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IDAHO ARTS QUARTERLY MARCH 2nd, 2005
Darkwood Consort
Serious Music with a playful heart
by Sara Beitia
"Converting concert halls to classrooms and classrooms to concert halls," Boise's own Darkwood
Consort is a rara avis. With the distinction of being "the world's only touring bass clarinet and viola
duo," Darkwood Consort churns out serious music with a lighthearted, accessible attitude that sets
them apart from your usual chamber music ensemble.
Founded by Aage Nielsen and his bass clarinet in 1992, Jennifer Drake and her viola became
Darkwood's other half in 2001. Preferring to focus on medieval and modern classical music, with a lot of
that music being of Scandinavian origin, Darkwood Consort leaves most of what comes in between to
other ensembles. Perhaps setting the tone for their professional association, Nielsen and Drake's first
Darkwood performance together was their "73 Vintage" show, in which they dressed up in goofy
polyester Seventies garb and proceeded to put on a polished chamber music set. It is the juxtaposition
of playfulness with professionalism that makes Darkwood unique
Darkwood Consort is, for purposes of simplifying recording and touring, the duo of Nielsen and Drake.
At their various performances around the Treasure Valley, though, the Darkwood Consort is more
collaborative; they might pick up a flute here, or a bassoon there, and the group is frequently joined by
fellow musicians like Karlin Coolidge (flute) and Donovan Schatz (bassoon), along with a roster of other
local guests. Besides rehearsing four times a week as Darkwood Consort, both Nielsen and Drake play
with the Boise Philharmonic, and both give private music lessons. They're their own administrative
staff, researching and writing grants, marketing, looking for new venues, outreaching to schools and
developing/ administrating their Web site. Both Nielsen and Drake are self-motivated and keep each
other focused in order to accomplish what needs to be accomplished.
What, people may ask, is the significance of the name, "Darkwood Consort"? "Darkwood" to reflect the
low instrument tone sound, and "Consort" because it gives the ensemble flexibility-unlike "Darkwood
Duo" or "Quartet," "Consort" can mean two people, or seventeen. It doesn't take long to find that
Darkwood is more flexible than just its name. Defying the expectation of stuffiness from chamber
music, Darkwood's local concerts might begin with friendly, informal banter from the group. Drake can
be seen making the rounds, shaking hands with random audience members before performances,
thanking them for coming to the show, and they might joke with the audience or pause a moment to
share background information on a piece they are about to play. Drake describes the Darkwood
Consort experience as "user-friendly classical music," cerebral, but not snobby. "People are looking
for some sort of relevant musical experience," she says, and Darkwood reaches out to audiences to
make their performances comfortable, happy and fun.
Fun seems to be very important to Darkwood Consort. At a recent performance in Detroit, they we
compelled to launch into (once Detroit locals) the White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army"after their
rehearsed classical program. Darkwood is completely comfortable juxtaposing modern garage rock
with medieval Danish music, and they sound good doing it.
Because they are quite pro-Scandinavian (both Nielsen and Drake are part Danish) and Nielsen is a
visible figure in Boise's Scandinavian community, much of Darkwood Consort's core audience is,
unsurprisingly, Scandinavian. (In fact, the Scandinavian Society of Southwest Idaho frequently caters
intermission at Darkwood's Sunday concert series at the Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy.)
Different people come to different performances, but the Scandinavians come loyally yo everything.
Other loyal fans are people that were watching Darkwood perform in coffeehouses in the early
Nineties, fans that have since turned out to be some of Darkwood's biggest supporters today. When
asked about their favorite audience, neither Drake nor Nielsen can decide. Home concerts are facilely
comfortable. Doing classroom outreach is fun because the kids are curious about the instruments and
techniques and have no preconceived notions about what classical music is supposed to be. But then,
of course there's touring or playing gigs around the country and the world. The answer seems to be,
it's all good stuff.
Though they're serious musicians, the members of Darkwood Consort don't seem to take themselves
too seriously. Music is the (professional) life of both Nielsen and Drake, and they think it should be as
enjoyable as it is pervasive. They're doing what they love and if you aren't, Nielsen suggests, then
you're in the wrong line of work. On March 13 at the Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy, Darkwood
Consort celebrates the group's thirteenth "birthday" with a Bar Mitzvah concert. Neither Drake nor
Nielsen is Jewish, but the Synagogue will kindly be providing refreshments. Darkwood's biggest news
right now is that in June they will be performing at the 33rd International Viola Congress in Reykjavik,
Iceland. (The fundraising concert was February 20th - for details, check their website- but Darkwood is
still taking donations.) Participating in the Viola Congress is akin to playing in the classical Super Bowl.
Having released on CD, Tro og Haab Spiller, Darkwood Consort will soon be releasing another album,
Cafe Musik which they describe as wildly divergent, ranging from medieval to country music. CDs can
be purchased locally at the Record Exchange or at the Co-op, or online at Amazon.com.
The Darkwood Consort Web site (www.darkwoodconsort.com) is extremely thorough. There is
information about Darkwood's core and satellite members, a schedule of upcoming concerts, tours and
engagements, facts about their recordings and links to reviews, profiles and other media coverage.
Anyone with interest in finding out more about Darkwood should check it out.
Playing everything from international gigs to their local concert series, from concert halls to
classrooms, weddings to corporate events to private parties, Darkwood Consort goes anywhere and
everywhere, always attended by their singular style. And they are extremely popular for it - Boise loves
Darkwood. Still, Nielsen muses, they don't get many weddings. They would really like to do more
weddings.
Darkwood Consort
Serious Music with a playful heart
by Sara Beitia
"Converting concert halls to classrooms and classrooms to concert halls," Boise's own Darkwood
Consort is a rara avis. With the distinction of being "the world's only touring bass clarinet and viola
duo," Darkwood Consort churns out serious music with a lighthearted, accessible attitude that sets
them apart from your usual chamber music ensemble.
Founded by Aage Nielsen and his bass clarinet in 1992, Jennifer Drake and her viola became
Darkwood's other half in 2001. Preferring to focus on medieval and modern classical music, with a lot of
that music being of Scandinavian origin, Darkwood Consort leaves most of what comes in between to
other ensembles. Perhaps setting the tone for their professional association, Nielsen and Drake's first
Darkwood performance together was their "73 Vintage" show, in which they dressed up in goofy
polyester Seventies garb and proceeded to put on a polished chamber music set. It is the juxtaposition
of playfulness with professionalism that makes Darkwood unique
Darkwood Consort is, for purposes of simplifying recording and touring, the duo of Nielsen and Drake.
At their various performances around the Treasure Valley, though, the Darkwood Consort is more
collaborative; they might pick up a flute here, or a bassoon there, and the group is frequently joined by
fellow musicians like Karlin Coolidge (flute) and Donovan Schatz (bassoon), along with a roster of other
local guests. Besides rehearsing four times a week as Darkwood Consort, both Nielsen and Drake play
with the Boise Philharmonic, and both give private music lessons. They're their own administrative
staff, researching and writing grants, marketing, looking for new venues, outreaching to schools and
developing/ administrating their Web site. Both Nielsen and Drake are self-motivated and keep each
other focused in order to accomplish what needs to be accomplished.
What, people may ask, is the significance of the name, "Darkwood Consort"? "Darkwood" to reflect the
low instrument tone sound, and "Consort" because it gives the ensemble flexibility-unlike "Darkwood
Duo" or "Quartet," "Consort" can mean two people, or seventeen. It doesn't take long to find that
Darkwood is more flexible than just its name. Defying the expectation of stuffiness from chamber
music, Darkwood's local concerts might begin with friendly, informal banter from the group. Drake can
be seen making the rounds, shaking hands with random audience members before performances,
thanking them for coming to the show, and they might joke with the audience or pause a moment to
share background information on a piece they are about to play. Drake describes the Darkwood
Consort experience as "user-friendly classical music," cerebral, but not snobby. "People are looking
for some sort of relevant musical experience," she says, and Darkwood reaches out to audiences to
make their performances comfortable, happy and fun.
Fun seems to be very important to Darkwood Consort. At a recent performance in Detroit, they we
compelled to launch into (once Detroit locals) the White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army"after their
rehearsed classical program. Darkwood is completely comfortable juxtaposing modern garage rock
with medieval Danish music, and they sound good doing it.
Because they are quite pro-Scandinavian (both Nielsen and Drake are part Danish) and Nielsen is a
visible figure in Boise's Scandinavian community, much of Darkwood Consort's core audience is,
unsurprisingly, Scandinavian. (In fact, the Scandinavian Society of Southwest Idaho frequently caters
intermission at Darkwood's Sunday concert series at the Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy.)
Different people come to different performances, but the Scandinavians come loyally yo everything.
Other loyal fans are people that were watching Darkwood perform in coffeehouses in the early
Nineties, fans that have since turned out to be some of Darkwood's biggest supporters today. When
asked about their favorite audience, neither Drake nor Nielsen can decide. Home concerts are facilely
comfortable. Doing classroom outreach is fun because the kids are curious about the instruments and
techniques and have no preconceived notions about what classical music is supposed to be. But then,
of course there's touring or playing gigs around the country and the world. The answer seems to be,
it's all good stuff.
Though they're serious musicians, the members of Darkwood Consort don't seem to take themselves
too seriously. Music is the (professional) life of both Nielsen and Drake, and they think it should be as
enjoyable as it is pervasive. They're doing what they love and if you aren't, Nielsen suggests, then
you're in the wrong line of work. On March 13 at the Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy, Darkwood
Consort celebrates the group's thirteenth "birthday" with a Bar Mitzvah concert. Neither Drake nor
Nielsen is Jewish, but the Synagogue will kindly be providing refreshments. Darkwood's biggest news
right now is that in June they will be performing at the 33rd International Viola Congress in Reykjavik,
Iceland. (The fundraising concert was February 20th - for details, check their website- but Darkwood is
still taking donations.) Participating in the Viola Congress is akin to playing in the classical Super Bowl.
Having released on CD, Tro og Haab Spiller, Darkwood Consort will soon be releasing another album,
Cafe Musik which they describe as wildly divergent, ranging from medieval to country music. CDs can
be purchased locally at the Record Exchange or at the Co-op, or online at Amazon.com.
The Darkwood Consort Web site (www.darkwoodconsort.com) is extremely thorough. There is
information about Darkwood's core and satellite members, a schedule of upcoming concerts, tours and
engagements, facts about their recordings and links to reviews, profiles and other media coverage.
Anyone with interest in finding out more about Darkwood should check it out.
Playing everything from international gigs to their local concert series, from concert halls to
classrooms, weddings to corporate events to private parties, Darkwood Consort goes anywhere and
everywhere, always attended by their singular style. And they are extremely popular for it - Boise loves
Darkwood. Still, Nielsen muses, they don't get many weddings. They would really like to do more
weddings.
