´They were so close to the things they wanted - needed - for the next stage of their career, and if they got it, so many other things seemed possible´.
Brit (second violonist), Jana (furst violin and the leader), Henry (viola) and Daniel (cello) are the four members of Van Ness Quartet whose dynamics, everyday life and connections over the everyday music rehearsals are uniquely explored by Aja Gabel in her debut novel The Ensemble. A professional cellist herself, Gabel wrote about a fascinating and rarely approached topic of the everyday life of a music ensemble.
Brought together by the fate of their talent and eventually by the randomness of their school connections, how they can operate together and connect beyond the strict professional network. In a simple - non-complex from the intellectual point of view - work intellectual setting you don´t have to extend your allegiances after the work hours. But, in the case of a quartet, as for any intellectual entreprise, working - aka playing together - requires a different kind of connection. ´(...) with the quaretet, they had to share a goal, distribute the dream between them (...)´. Playing a means more than an impecable technical individual reproduction of the score. It means connecting the pieces to create that ensemble that shapes the individual musical representation of each musical work. After all, the score is an inert assembly of notes brought to life each and every time in an unique way by the art of the musician(s).
Each part of the book has a dedicated musical menu that helps to better connect with the characters and the narative. In each section, each and every one of the characters are going through different stages of transformation, from the family and past connections to taking decisions to influence the present and endeavouring the future.
The novel is focused on the character development and the evolution of the members of the ensemble through time, with their close circle as well as between them. This intense spiritual exploration gives material substance to Brit, Jana, Henry and Daniel, so at the end of the book one may have a clear human representations of the literaray fictional characters. It may not be an eventful novel, indeed, but the action is taking place at a spiritual, human level which reveals a world of the musician brains that I find fascinating.
Those interested in learning more about how to write about music are also offered beautiful examples enabling a certain representation of the musical wordings.
The Ensemble is a book like no other I´ve read opening the door to a rich world of sounds and feelings that remains a mysterious revelation. It encourages me to explore more classical music and music writing in general.
A special note for the book cover, a colourful representation that resonates with the intense life of the characters.
Rating: 4 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
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