Brandeis students were treated to a private concert by the internationally famous Alexander String Quartet, a critically acclaimed chamber group whose members have served since 1989 as directors of the Morrison Chamber Music Center in the College of Liberal and Creative Arts at San Francisco State University. Second violinist (and Brandeis parent) Fred Lifsitz told fascinating anecdotes about the composers and their music, tailoring his comments adroitly to first the fifth grade and middle school audience and subsequently the kindergarten through fourth grade group. The quartet played carefully selected excerpts from their vast repertoire of works by Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Beethoven (plus an explosive, strident Shostakovich movement for the older group). One appreciative fourth grader exclaimed, “They sounded like at least twelve instruments, not four!” 

 

Mr. Lifsitz elaborated on the technological advances of the group’s modern instruments, including the carbon-fiber which has replaced the endangered hardwoods formerly used in making bows. And when first violinist Zakarias Grafilo demonstrated the iPad that contains all his sheet music, allowing him to turn pages with a foot pedal, our tech-loving students emitted a unanimous “Ooooooh!” of approbation.