Ensemble Mirable presented by Early Music Hawaii

It was a rainy evening, the sort that could easily keep one near the home fires.  However, on this evening I was lured by the promise of delicious chamber music, including my favorite instrument, the harpsichord.  So, I traveled south to the tiny Queen Emma’s Community Center to enjoy the lovely music of the Ensemble Mirable.

I arrived very early, sitting outside the Center watching the comings and goings of what appeared to be the staff.  At first I was uncertain if I had come to the correct place.  Eventually it became evident that I was, indeed, in the correct place as I notice the arriving musicians.  I entered to pay me fee and to select a good seat.

I selected a seat in the center, rear of the semi-circles of seats set around the small stage.  My thought were that the sound might be best a bit further from the stage.  The space had not been constructed with acoustics in mind so any spot was a gamble.  As it ended up the sounds I heard were excellent.  Because I was early I was present when the musicians tuned their instruments and that time verified my choice of seats.  Also, it was interesting to observe the interaction of the musicians during the tuning.  It was evident that politics is everywhere.  Their posturing gave me a smile.

A bit later, as the audience gathered their interaction was interesting, too.  In this small town there appears to be something of a musical elite.  They appear to be of varied skills and knowledge but all levels are kind enough to support each other and it is pleasant to see their joy at being together to show their appreciation of the arts.

As it turned out, this evening was a lovely evening of very nice music performed by musicians that were a joy to watch.  Also, it was very nice that such an intimate environment allowed close observation of both the musicians and the audience.  The program was nicely varied, beginning with the elegantly sonorous piece “Sonata in A Major” by Dietrich Becker composed in 1674, including the excellent display of classic chamber music with the “Sonata III for Two in D Minor” by Johann Rosenmuller, and ending with the lively French Chamber Style piece “Aria Sopra ‘La Bergamasca’ in D Major” by Marco Uccellini.  It total there were eight pieces that did an excellent job of showcasing the range of instruments played by this small group as well as the skills of these very fine musicians.

Regarding the musicians, they were led by Elizabeth Blumenstock playing a Guarneri violin fabricated in the mid-1600’s.  The instrument produced an interesting and distinctive sound.  Baroque violinist Katherine Kyme, baroque guitarist Kevin Cooper, Joanna Blendulf playing the viola da gamba, and, my favorite, harpsichordist Jung Hae Kim, accompanied Elizabeth.  Each musician had an interesting stage presence.  Katherine was a bit somber until the impish flashes of Joanna, who was the evident heart of the group, excited her.  Kevin appeared stoic while Kim, with her ebony skinned elegance, showed her warmth with her sly smiles at interesting times during the performance.  It was enjoyable to watch the interplay.  For me the close observation of the music makers was as enjoyable as their fine music.

An excellent addition to the evening was the explanation of the unique instruments being played.  First, Elizabeth showed surprising vitality in her thorough explanation of her 17^th century instrument.  Her enthusiasm was excellent, as were her anecdotes.  The talk given by Joanna on her truly unique instrument was very informative and entertaining.  Both talks were an excellent addition to the performance.