BANGOR — Violinist Betsy Kobayashi, founder of Pineland Suzuki School in Manchester, will bring the Hallelujah String Quartet to Bangor for a performance of Joseph Haydn’s masterpiece “The Seven Last Words of Christ.” Composed in 1783 for the Good Friday service at the Cathedral of Cadiz in Spain, it is considered to be one of the greatest pieces of Easter music. Haydn’s seven sonatas are meditations on phrases gathered from the four Christian Gospels: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” “Surely, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” “Woman, behold your son! Behold your mother!” “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” “I thirst.” “It is finished!” “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Twenty years ago, Kobayashi had a dream. She wanted to bring to Maine Dr. Shinichi Suzuki’s lifetime belief that music lies in the heart of any and every child.
Kobayashi studied with Suzuki for seven years, graduating from the Talent Education Institute in Matsumoto, Japan. Since the early 1990s, hundreds of Maine children have found their voices through violin, viola and cello at the Pineland Suzuki School.
For 17 consecutive Good Fridays, Kobayashi has led a string quartet in the sacred performance of Joseph Haydn’s “Seven Last Words of Christ.” On April 3 at 7:00 pm, Her Hallelujah String Quartet, composed of members of the Pineland Suzuki School faculty and student quartet, will perform Haydn’s masterpiece at 7 p.m. Friday, April 3, at Columbia Street Baptist Church, 63 Columbia St.
Dr. Stan Moody, senior pastor at the chruch, credits Kobayashi with the spark that ignited the spirit of his cellist son, Jonathan, a performance music major at Susquehanna University. “I have watched children come alive under Betsy’s leadership”, Moody said. “The patient, faithful contribution that Betsy has made to my own ministry has deeply enriched me. I guarantee that those who attend this concert will find nothing to compare with it this side of New York.”
The Good Friday concert will be offered at no charge to the public as a gift to Bangor from the church. However, donations will be accepted. The concert is open to all.