PSQ's Letter
Portland String Quartet Society’s Spring Newsletter
May 2023
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Welcome!
In each installment of the PSQ's Letter, we take you behind the scenes, and let you know more about the musicians, the music, and our future plans.
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Program notes for PSQ concerts are a valuable addition to our enjoyment and understanding of the performances. Before 2014 these notes were written by the late Willard Hertz, a retired journalist and active promoter of classical music.
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Dr. John Powell, Musicologist |
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We are fortunate that Dr. John S. Powell has continued the tradition for our 54th concert season. John retired as Professor Emeritus of Musicology at the University of Tulsa, receiving his Ph.D. in historical musicology and MM in choral conducting from the University of Washington. He has broad teaching experience, including a visiting professorship at the Universite de Nancy and a lecturer at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. |
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His main research areas are 17th-century French musical theater and opera, baroque musical performance practice, and 17th-century French dance and stage gesture. In 2006 Oxford University Press published his book Music and Theatre in France 1600 – 1680. However, his interests in the musical world are greatly varied -- among his many publications is "A Mess of Russians left us but of late: Diplomatic Blunder, Literary Satire, and the Muscovite Ambassador’s 1668 Visit to Paris Theatres", which he co-authored with Claudia R. Jensen.
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1674 performance of Le Malade imaginaire at Versailles before Louis XIV and his court |
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John’s Belgian-born wife Frieda had connections to the Northeast, and after several trips to Maine, in 2020, the couple decided to move from Tulsa to Portland, Maine. They live near the Portland Conservatory of Music, where he became acquainted with the Portland String Quartet and once again began practicing piano. His interest in music began with his high school piano teacher, who introduced him to many composers. Reading a biography of Chopin inspired him to pursue a musical career. John’s focus on France started when he lived in France for four years while his father was stationed outside Paris.
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A young John Powell at Versailles |
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Join us for performances and events through June as we celebrate the 54th Season of your Portland String Quartet! |
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What Exactly is Musicology? |
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According to Wikipedia, musicology is the scholarly analysis and research-based study of music. John explains that musicologists can have careers in many areas. In his case, it has focused on teaching, conducting research, and publishing – the latter on the web, which is quite unusual in his field. His web productions of operas led to extensive travel throughout Europe.
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Engraving of Jean Baptiste Lully |
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Photo French composer Lucien Durosoir |
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French composers have been the main focus of his research: Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Jean-Baptiste Lully, André Campra, Alessandro Stradella, and Lucien Durosoir. John was fortunate to have met Durosoir’s son Luc and to research the composer’s correspondence, compositions, and memorabilia. John’s influence led to a December 2022 performance by the PSQ of Durosoir’s String Quartet No. 2. For that concert, John wrote comprehensive program notes about the piece and the composer.
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It is with great sadness that we note the recent passing of Peter McAfee Leslie, who with his wife Kathleen (Kay), was a longtime supporter of the Portland String Quartet. The Leslies’ involvement with the PSQ began when Kay joined the LARK Board in 1992. They both enjoyed several PSQ cruises on the Danube, the Po and the Seine.
Peter was an international investment banker who had a strong sense of public service. He devoted time to many organizations including the United Nations, Maine Audubon Society, US Coast Guard Auxiliary, and local arts and community organizations.
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Pictured: Peter McAfee Leslie Sailing |
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He was Trustee and Chair of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System for 30 years. Peter’s career took him to Brazil, New York City, Europe and the Middle East. He loved sailing, skiing, and music of all kinds, especially chamber music. His many friends and family will miss him but remember the joy he brought to so many. |
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Upcoming Concerts
Join us at these upcoming events!
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PSQ Concert IV
May 14, 2023
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String Quartet No. 1 –Walter Piston
String Quartet No. 5, Sz. 102 –Béla Bartók
Piano Quintet in A Minor –Florence Price
Portland Conservatory of Music
28 Neal St. Portland, ME 04102
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PSQ Benefit - RSVP by May 19
Sunday June 4th, 2023
Ferry Beach - Saco, ME
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Sunday June 4, 2023 is the Portland String Quartet Society’s Spring Benefit in Saco. Contact the PSQ to be placed on the mailing list or for further information.
The event will include performances, food and drinks, a silent auction of PSQ memorabilia and more!
All proceeds benefit the PSQ Learning Fund.
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We'd love to hear from you!
In each installment of the PSQ's Letter, we take you behind the scenes, and let you know more about the musicians, the music, and our future plans.
We welcome stories and photos from you as well. Do you remember some incident during a concert? a cruise? a workshop? Just send text and photos to the address below and we’ll include as many as space allows.
What would you like to know? We’ll try to answer your questions in future editions.
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Portland String Quartet Society
www.portlandstringquartet.com
psqsociety@gmail.com
(207) 761-1522
PO Box 11, Portland, ME 04112
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