By JAKE DAVIDSON
For one hour Emma Rush played her guitar in a way that would soothe even the hottest of tempers.
The demonstration by Rush was held at the Cambridge Library on Jan. 25. A classical Canadian guitarist, Rush was invited to perform as part of the library’s concert series that is held in the fall, winter and spring.
From January to May six concerts are held at the venue.
“I think it’s fabulous, it’s a way to engage the City of Cambridge, to invite the community to listen to music,” said Karen Murray-Hopf, the cultural programs and events planner for the Cambridge Library.
The concerts are free to attend.
Rush played several songs on her guitar including Garuda, a piece she had some trouble with in the past due to its complexity, but loves to play. Garuda is rather long, lasting over seven minutes, and features shifts in volume along with changing tempo.
The last song in her program was one of her favourites that comes from South America. She has tried to take it off the program before but she can’t because she enjoys it so much.
“I enjoy performing, it’s my chosen career and I’m always excited about playing at a new venue,” said Rush, who is also the artistic director of the Guitar Hamilton series, an organization that celebrates the rich beauty and compelling versatility of the classical guitar, when asked why she is playing at the library.
Rush has performed in the United States and all over Europe but finds it hard to find places to play in Canada.
She first started playing instruments at five years of age when she signed up for a strings and piano class at her school. “I love the sound of the cello and also I find the oboe to have a haunting sound I enjoy,” Rush said when asked what her favourite instrument was.
She gave up playing other instruments and started to focus on classical guitar because it’s tough to learn and she chose to pursue the study of guitar.
For more information on Guitar Hamilton check out www.guitarhamilton.com.
For more information on Rush go to Emma-Rush.com and for more information on concert week visit www.cambridgelibraries.ca.
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