John Dalley

For the Australian journalist and, see John Bede Dalley.
John Dalley
Born John Dalley
March 3, 1935
Madison, Wisconsin
Occupation violinist
Nationality United States
Education Curtis Institute of Music

John Dalley (born 3 March 1935 in Madison, Wisconsin), John was raised in a musical family. His father was an orchestra conductor, violinist, composer, instrumental teacher, and music educator. His mother, from Bloomington, Illinois, was a cellist, music teacher, and music publisher.[1]

Early History

He was son of Orien Emil Dalley and Gretchen Smoot. Orien Dalley is nationally recognized for his work in assisting Dr. Joseph E. Maddy to organize the National High School Orchestra in Michigan, a massive project that provided the impetus for the Interlochen National Music Camp, now Interlochen Center for the Arts. He was one of the original faculty at Interlochen. John's parents had met during Orien's early association with the National High School Orchestra. The couple had four children, Nielsen, John, Melinda, and Elaine. The entire family has had close ties with Interlochen, with Gretchen as cello instructor and program director, and Orien teaching violin and conducting at Interlochen. Three of Orien and Gretchen's grandchildren grew up as summer camp students there. Orien Dalley was the first conductor of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, until 1949, when he left for Michigan. He is listed as the fifth symphony conductor with the Anne Arbor Symphony Orchestra between 1952 and 1955.[2]

Childhood and Education

At age 18 Dalley entered the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia on full scholarship. He studied under concert violinist Efrem Zimbalist, Sr. who had studied at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory in Russia, under the teaching of violinist Leopold Auer. John gave solo recitals, played concerti. performed chamber music, and played in concert and opera orchestras. In a 1957 listing of Curtis recitals and events, John Dalley is noted as first viola player in the production of Giacomo Puccini's opera Gianni Schicchi. "Curtis Institute has served as a training ground for orchestral players to fill the ranks of the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, although composers, organists, pianists, and singers are offered courses of study as well. All pupils attend on full scholarship, and admission is extremely competitive. Besides composers, conductors, organists, and pianists, only enough students are admitted to fill a single orchestra and an opera company. Accordingly, enrollment is in the range of 150 to 170 students. According to statistics compiled by U.S. News and World Report it held the lowest acceptance rate of any college or university, making it the most selective institution of higher education in the United States."[3] Curtis produces elite, finely polished musicians who will enter their future musician's world imbued with musical excellence. Lifelong friends are made.

After graduation from Curtis, John joined the faculty at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music | Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio, and played second violin in the resident string quartet, while performing regularly in recital and as soloist with orchestra. Eventually he moved to New York City where he free-lanced, then joined the short-lived American String Quartet with cellist David Soyer."[4]

John Dalley, American Violinist

John began playing the violin when he was three years old[5] with his father as his first teacher. His early studies were under Virgil Person at College of Emporia, the predecessor of Kansas State Teachers College at Emporia, Kansas (now Emporia State University). "During his formative years, his father held a number of positions in different parts of the country, exposing the young violinist to many musical influences."[6]

With his family's stay in Wichita, Kansas, during his father's tenure with the Wichita Symphony, John Dalley played in his junior high school orchestra. As a teenager John participated as a violinist in the annual all-state school musical competitions for youth orchestras, bands and choral groups under the direction of Dr. Joseph E. Maddy. At that time Wichita, Kansas, and nearby Winfield, Kansas were communities blessed with a commitment to music in their schools. Beginning instrumental classes started in grade school, and junior high school orchestras and bands gave students a real first taste of group and solo performance. High school concert orchestra and concert band, and marching and pep band let students continue in their formal music education and in the performing arts. At this time Wichita was the largest city in Kansas, and nearby Winfield was just a small town. As good as Wichita was, Winfield was even greater in its musical education. Winfield had a long history of musical greatness in education due to the time when Dr. Joseph E. Maddy was in Winfield directing its high school music program. Later, Howard Halgedahl, world class bassoon player directed the high school music program in Winfield. Howard Taubman stated in the "New York Times": "Do we, in the East, realize that the town of Winfield, Kansas, population 12,500, has one of the most admirable high school orchestras in nation?".[7] Halgedahl was principal bassoonist with the Wichita Symphony at the time that John Dalley's father, Orien Dalley was conductor. Joseph E. Maddy, Orien Dalley and Howard Halgedahl all left strong imprints on Kansas music education and at the National Music Camp, as teachers and mentors in the hearts and minds of the youthful students who were privileged to attend. Wichita Municipal University (now Wichita State University) was well known for its ambitious educational programs in performing arts and in the education of future music teachers. In the 1950s the Wichita Symphony was ranked very high among the professional symphonies in the U.S. The excellent musicianship of some local students while still in high school earned for themselves performing places within the ranks of the professional Wichita Symphony Orchestra. Among young musician friends, a union card for work in the symphony proudly proclaimed status as a profession musician.[4]

Dally held teaching positions at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, and was artist-in-residence at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | University of Illinois. At the University of Maryland all four members of the Guarneri Quartet were artists-in-residence.[8] at the University of Maryland School of Music. The Guarneri Quartet has taught, in various combinations at Rutgers State University of New Jersey and the Manhattan School of Music.

Oberlin String Quartet

The Oberlin String Quartet was formed in 1955 by violinist Andor Toth who was a member of the Oberlin faculty from 1955. Other members were Matthew Raimondi (violin), William Berman (viola), and John Frazer (cello). In 1957 John Dalley joined the Oberlin String Quartet. In the summer of 1958, the Oberlin String Quartet won a bronze medal in the Concours International de Quatuor sponsored by H.M. Queen Elizabeth Music Competition in Liege, Belgium.[9]

Guarneri Quartet

Dalley was a regular participant at Vermont's Marlboro Music Festival. In the summer of 1963, the ensemble was brought together partly at the instigation of Rudolf Serkin,"[4] conductor, and Alexander Schneider, violinist of the Budapest String Quartet, who had begun summer teaching at the Marlboro Music School and Marlboro Music Festival. The four men who had performed with each other before on various occasions came together to found America's newest chamber music group: Arnold Steinhardt (first violin), John Dalley (second violin), Michael Tree (Michael Applebaum)[10] (viola), and David Soyer (cello), calling themselves the Guarneri Quartet. (Soyer had also written musical jingles for radio advertising.)[11]

Upon hearing the quartet perform in 1964, "New York Times" music critic Harold Schonberg called it the "awesome foursome" and wrote that "a very important string quartet is on its way."[11] This musical group, still with its four original members, defied the odds for the longevity of its musical partnership that lasted until Soyer retired in 2001. David Soyer chose as his replacement his one-time cello student Peter Wiley, also a Curtis graduate, who had for many years been the cellist with the Beaux Arts Trio.[12] When the Guarneri Quartet was disbanded in 2009, it had been on a continuous concert circuit for forty-five years.[13] According to its members. the longevity of Guarneri was due to several factors. One was playing music that they loved as well as playing compositions that presented musical and performance challenges. These kept boredom away and performances fresh. Although the four performed together in concert, and they practiced together for three hours a day, "on tour the members travelled independently, and booked hotel rooms on separate floors."[14] Little of their private lives away from the stresses of concert and touring life was shared with the other members of the quartet.[15] "The members famously kept their distance from one another when they weren't rehearsing or performing."[16] Two other rules were 1) No wives were allowed to be involved with the quartet business, and 2) The inner dynamics of the rehearsing and concert venues made it a compliment-free zone between the four. If there was nothing to complain about, the group moved on to the next order of business.[17]

Dalley's Violin and Performances

Dalley plays a Nicolas Lupot violin, crafted in France in 1810. Some years ago the quartet members were approached by the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C., to make a very generous offer of for possible extended use their quartet of its rare Stradivarius instruments to the Guarneri Quartet's artists. Antonio Stradivarius of Cremona produced a life-time of fine instruments. At the time of the offer, there were only 500 violins, fifty cellos, and ten violas still extant in the world. Although much less rare than the Stradivarii, the specific venerable instruments owned and played by the quartet's members, with their craftsmanship, type of wood, varnish, and all of substantial age, together "created such a warmth and complexity of sound that enticed, then seduced each of us."[18] The offer to use the Stradivarii was politely declined. At this writing John Dalley has been playing the violin for 75 years, He refers to his violin as his friend.

European chamber ensembles usually had a leader, to whom all the others looked to for direction. In these, the second violinist was often considered to be not quite as good as the first violinist. The Guarneri quartet took a different tack. The first violinist was not the leader. All of the members were the leaders, depending on the circumstance. All had equal say in decisions. Arnold Steinhardt, said at the end of the quartet's forty-five year run, "This is an extraordinarily difficult task before us, to realize the masterpieces in our repertoire to any satisfaction. Some of it is virtuoso work, and some is work that a watchmaker might do, requiring the most delicate precision movement of ensemble and intonation and artistry. It doesn't get any easier with time."[19] Dalley found himself comfortable in the second chair. "I've always liked where I've been," he asserted. "I was not really happy playing solos. It's wasn't my bag."[19] From time to time Dailey has traded off with Steinhardt to play first violin in piano quartets withnthe likes of Artur Rubenstein. Later the group spent almost two seasons playing nothing bit piano quartets with Dalley in the violin seat while Steinhardt recovered from surgery on his arm.[19] Dalley also could switch to playing viola should the occasion call for it. John Dalley performed extensively in thousands of performances with the Guarneri—over 3,000 by 1998."[18] Since the quartet was disbanded in 2009, he has appeared in recital or as soloist in many cities and as teacher in master classes. Together, all of these performances have taken him to Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, Israel,Australia, New Zealand, Japan and other parts of Asia, and widely throughout the United States. He has performed in famous concert halls throughout the world, in venerable old music schools, high school and college auditoriums, and many other places, such as the informal beach house at Half Moon Bay in Northern California where, in November 1964, he was a featured performer at one of the San Francisco Bay Area's much loved, but quirky Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society.[20]

John Dalley, American Bow Maker

When he could not find a violin bow worthy of his instrument, to bring out the best qualities of his Nicolas Lupot violin, Dalley expanded his skills by becoming a superb archetier —one who makes bows for stringed instruments. Dalley has become world-famous for the quality and meticulously fine craftsmanship of his hand-made bows for stringed instruments. In a sales catalogue, one of his violin bows is described as having an "exquisitely crafted Brazilian pernambuco shaft, elegant silk wrapping and a diamond-shaped inlaid frog.".[21] Fellow quartet member Arnold Steinhardt is quoted: There are only a few great violinists and only a few great bow makers in the world. I know of only one person who possesses both these rare attributes -- John Dalley. This puts him in the unique position to make bows of both great craft and remarkable playing ability. It has been my deep pleasure to play on one of John's artfully made violin bows..[22] Another testimonial is from Amadee Williams, violist and author of Lillian Fuch, First Lady of the Viola: "My teacher and mentor, Lillian Fuch, often said to me, "Deary -- It's the bow, the bow!" She was absolutely correct in making that remark. However, good bow technique also requires a good bow. The problem is finding one. John Dalley's bows are just "those" bows. They are finely crafted and produce an unusually warm sound. His understanding of violin playing has made him one of the best modern bow makers.".[23] Dalley brings his meticulous attention to detail and love of aesthetics to his bows that he has brought to his playing." He cites master bow maker William Salchow[24] and the late Assistant Principal Cellist of the Metropolitan Opera and master bow makerGerald Kagan[25] as influences on his own bow making.[26] Dalley's craft and skill produces violin bows that are in high demand because of their quality and rarity. In 1997 when first violinist Arnold Steinhardt wrote his book about the quartet, he stated that the finest bows made by the great bow makers could sell for upwards of $100,000 apiece. All bows are not alike. The bow is matched to the artist's technique and to the instrument being played, and even to arm length and strength.[27]

John Dalley married Nancy Pallesen,[28] flutist whom he met when she was studying with William Kincaid (principal flutist, Philadelphia Orchestra at the Curtis Institute of Music in 1958).[29] When he is not concertizing, John divides his time between Haworth, New Jersey[30] and Northern Michigan.[31]

Recordings

The Guarneri String Quartet has made numerous recordings during its long history, including some of the most important works in the string quartet and chamber music literature. They recorded for Arabesque, RCA Red Seal, Philips, Sony, and Surroundedby.[32] "The Guarneri String Quartet has recorded for Surroundedby Entertainment, which released a CD in Spring 2001 of Quartets by Ravel, Debussy and Fauré. Several of its recordings on both RCA Red Seal and Philips have won international awards, including its recent recording of Juan Crisostomo de Arriaga's String Quartet Nos. 1-3 (Philips), which won the 1996 Deutsche Schallplattenkritik Award in Germany. Among its other award-winning recordings are collaborations with such artists as Artur Rubinstein, Pinchas Zukerman; and Boris Kroyt and Mischa Schneider of the Budapest Quartet."[33]

Dalley has made recordings with other notable artists, such as Leonard Rose, Artur Rubenstein, Pinchas Zukerman, and members of the Budapest Quartet.[8] The quartet was awarded the 2009 Grammy Award for Chamber Music.

Films

Television

In the summer of 1990 the Guarneri Quartet members were interviewed by Charles Kuralt on CBS's nationwide television program, "Sunday Morning".[36]

Videos

Awards of Guarneri Quartet

Related Publications

References

  1. ↑ Gretchen Dalley,Songs for Strings: Solo, Duet, Trio, Neil A Kjos Music Publisher, USA.1950
  2. ↑ http://www.a2so.com/about/history-ann-arbor-symphony-orchestra
  3. ↑ http://www.curtis.edu/about-curtis/history/artistic-leadership-since-1924/
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Arnold Steinhardt, Indivisible by Four: A String Quartet in Pursuit of Harmony, Farrar Straus and Giroux, New York, 1998, 2000. p. 76. ISBN 0-374-52700-8
  5. ↑ Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival,@ www.lccmf.org/2011-Festival-Artists.html
  6. ↑ Arnold Steinhardt, Indivisible by Four: A String Quartet in Pursuit of Harmony, Farrar Straus and Giroux, New York, 1998, 2000. p. 75. ISBN 0-374-52700-8
  7. ↑ Howard Halgedahl biog, Beach Hall of Distinction, Department of Music, Emporia State University @ http://www.emporia.edu/music/beach-hall-of-distinction.html
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, @ www.sfcmf.org/artist-profile/john-dalley-violin/viola
  9. ↑ http://oberlin.edu/con/bkstage/200411/OSQ.html
  10. ↑ Arnold Steinhardt, Indivisible by Four: A String Quartet in Pursuit of Harmony, Farrar Straus and Giroux, New York, 1998, 2000. ISBN 0-374-52700-8
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Midgette, Anne (6 March 2010). "Obituary: David Soyer, Guarneri cellist and founder, dies". Washington Post.
  12. ↑ ARTVOICE Weekly Edition, Classical Music @artvoice.com/issues/V8n19/Guarneri_Quartet
  13. ↑ ARTVOICE Weekly Edition, Issue V819 (05/06/2009) Guarneri Quartet, "Opera & Classical," TimeOut Chicago, October 28, 2008
  14. ↑ Obituary, Anne Midgette, Washington Post writer, @ www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article2010/03/05/AR201003053857.html
  15. ↑ Arnold Steinhardt. Indivisible by Four: A String Quartet in Pursuit of Harmony, www.nytimes.com/books/first/s/steinhardt-four.html
  16. ↑ http://www.allthingsstrings.com/layaout/set/print/News/Interviews-Profiles/Guarneri-Quartet-Takes-a-Final-Bow
  17. ↑ Arnold Steinhardt, Indivisible by Four: A String Quartet in Pursuit of Harmony, Farrar Straus and Giroux, New York, 1998, 2000. p. 173. ISBN 0-374-52700-8
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Arnold Steinhardt, Indivisible by Four: A String Quartet in Pursuit of Harmony, Farrar Straus and Giroux, New York, 1998, 2000. p. 252. ISBN 0-374-52700-8
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Reel, James. "Guarneri Quartet Takes a Final Bow". All Things Strongs. Retrieved 17 Feb 2014.
  20. ↑ http://www.bachddsoc.org/print_files/ClassicalList2.pdf
  21. ↑ BOWS,@ www,sharmusic.com | Skype: shar.violin.shop
  22. ↑ BOWS,@ www.sharmusic.com | Skype: shar.violin.shop
  23. ↑ BOWS, @ www.sharmusic.com | Skype: shar.violin.shop
  24. ↑ http://www.hweisshaar.com/takeabow2.html
  25. ↑ Gerald Kagan Obituary, http://www.riversidememorialchapel.com/obituaries/show/641
  26. ↑ BOWS, @ www.sharmusic.com | Skype: shar,violin.shop
  27. ↑ Arnold Steinhardt, Indivisible by Four: A String Quartet in Pursuit of Harmony, Farrar Straus and Giroux, New York, 1998, 2000. p. 263. ISBN 0-374-52700-8
  28. ↑ Arnold Steinhardt, Indivisible by Four: A String Quartet in Pursuit of Harmony, Farrar Straus and Giroux, New York, 1998, 2000. p. 168. ISBN 0-374-52700-8
  29. ↑ http://www.curtis.edu/alumni/about-alumni/full-alumni-listing
  30. ↑ Potter, Beth. "Haworth's Notable Characters", Haworth, New Jersey. Accessed December 4, 2014.
  31. ↑ Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival@ www.lccmf/2011-Festival-Artists/html
  32. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-dalley-mn0001438790
  33. ↑ "Guarneri Quartet". Friends of Chamber Music of Miami.
  34. ↑ http://www.miamichambermusic.org/artists/bios/guarneri2.html
  35. ↑ articles.philly.com/keyword/john-dalley
  36. ↑ Internet Cello Society
  37. ↑ "Brahms Klavierquartett nr 1 op 25 Mikhail Rudy, Guarneri Quartet.avi". YouTube. 23 May 2012.
  38. ↑ "Guarneri Quartet: Beethoven Op. 130 Mvt. V. Cavatina". YouTube.