an exceptional orchestra Five advanced musicians form String Quartet Since the late 18th century, the string quartet consisted of two violins, a viola and a cello, all instruments working together to produce music. The group carried a Western tonality, meaning it used soprano> alto, tenor, baritone and bass, and therefore could play almost any piece of music and would sound complete. Pat Cox, instructor for the string quartet and professor of music, said the string quartet dated back to the days of European nobility when the quartet was used for parries and banquets as background music. "After all, CD players weren't available," Cox said. ''A stting quartet was much easier ro transport than a full orchestra." The Harding 5rring Quartet was formed in 1991 when undergraduate musicians wanted to study and perform string quartet literature and work together to produce quality music. The 2006 quarret consisted of fi ve members, making it a quinret, and included junior Scott Rampy on the violin, sophomore Whitney Hammes playing the cello, juniorJill Robertson on 1st violin, sophomore Samantha Strange also on the violin and junior Amanda Royse playing the viola. Robertson said in her three years ofbeing a part ofthe group, she found the string quartet to be very differenr from other musical groups. 1'An orchestra, for example, has many people playing the same pan," Robertson said. "Tn a string quartet, each member is a soloist, which Before school began in August, returning Thundering Herd mem~ bers prepare to give out green bandanas to the incoming band members during band camp.The new members wore their green bandanas to all practices until they were formally initiated into the Herd and given gold bandanas. -Courtesy of Rae Melton "218 qrganizations means their pare is not played anywhere else in the group and if one person were not playing, the music would sound a lot different," Robertson said the group played at many venues including several weddings in Little Rock. More often, the quartet played one formal concert on campus per semester and performed around the Searcy area for dinners, galas, school (Ours and music festivals. Although so much hard work wen[ into the performance, including at least two hours of practice a week, the performers said the rewards they and audience members reaped )fete worth the effort. "I've really enjoyed getting to pray rhe music and gcni ng co learn morc about how co play with others," Royse said. "The music we play is generally morc challenging than some of the other music we do, and we also have more input on what we play." Robertson said the greatest benefit she received from performing with the group were the slcills she and the others learned that could later be applied in their musical careers. "[We gain] experience," Robertson said. "The more we play for the public and in recitals for the music departmenr, the more confidenr the group becomes of our ability. Adding (0 that, we gain experience to put forward professionalism because while what we do is an art, ies also a business." -Katie Ulliman and Darin Sackett
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