Concert - 12th July

We enjoyed a wonderful evening of music making last night at our summer concert. Our audience was rather 'select', but appreciative nonetheless - thank you to those of you who braved the monsoon like conditions to support us! If you weren't there, here's what we played:

Programme

'Olympic Fanfare & Theme' – John Williams (Arr. H. Brammer)

The Broken Consort

'Serenade' – Derek Bourgeios (Arr. H. Brammer)

The Broken Consort

'Conversations 1, 2 & 3' for Two Flutes – Richard Rodney Bennett

Penny Layland & Judy Skelton (Flutes)

'Andante & Allegro' from Sonata in G major – Fasch

Heather Loebl & Helen Brammer (Flutes); Imogen Locke (Treble Recorder); Margaret Willson ('Cello) & Joan Goodall (Piano)

'Allegro' (from Sonata K279) – Mozart (Arr. James 'Red' McLeod)

Helen Brammer, Theresa Hitching & Dermot Stone (Clarinets)

'Valse Harmonique' – Simon Ballard

Heather Loebl (Flute; Helen Brammer (Clarinet); & Angela Ayton (Piano)

'Adagio & Rigadon' from Sonata in D minor – Schickhardt

Judy Skelton (Flute); Diana Locke (Tenor Recorder); Kath Russell (Violin); Mike Winterburn (Bassoon); & Angela Ayton (Piano)

'The Witches Frolic' – Granville Bantock

Margaret Willson ('Cello); Mike Winterburn (Bassoon); & Helen Brammer (Bass Clarinet)

'Allegro moderato' from Sonata in Bb major – Janitsch

Penny Layland (Flute); Annabel Crowe (Oboe); Polly Kaufmann (Viola); & Imogen Locke (Piano)

Tarantelle Italienne – Léon d'Ourville

Angela Ayton & Imogen Locke (Piano)

'Crown Imperial' – William Walton (Arr. H. Brammer)

The Broken Consort

There was, of course, an after concert party where much delicious food was consumed - thanks to our hosts Angela and Mike for a lovely end to the evening.

I filmed the concert, and have already edited some of the footage and uploaded it to our YouTube channel, the rest will be added over the next few days - I'll post a message on here once they've all been uploaded.

Class - 5th July

**Apologies...I wrote and (I thought) published this on Saturday, but just discovered it was still a draft post***

It was our last rehearsal before the concert on Thursday, so it was all systems go! We began by rehearsing our large ensemble pieces...I filmed those, and will be adding the videos to our YouTube Channel soon. Then we managed to whizz through nearly all of the small group pieces too:

• Sonata in G major by Fasch - Heather, George, Imogen, Margaret & Joan
• 'Allegro' (from Sonata K279) by Mozart (Arr. James 'Red' McLeod) - Helen, Theresa & Dermot
• 'Valse Harmonique' by Simon Ballard - Heather, Helen & Angela
• Sonata in D minor by Schickhardt - Judy, Diana, Kath, Mike & Angela
• Sonata in Bb major by Janitsch - Penny, Annabel, Polly & Imogen

Class - June 28th

Sorry this is so late...I've been having a few problems with my internet, but fingers crossed it's sorted now! Anyway, there was some serious rehearsing going on at this week's class...the concert is drawing near, and we almost had a 'full house'.  Our large ensemble pieces are almost there, we're just putting the finishing touches to those...although we've not heard them with everyone present yet, and there's only one more rehearsal before the concert!

Small group items:

• 'Allegro' (from 'Sonata K279') by Mozart (Arr. James 'Red' McLeod) - Helen, Theresa & Dermot
• Sonata in G major by Fasch - Heather, George, Imogen, Maragret & Joan
• Sonata in D minor by Schickhardt - Diana, Kath, Mike & Angela
• Sonata in Bb major by Janitsch - Penny, Annabel & Polly

Class - 14th June

We were almost up to 'full strength' at this week's rehearsal...and we spent lots of time working on our large ensemble pieces...'Crown Imperial', 'Olympic Fanfare & Theme' and 'Serenade'...with all the expression added, they're beginning to sound good!

Small group items:

• 'TheWitches Frolic' by Granville Bantock - Margaret, Mike & Helen
• Sonata in G major by Fasch - Heather, George, Imogen & Joan
• Sonata in D minor by Schickhardt - Judy, Diana, Kath & Angela
• 'Dance of the Hours' by Ponchielli (from the 'Fairwind Foursomes' Arr. Terry Kenny) - Penny, Annabel, Theresa & Dermot

Class - 26th January

We seemed to have got over the shock of the key signature with five flats (and then five sharps for the clarinets), and made good progress this evening with our large ensemble pieces...adding dynamics (ranging from pp to fff!) in the 'Irish Tune from County Derry'...and picking up speed in 'Shepherd's Hey'...although we have yet to try it with an accelerando at the end!

Small group items:

• 'Marie Antoinette' by Scott Joplin (Arr. H. Brammer) - Polly, Dermot & Mike
• Trio Sonata in E minor by Telemann - Diana, Kath & Joan
• Sonata in Bb major by Fasch - Imogen, Judy, Emily, Margaret & Angela
• 'Cuckoo Quartet' by Ronald Hanmer - Heather, Penny, Theresa & Helen

Concert Success!

I think I speak on behalf of everyone present when I say that our first concert as an 'independent music society' was a success! We had a most enjoyable evening in the warm (and light!) surroundings of Kew College in front of an appreciative audience - a huge thank you to those who ventured out to support us on such a cold and icy evening!

For those of you not able to be there, here's what you missed:

Concert Programme

'Promenade' & 'The Old Castle' (from 'Pictures at an Exhibition' by Mussorgsky)

The Broken Consort

Telemann Concerto for 4 Flutes – Adagio & Allegro

George, Annie, Imogen & Emily

Wagner 'Siegfried Idyll'

Heather, Helen, Judy, Annabel, Kath, Theresa, Polly, Dermot, Mike & Margaret

Mozart Sonata in D for Piano Duet – Allegro & Andante

Angela & Imogen

Fasch Sonata in G Major – Andante & Allegro

George, Imogen, Heather, Margaret & Joan

JS Bach Trio for Two Recorders – Adagio & Allegro

Penny, Diana & Joan

Snow White (by Churchill, Arr. D Sobrielo)

George, Heather, Judy, Kath, Dermot, Theresa, Margaret & Imogen

JC Bach Quintet in A - Menuetto

Annie, Annabel, Emily, Polly, Mike & Angela

The Great Gate of Kiev (from 'Pictures at an Exhibition' by Mussorgsky)

The Broken Consort

As always, a varied programme...culminating in a truly triumphant rendition of 'The Great Gate of Kiev' - well done everyone!

And...I even have photographic evidence (thanks Martin!):

 

Thank you also to Mike & Angela, our hosts for the 'after party'...as always we appreciate your hospitality.

And finally...I'd like to wish all our followers a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy 2011!

Class - 25th November

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....it was chilly in the Church this evening!
Not surprising really, seeing as the temperature outside was barely above freezing!

It was our last rehearsal before the concert this evening, so we had lots to do! We started with the 'Pictures'...which have definitely improved in the last couple of weeks...they really sounded good this evening..we appear to have finally mastered threes against twos!

Small group items:

• 'Snow White' - Heather, Judy, George, Kath, Theresa, Dermot, Margaret & Imogen
• JC Bach Quintet in A - Annie, Annabel, Emily, Polly, Mike & Angela
• JS Bach Trio - Penny, Diana & Joan
• Wagner 'Seigfried Idyll' - Heather, Helen, Judy, Annabel, Kath, Theresa, Dermot, Polly, Mike & Margaret
• Telemann Concerto for Four Flutes - George, Annie, Imogen & Emily
• Fasch  Sonata in G  - George, Imogen, Heather, Margaret & Joan