Camden Shaw figures he must have been about 7 years old when he watched his father conduct influential cellist David Finckel in a small orchestra. Sure, his family had already hoped to play together as a quartet with Camden at the cello, but it was from that moment he says he knew he really wanted to pursue the instrument. Fast forward a few years and now Shaw, still just in his late 20s, is the cellist for what is quickly becoming one of the most in-demand quartets in the world.
"The composers who write for a string quartet, they're writing in a way that ideally you don't feel like anything is missing," Shaw says of the four-piece. "Our job is to best realize a composer's vision. They have everything you need: The rhythm is built in so you don't need a drum set; they have huge dynamic range."
FAQ
Dover Quartet
With Avi Avital
WHEN — 7 p.m. Tuesday
WHERE — Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville
COST — $10
INFO — 443-5600 or waltonartscenter.org
The Dover Quartet has become a seasonal favorite as part of the lineup for the Walton Arts Center's annual Artosphere Festival. On Tuesday, the group returns to Fayetteville as part of a tour with Grammy-nominated mandolinist Avi Avital, and the show is poised to be a unique experience even for Arkansans who have seen the musicians perform before.
"With his instrument being solely plucked, it completely changes the complexities of the group," says Shaw. "It's a richer sound than what you'd usually hear with a quartet -- achieves a different space in the sound world. Avi adds a really fun presence. And he is a worldwide sensation now, and to get to hear him in Fayetteville is a rare experience."
Shaw says the musicians are excited for their first performance inside the newly expanded/renovated Walton Arts Center -- which they got a peek at when they were in Northwest Arkansas this summer for Artosphere. Although they've traveled across the globe playing some of the most prestigious music halls and residencies, the group has some favorite spots in Fayetteville, too (Vetro 1925 and Arsaga's at the Depot being two of them).
"It kind of feels like a home away from home. We've been there enough times, it feels like a homecoming."
For this homecoming, Shaw is looking forward to doing what he and his three peers love -- sharing the miracle of music with others. His hope is for the quartet's audiences to feel inspired while maybe trying something new. Perhaps in taking the journey through the music with the musicians and composers, the audience can find a way to connect, or encounter complexities of life that the every day sometimes doesn't offer.
"We don't understand why this thing is so powerful," Shaw says of the wonders of the artform. "The magical thing about music is it's more direct than words that tell you what to feel. The core emotions we feel are not words. The very language of music is very emotional. It's open-ended imagery of what [you want to see] but is very specific in what [it can make] you feel."
NAN What's Up on 12/02/2016