TF (musical instruments)

The university’s concert hall was full and an expectant buzz ran through the audience. They quietened as the lights dimmed and two men and two women, all in evening dress, entered the stage.

Three of them took seats on the left as one of the men strode to the lip of the stage to address the audience.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming tonight to this very special concert,” he began. “Most of you know me, but for those who don't, I’m Roger Dellfield, professor of violin studies here at the
university. My colleagues –“ he nodded towards the others “- are Philippa Towner, head of viola studies; Kyra Moon, a cello instructor at the university; and my friend Jon Ender, a professional violinist. And tonight we’re making our debut as the Venn String Quartet.”

A ripple of applause from the audience. “Thank you! But we won’t be the only performers here tonight. We’ll be joined by four remarkable young women, all of them musicians – all of them, in fact, students of
one or other of the quartet’s members.”

Suddenly a spotlight was turned onto an object on the far right of the stage. It looked something like a photo booth. This box did not exactly take photographs, though.

“Some of you may know what this is,” Dellfield said, gesturing to the box. “They’re known as a Venn Machine. Some of you – particularly those of you who are students here at the university – may have even
used one.”

He paused for the nervous titter that rang from the crowd to subside.

“When I heard about Venn Machines, an idea implanted itself into my head – an idea that grew, and has now resulted in this event. So now I'd like to introduce the first of our four additional performers tonight, Ms Jessica Landing!”

A redheaded woman in her late teens, wearing a formal dress, entered
from the wings. Her face was caught in a mix of anticipation and nervousness that clearly said “Why did I have to be the one to go first?”

She nodded briefly to acknowledge applause from the audience, then got into the Venn Machine. With a smile Dellfield pressed some buttons on the side of the box. “I should reassure you at this point that these
young women are willing participants in this experiment. The effect is temporary, and is totally painless. Indeed, it’s said to be quite
pleasurable – not that I’d know, of course!” he said with a wink to the crowd.

A light flashed green. Dellfield opened the door and brought out a violin.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Ms Landing is now a violin. And not just any violin, but a replica of the Stradivarius used by Paganini!”

The audience erupted into applause again. Dellfield held the violin up to the light; the rich colour of the violin’s wood was an almost
perfect match for Jessica’s red hair.

He tucked the instrument under his arm. “Now our next performer, Ms Portia Martin!”

If Jessica had been nervous, Portia – a petite blonde teen in a short blue dress and stockings – bounded on stage as if she couldn’t wait to get into the box. A flash of light, and she had become another violin
– this time a Guarneri.

With a smile, Ender collected the violin and Dellfield introduced the next young woman, a black-haired Asian girl, Georgia Ha. With a cheery wave she vanished into the machine, to emerge as a dark-hued viola.
Finally the last student, a tall Latina named Rebecca Sanchez, was transformed into a cello.

Instruments in hand, the quartet took their seats. “And now the Venn String Quartet will perform Brahms’ String Quartet No 1 in C minor.”

The audience sat spellbound in silence as the musicians played. Many said they had never heard a better, more lyrical  performance – it was as if the instruments were singing. Many tears silently slipped down cheeks during the work’s intimate inner movements.

At the end of the piece the applause was long and loud, acknowledging not just the skills of the quartet members, but also of the four women who had been the musical instruments.

“Thank you! Please come back next week when we’ll perform Debussy’s string quartet. Only these lovely ladies will be doing the playing – and the senior members will be the ones being played!”