TorQ Hits Manitouwadge With A BANG!
Clips from TorQ’s performance in Manitouwadge to be added later this weekend, check back soon, scroll down to view photos now
TorQ clearly having plenty of fun while performing an encore number. Photos OntarioNewsNorth.com
Jamie Drake of TorQ plays the cajon. Photo by OntarioNewsNorth.com
MANITOUWADGE, ON – Saturday, January 22nd Nite on the Town Entertainment Series (NOTES) of the Arts presented the TorQ at the Manitouwadge High School theatre.
A lively crowd of music enthusiasts gathered to enjoy as TorQ, a percussion quartet formed in 2004 by four young, Toronto-area percussionists, played one incredibly unexpected musical treat after another. The repertoire, to which written description could hardly do justice, was so varied not only from one song to the next, but even from one moment to the next in the same peice. Sweet lyrical mallet interludes nearly reminiscent of lullabies were followed by energy filled-heart pounding-foot stomping percussive masterpieces somehow fitting together seamlessly. These however were not nearly as unexpected as the large dose of comedy included in the performance, at times delivered through the relentlessly unexpected uses of bows, bells, hands and drums and other moments delivered through the shear joy and childlike glee apparent on the faces of the quartet members.
It is no surprise that they continue, undaunted by the path less travelled, to be pioneers of sorts in the world of modern percussion committed to both composing original works and commissioning original interludes from contemporary Canadian composers – approximately 40 to date. They competed as the sole Canadian representative at the Luxembourg International Percussion Quartet Competition and to much acclaim across Canada at MusicFest Canada Nationals, the Open Ears Contemporary Music Festival, the Four Seasons Centre for the Arts, Stratford Music Festival and with the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra for the world premiere of David Gillingham’s Concertino for Four Percussion and Orchestra.
Manitouwadge joined the long list of Canadian venues to end the musical journey on which TorQ had travelled them with a standing ovation, this they answered with a hand-drummed number on tin garbage cans.
TorQ returns to touring this Spring as they visit Southern Ontario and Quebec audiences; they will release a 2nd CD, the follow up to their self-titled debut album, this summer – June 2011. Western Canada will no doubt be waiting in anticipation as they are scheduled to tour the prairies Fall 2011. Between touring and travels they will continue promoting music education in schools in Southern Ontario, though school concerts and clinics aimed at elementary and high school students.
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From TorQ’s website…
Members Richard Burrows, Jamie Drake and Daniel Morphy all met while studying music at the University of Toronto with Russell Hartenberger, Beverley Johnston and John Rudolph, while Adam Campbell hails from PEI and studied at Acadia University before completing further studies at UofT. The members of TorQ are each accomplished musicians in their own right; together they form an incredibly dynamic chamber group. Under the initial guidance of Robin Engelman (NEXUS), they have honed their craft to form an ensemble that is as exciting as it is musical.
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