Broken Consort

A 'broken consort' is an ensemble made up of instruments from more than one family, for example, a group featuring both string and wind instruments.

Sunday 27 May 2012

Class - 24th May

We were reunited at this week's class, and were able to continue rehearsing our large ensemble pieces...we've made it to the end of the 'Olympic Fanfare & Theme'  (more or less in one piece!), but 'Crown Imperial' is still to be continued...

Small group items:
  • 'Allegro' (from 'Sonata K279') by Mozart (Arr. James 'Red' McLeod) - Helen, Theresa & Dermot
  • Quartet in G major by Telemann - Imogen, Diana, Kath, Mike & Angela
  • Sonata in F major by Schickhardt - Heather, Penny, Helen, Margaret & Joan

Sunday 20 May 2012

Class - 17th May

We weren't in our usual rehearsal venue this week. Instead, we were split between two of our members' houses...which meant that we were unable to rehearse as a whole group, but that didn't mean that we were slacking:

At Angela & Mikes:
  • Cocerto in C by Vivaldi - Heather, Theresa, Polly, Mike & Angela
  • 'Minuet' from Divertimento No. 3 by Mozart - Polly, Theresa & Mike
  • 'Aria' by Ibert; 'Valse Harmonique' by Simon Ballard; & 'Tarentelle' by Gaubert - Heather, Helen & Angela
At Kath's:
  • Sonata by Marcello - Judy, Diana, Kath, Margaret & Joan
  • 'Mandoline' by Debussy; 'Two Cuban Dances' by Cervantes; 'Sailor's Hornpipe' by Wyver; and 'The Swan' by Saint-Saens - Penny, Dermot & Imogen
  • Trio Sonata in C minor by Quantz - Penny, Diana, Margaret & Imogen
  • Sonata in D minor by Boismortier - Judy, Kath, Dermot & Joan  

Saturday 12 May 2012

Class - 10th May

We almost had a 'full house' at this week's class, and are making real progress with our large ensemble pieces. We picked up speed in 'Crown Imperial', and even the rhythms in 'Olympic Fanfare & Theme' seemed less daunting a week on!

Small group items:
  • Sonata for Four Treble Recorders by Paisible - Imogen, Penny, Judy, Diana & Joan
  • 'Allegro molto' by Beethoven (Arr. H. Brammer) - Heather, Annabel, Kath, Theresa, Dermot & Angela
  • 'The Witches Frolic' by Granville Bantock - Margaret, Mike & Helen
Next week's class should be interesting - we're split between two locations again!

Saturday 5 May 2012

Class - 3rd May

We encountered some rather challenging rhythms at this week's class, as we began working on the 'Olympic Fanfare & Theme' by John Williams (composed for the opening ceremony of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics)...but I'm sure we'll work them out by the concert! We also continued with the Bourgeois 'Serenade' and Walton's 'Crown Imperial' - which we even attempted a little faster!

Small group items:
  • Quintet in G major by J. C. Bach - Penny, Diana, Kath, Polly, Mike & Angela
  • Concerto in A minor by Vivaldi - Imogen, Judy, Helen & Joan
  • Gavotte No. 1 (from French Suite in G major) by J. S. Bach (Arr. Neil Butterworth) - Theresa, Anya & Dermot