For a musical duo to work well together there has to be a certain synergy – a perfect matching of harmonies, melodies and most of all, personalities.
“We understand each other extremely well,” said Chris Sandvoss of wife Beth Root-Sandvoss, both of whom make up the duo Sandvoss Root. “We’re not afraid to speak our minds. We have that understanding where we can get straight to the heart of the matter and still be great friends in the process.”
Sandvoss has performed as a singer-songwriter, violinist, violist, fiddler and conductor. In addition to Sandvoss Root, he also performs as a solo act and with the group Chisel Creek.
Root-Sandvoss was a member of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra as well as the Victoria String Quartet, performing throughout Asia. She is a founding member of Land’s End Chamber Ensemble, winners of both the 2005 and 2006 Western Canadian Music Award for Outstanding Classical Recording.
The two met nearly 20 years ago when they were playing music at the Banff Centre – Sandvoss as a classical violist and Root-Sandvoss as a cellist. He said they played a show at the centre with world famous bassist Edgar Meyer, and three months later, the two were married. For six years they have been playing as a duo together, Sandvoss providing the vocals, guitar and violin and Root-Sandvoss playing the cello.
“She is a very diverse and dynamic player, so she compliments whatever I do and adds to the artistry of the moment. When it is her time to shine and take a solo she just lets all of her emotions come out and delivers big time,” he said of Root-Sandvoss. “It’s different than having the traditional instruments accompany you, which are beautiful as well, but it’s sort of a unique sound I find.”
Root-Sandvoss currently teaches music at the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University, while her husband has become an instrument maker full time making violins, violas and cellos, although he said he used to teach as well.
His music teaching time is now spent with their two kids; their son, 13, playing the viola and daughter, 11, playing the cello.
Violin making is something Sandvoss said he has been doing for 20 years now and originally started out of curiosity and as a hobby.
Before Sandvoss knew it, he had a waiting list of two years and it became a full time gig.
“For me to make a good instrument, for someone to be a good plumber, doctor or electrician it is all about the process and being in the moment,” explained Sandvoss.
Sandvoss said he views all professions as related that way and said that the discipline he developed for his music allowed him to be a good violin maker.
“I knew it takes time and I knew that I had to be fully committed in order to do it at the level that it deserved,” he said.
Another process the duo is committed to is building a timber frame house in Bragg Creek, a place they have called home for 10 years. The house will be designed with a concert space where they are planning to be able to seat about 100 people, according to Sandvoss.
It will be where Sandvoss said they would make use of the space to record their next album live. But he said they are taking their time with the project, striving to create something that is really unique.
Sandvoss Root will be playing Legacy Guitar and Coffee House Jan. 10 with special guest Tim Jeffery, also from Bragg Creek.
For more information visit chrissandvoss.com.
