SIERRA VISTA — On March 2, local instrumentalists are invited to Cochise College’s Sierra Vista Campus to be part of the ACMP 2013 Worldwide Chamber Music Play-in Weekend, an event that started in 1986 by ACMP — The Chamber Music Network in an effort to encourage its members to gather locally to perform Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in March, the composer’s birthday month.
“We hope that throughout the weekend of March 2-3, 2013, somewhere on the planet, ACMP members will be playing chamber music together,” the organization’s website says. “No gathering is too small — even a duo counts.”
Bradley Hardin, a Sierra Vista resident and Cochise College student, is the instigator and organizer of the local ACMP play-in event. He said he’s excited to offer a venue for local instrumentalists to gather and play music in, perhaps, a way they never have before.
“The thing to keep in mind is that this is not a ‘concert,'” Hardin said. “One of my classmates likened it to ‘one big practice,’ hence the coined term ‘play-in.’ This takes it back to the original intent of the ACMP: a forum for lovers of chamber music to get together and play chamber music. Anyone who wants to sit in and listen is welcome as long as space is available.”
Hardin has lived in Sierra Vista for the last 10 years, having moved in from Virginia after growing up in St. Louis and spending part of his career working with electronics in the U.S. Navy. He is now an IT program manager for a defense contractor, but in his spare time, he’s in the final stages of completing his Associate of Arts degree in music at Cochise College. He plays soprano and bass clarinets in the Sierra Vista Campus concert band.
Chamber music is defined as instrumental music composed for a small ensemble, such as a trio or quartet, to be performed in a room or small auditorium. Unlike in a band or orchestra, there is typically one performer on each part and instead of a conductor, each player offers insight on articulations, tempo and other technical aspects of a piece. One of the most challenging parts of a chamber ensemble rehearsal is to listen while playing so that each instrument matches in style and the music sounds unified.
Over the last few weeks, Hardin has worked on finding music that will offer players a range of music from relatively easy to fairly difficult. Many consider the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, traditionally played at the end of each play-in event, a hard piece of music, but two of the college’s ensembles are working on it already to help lead musicians who may be unfamiliar with the work.
“This is an all-inclusive event, and no one is discriminated against because of their skill level, age, etc.,” he said. “The basic requirement for musical participation is to bring an instrument and be able to sight read.”
The three-hour event on March 2 begins at 1 p.m., with registration starting at 12:45 in room 700 of the Community Outreach Building at the college’s Sierra Vista Campus, located at 901 N. Colombo Ave. There is no cost to participate. For more information or to RSVP for the event in advance, email Hardin at acmpsv2013@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (520) 369-3443.