June 11th has been highlighted on my calendar for over a month. It was the day that Ed Pong was hosting two musical instrument players at his residence in Ontario Canada. A married couple him a pianist and her violinist. As the day approached there was a thought of canceling because of Canadian wildfires that was chocking the northeast of Canada and America with poor air quality with stay indoor advisories and flight delays. Ed reassured that all is good and the concert would go on as planned. Turns out canceling would have been a huge mistake masking a great time in the works.
The Commute
The drive from Pittsburgh PA to Niagara Falls NY was done on a pleasant Saturday morning taking state routes. The winds were in favor keeping the smoke from the fires well east of our route. We set up camp and prepared for Sundays early drive to east Toronto around the west of Lake Ontario. Sunday morning started with hazy clear skies. It seemed as soon as we crossed the border into Canada the smoke returned and just got worse as we neared Toronto. Ed wanted me to get there early to see his entire process of recording and spend time with all before the 4:30 scheduled concert. It was a great idea.
The Venue
Ed lives in a home designed by him and an architect over 30 years ago. The process took over a year before building. Seeing the floor layout it is apparent that Ed favored music production and reproduction on his list of fine family features in a residence. The concert takes place in an enclosed pool area. The pool room is entered from the kitchen into a large area that the performers play. At a lower level the audience seat in chairs placed around the pool. The ceiling is high above the stage and slopes toward the back of a large kidney shaped pool. The recording takes place in a room just off the pool area that was once an area with a raised platform for his Grand Piano. A short walk from the parlor leads trough the kitchen and a spiral staircase. Climbing the steps and another short walk leads to the audio listening room. This room with a high ceiling starting where the playback equipment is placed slopes down to the listening position continuing into an opening of the parlor below. Listening chairs are placed in front of a knee wall separating the two rooms.
The Production
Ed leaves no room for error in the prep for this performance. He was even confident that an interrupting phone ringing during the recording of the performance could be corrected. The piano was tuned, videographer setup, sound check complete, violinist positioned, rehearsal, violinist repositioned because of pianist request, audio engineer arrives, rehearsal, and Chinese takeout for all involved.
The Sound
While the violinist was tuning the 1738 Italian violin, I sat with Ed stage left mid way back of the pool. The instrument came across very well. There was zero evidence of any room interference. A few minutes passed. I decided to check out the room more and walked around the pool area. The sound in the back center seems to be a bit fuller. The remainder of the seating area had the same sound as the original seated area. Ed recorded this and we went upstairs to listen. I heard the same clean violin as my seated area but not the fullness as noted in the back of the pool area. Ed’s record/playback system could be defined as faithful uncolored reproduced sound with harmonics intact. No Ifs, Ands, or Buts.
The System
Ed could be considered the production manager. The director would be Tony. Ed is a well liked retired orthodontist. Tony is a retired entrepreneur trained engineer who designed machinery used in his food processing business. He supplied sliced mushrooms as well as other processed food to places like Pizza Hut. Tony is responsible for Ed’s electronics. He was given an unlimited budget to make the equipment for audio centering on the sound. While some attention was given to ascetics, the main focus was on the final product of sound recording and reproduction of classical music. Tony is frugal using common sense. He reused old cases to house a lot of his hand built components and circuit designs. The rubber tire inner tube isolation use, piano move from the parlor area to the pool for recording, a year spent making the audio cable connecting the tape payback machine from the base of the spiral staircase to the upstairs listening room, on and on Tony’s ideas are used. Ed and Tony have been friends for years and neighbors until Ed move to his present home. I spent a couple very interesting hours with Tony when Ed went to pick up the pianist at the airport.
The Players
Alena Baeva is a striking good looking young violinist. She is curious and conscious of her surroundings and interactions. She as an artist is involved with the recording process and provides input. I think this is why she likes to play at Eds because of his attention to her thoughts. Her husband Vadym Kholodenko younger by years is a gentleman. He arrived later in the afternoon so I really did not get a sense of his interests. He told a story of traffic jambs getting to the airport in Houston that morning. His Russian accent carries heavily into English spoken words. Both are highly regarded soloists in the world.
The Performance
Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! These two together are a powerhouse. His lightening fast hands with a delicate touch are simply amazing. Her bow strokes as light as a butterfly in flight changing to concentrated powerful attacks no doubt made the 1738 Giuseppe Guarneri(luthier) give all it can. She is a master at this. She is fun to watch. He is amazing to watch. His hands are so fast it seems to not match what is heard. What is heard is sheer bliss with these two. My wife made the comment it was just like having great sex when the playing ended. There was not a soul in their seat at the end, all clapping hardily with cheers being heard throughout.
After the scheduled pieces, Alena reappeared with a white violin just finished by luthier Ed Pong. She explained that when she tried playing it at rehearsal that it was hard to put down. “A good sign” she said. Alena proceeded to play a piece with it. It seems to have a richer tone then the 1738 and sounded just as good. The crowd gave Alena and Ed standing applause. Ed is making a Cello at this time. His
first, second.
I believe.I can not say enough of how well the Canadians treated me. It almost seems like celebrity status. Ed surely had a lot to do with it! There were no awkward moments other then a self generated one during the performance. Yeah, it was my phone ringing during the first recital piece. Sigh. I thought for sure that Ed was glad when I pulled out of the driveway despite the contrary treatment. Turns out it was all self generated sub conscious guilt. One attendee even told me that it reminded him to place his phone in airplane mode.
Looking forward to attending another of Ed’s gigs!
John
The Parlor with sound engineer preparing and piano tuner relaxing.
Playback tape machine
Listening room
Alena rehearsing
Back of pool room
Ed showing his isolation procedures
Tony
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A Day at Ed Pongs (Read 5198 times)
