The Danish String Quartet adds something special to their “meet the artists” gigs for aspiring young musicians. For the UCSB Arts & Lectures outreach at Goleta Valley Jr. High they began with a brief and amusing history lesson about the origin of string quartets in the 1750s – Hayden decided that four voices were ideal for the full range of classical musical expression, not too little, not too much. What really sets the DSQ apart is their incorporation of traditional and contemporary Danish folk music into their repertoire and it really adds some toe-tapping spice to their outreach demonstrations. Some of the compositions include imitations of sounds of nature, whoops, stomps and percussive effects on the strings and bodies of their instruments. All jolly good fun and guaranteed to get the attention of young teenagers.
