woordfees.
The four movement performance, Ahimsa, told a musical story through the musical works by the composers Shostakovich, South African composer Matthijs Van Dijk, American composer Mark O’Conner and the Danish String Quartet.
Each movement in the performance represented a step of healing that aimed to submerge the audience members into the music and the encounter, said dr Annien Shaw, first-violinist.
“The steps of healing [conflict, resolution, journey and enlightenment] are depicted through works that gradually lift in mood,” said Shaw.
According to Shaw, there are a number of driving forces behind the quartet’s therapeutic intention.
“We want to inspire other musicians and audiences, to play ‘outside the bo’ with many genres and styles as well as to encourage collaborative musical performances,” said Shaw. The quartet hopes to create a different platform for classical music in South Africa, she said.
Musicians in The Juliet String Quartet include Shaw (violin), Matthew Stead (violin), Emile de Roubaix (viola) and Babette Roosenschoon (cello), who all obtained their BMus at SU and are renowned in the classical music industry.