Class - 26th May

We're still cracking on with our large ensemble items...and they were certainly sounding more together this week, with dynamics too! It's half-term next week...which is usually the point at which practising gets more serious, so I'm looking forward to hearing big improvements at the next class!

Small group items:

• 'Vocalise' by Rachmaninov - Theresa, Dermot & Angela
• C. P. E. Bach Trio Sonata in G Major - Diana, Kath & Imogen
• J. C. Bach Quintet in G Major - George, Penny, Judy, Polly & Joan
• General Radetsky Goes Cuckoo (with apologies to Johann Strauss) by Michaelson - Heather, Annie, Helen & Mike

Class - 19th May

We had a visitor this evening...Anya (on clarinet) joined us for a free 'taster' session...she enjoyed the evening, and we didn't scare her off, so she'll be back again next week! We continued working on all our large ensemble items, which (despite a few ropey moments) are all coming along nicely.

Small group items:

• 'Caprice for Clarinets' by Clare Grundman - Helen, Theresa & Anya
• Loeillet Sonata in D Minor - Heather, Annie, Penny, Judy, Mike & Joan
• Keller Sonata in G - George, Imogen, Diana, Kath, Margaret & Angela
• Telemann Canonic Sonata No 1 - Annabel & Polly

Class - 12th May

Sorry for the delay (again!)...I did write and publish this last night, but Blogger decided to throw a wobbly after that, and has deleted everything posted on all blogs since sometime on Wednesday (11th)...including what I wrote last night, so here we go again...

We continued working on our large ensemble pieces this evening...and we're gaining speed in the 'Marriage of Figaro Overture'. I added double bass parts to the Shostakovich pieces, and it's added a real depth to our sound...even if I did catch Diana by surprise with some pizzicato notes!

Small group items:

• 'Shimmering Flutes' by John Cacavas - Annie, Judy, Penny & Imogen
• Sonata da camera by Janitsch - George, Diana, Kath, Margaret & Joan
• 'A Simple Serenade' by Gordon Jacob - Heather, Annabel, Helen & Mike
• 'Vocalise' by Rachmaninov - Theresa, Dermot & Angela

Class - 5th May

We had a full house this week...and a special guest in the form of Diana's Double Bass...so we now have a full compliment of strings! We whizzed through quite a lot of full ensemble pieces: 'La Marseillaise'; the Overture to 'The Marriage of Figaro' (by Mozart); the two movements from Shostakovich's 'Jazz Suite No. 1'; and also 'Tahiti Trot - Tea for Two' by Shostakovich.

Small group items:

• 'Minuet in F' by JS Bach (Arr. David Farnon) - Theresa, Dermot & Mike
• 'Pavane pour une infante defunte' by Ravel - Heather, Polly & Angela
• Trio Sonata in D Minor by Quantz - Annie, Annabel & Joan
• Concerto in A Minor by Telemann - George, Penny, Judy, Diana, Kath, Helen, Margaret & Imogen