Concert - March 21st

Wow - what a fabulous evening we had! We had probably our largest audience to date to perform to...no doubt strengthened by the Songbyrds' supporters, but we weren't daunted, and everybody played their best. We thoroughly enjoyed performing with the Songbyrds...so I'm sure there'll be another collaboration in the future...we just need to think of some suitable pieces!

Here's what we played:

 

Programme

'Slavonic Dance No. 8' - Dvorak (Arr. H. Brammer)

The Broken Consort

'Cantique de Jean Racine' – Faure (Arr. H. Brammer)

The Broken Consort & The Songbyrds

Directed by Ben Cox

'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring' from Cantata No. 147 - J. S. Bach (Arr. H. Brammer)

Heather Loebl (Flute); Imogen Locke, Maureen Snell (Treble Recorders); Margaret Willson ('Cello); & Angela Ayton (Harpsichord)

'Promenade – Walking the Dog' – Gershwin (Arr. H. Brammer)

Heather Loebl, Alison Shaw (Flutes); Polly Kaufmann (Oboe); Helen Brammer, Theresa Hitching (Clarinets); & Mike Winterburn (Bassoon)

'Rondeau' from 'Abdelazer' – Purcell (Arr. H. Brammer)

Penny Layland, Judy Skelton (Flutes); Annabel Crowe (Oboe); Theresa Hitching, Anya Sitaram, Nicola Thompson (Clarinets); Kath Russell, John Marshall, Rod Lackey(Violins); Mike Winterburn (Bassoon); & Diana Locke (Double Bass)

'Sound of Silence' – Simon & Garfunkel
'Scarborough Fair' - Trad.
'El Condor Pasa' - Simon & Garfunkel
'Unexpressed' – John Bucchino

The Songbyrds

Directed by Ben Cox

'Affettuoso & Vivace' from Trio Sonata in F – Telemann

Imogen Locke (Treble Recorder); Penny Layland (Flute); Margaret Willson ('Cello); & Maureen Snell (Harpsichord)

'Andante & Rondo' – Doppler

Heather Loebl, Helen Brammer (Flutes); & Angela Ayton (Piano)

'The Ashokan Farewell' – Jay Ungar (Arr. H. Brammer)

The Broken Consort

'I Feel Pretty' from 'West Side Story' – Bernstein (Arr. H. Brammer)

The Broken Consort & The Songbyrds

Directed by Ben Cox

Of course there was an 'after party'...again hosted by Angela & Mike (thank you!) where much delicious food (and drink) was enjoyed! The concert was filmed...not by me this time...and the videos will be appearing on our YouTube channel at some point, so I'll let you know when they're there.

Class - 14th February

We worked hard on our full ensemble pieces at last week's class, in preparation for our first joint rehearsal with the Songbyrds which will happen after our half-term break. It's the first time in the Broken Consort's 40 year history that there's been a collaboration with another group, so we're all very excited to hear how it sounds!

Small group items:

• 'Rondeau' from 'Abdelazer' by Purcell (Arr. H. Brammer) - Penny, Judy, Theresa, Anya, Nicola, Mike, Kath, John, Rod & Diana
• 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring' by J.S. Bach (Arr. H. Brammer) - George, Imogen, Maureen, Margaret & Joan
• 'Andante & Rondo' by Doppler - Heather, Helen & Angela

Class - 20th January

It was lovely to see (nearly) everyone again after the Christmas break, and we got straight back into the swing of things with one of the new arrangements for this term - 'Wedding Day at Troldhaugen' by Grieg. It's great to be able to position ourselves in our old familiar set-up for rehearsals...and with the lovely new keyboard (thank you George & Joan!), we have a more balanced sound.

Small group items:

• Scarlatti 'Sonata in F Major' - George, Kath, Diana, Margaret & Joan
• Albinoni 'Adagio' - Judy, Theresa, Dermot & Imogen
• Dusek 'Partita' & Tartini 'Two Sonatas' - Annabel, Polly & Mike
• Busoni 'Duo' & Doppler 'Fantaisie sur des motifs Hongrois' - Heather, Helen & Angela