Summer Music @ Maureen's

Our final summer music session of the year was hosted by Maureen...here's what we played:

• 'Scottish Dance No. 3' by Malcolm Arnold
• 'Elizabethan Serenade' by Ronald Binge
• 'Alla Hornpipe' from 'The Water Music' by Handel
• 'Allegro assai' from 'Brandenburg Concerto No. 2' by J. S. Bach
• Overture to 'The Mastersingers of Nurenburg' by Wagner
• 'Mack the Knife' from 'The Threepenny Opera' by Kurt Weill
• 'Toccata' from 'Pulcinella' by Stravinsky
• 'Serenade' by Derek Bourgeios
• 'Crown Imperial' by William Walton
• 'The Old Castle' from 'Pictures at an Exhibition' by Mussorgsky
• 'Overture Miniature' from 'The Nutcracker' by Tchaikovsky

Once again we enjoyed some delicious food (and drinks) after our exertions...many thanks to Maureen for having us!

Summer Music @ Imogen's

We had our last summer music gathering of the holiday last Thursday, and this time it was hosted by Imogen. We selected the music using our usual method, and here's what we played:

• 'Andante' from the Surprise Symphony' by Haydn 
• 'English Dance No. IV' by Malcolm Arnold
• 'Chanson de Nuit' by Elgar
• 'The Great Gate of Kiev' from Pictures at an Exhibition' by Mussorgsky 
• 'Romance' from 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik' by Mozart
• 'Badinerie' from 'Suite in B Minor' by J. S. Bach
• 'Seventeen come Sunday' from 'English Folksong Suite' by Vaughan Williams
• 'March - For the Love of Three Satsumas (Oranges)' by Prokofiev
• 'Rondo' from 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik' by Mozart

We concluded the evening with some delicious food & drink and fabulously entertaining story-telling from Joan!

The new term starts in a couple of weeks (September 19th), so I'll be back again then.

Summer Music @ Diana's

We had another Summer Music gathering last Thursday...it was a rather large group this time and was hosted by Diana, who spent the evening with her double bass in the 'minstrel's gallery'! We selected the music using our usual system...here's what we played:

• 'Bouree' from 'The Water Music' by Handel
• Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 'Allegro assai' by J. S. Bach
• 'My Bonny Boy' from 'Folk Song Suite' by Vaughan Williams
• 'Promenade' from 'Pictures at an Exhibition' by Mussorgsky
• 'Capriol Suite' by Peter Warlock
• 'Olympic Fanfare & Theme' by John Williams
• 'Chanson de Matin' Elgar
• 'Sinfonia' from 'Pulcinella' by Stravinsky
•  'Rondo' from 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik' by Mozart
• 'Toccata' from 'Pulcinella' by Stravinsky
• Theme from 'Blackadder' by Howard Goodall
• 'Overture' from 'Suite in B Minor' by J. S. Bach

Well, I think you'll agree that we had earned our refreshments after all that! Thank you to Diana for a lovely evening!

We have one more Summer gathering before term starts...at Imogen's on September 5th.

Summer Music @ Nicola's

We had our first Summer Music gathering of the holiday last Thursday...hosted by one of our newest members, Nicola. There were several other Summer Music 'first-timers' too...and I'm not sure that they knew what they were letting themselves in for! The music was selected by lucky dip (as always), and we played a wide variety of composers' works, although Vaughan Williams made several appearances!

Here's what we played:

• 'The Old Castle' from 'Pictures at an Exhibition' by Mussorgsky 
• 'English Dance No. 1' by Malcolm Arnold
• 'Pavane pour une infante defunte' by Ravel
• 'Hallelujah Chorus' from 'The Messiah' by Handel
• 'Hebrides Overture' by Mendelssohn
• 'Fantasia on Greensleeves' by Vaughan Williams
• 'Folk Songs from Somerset' from 'Folk Song Suite' by Vaughan Williams
•  'Toccata' from 'Pulcinella' by Stravinsky
• 'Sicilienne' by Faure
• Overture to 'The Marriage of Figaro' by Mozart
• 'My Bonny Boy' from 'Folk Song Suite' by Vaughan Williams

We of course enjoyed some delicious food & drink afterwards...I think we'd earned it after playing all of that in the sweltering heat! Thank you to Nicola for a lovely evening!

Our next gathering is in on the 22nd at Diana's...looking forward to seeing you there!

Summer Music @ Annabel's

We had our second summer music gathering of the holiday last night, this time hosted by Annabel. Again the music was selected at random...here's what we played:

• 'Tirolese' from 'Soirees Musicales' by Benjamin Britten
• 'Promenade' from 'Pictures at an Exhibition' by Mussorgsky
• 'Chanson de Matin' by Elgar
•  'Waltz' by Shostakovich
• 'Sinfonia' from 'Pulcinella' by Stravinsky
• 'Polka' from 'Jazz Suite No. 1' by Shostakovich
• 'Minuetto' from 'L'Arlesienne' by Bizet
• 'Capriol Suite' by Peter Warlock
• 'Allegro moderato' from 'Brandenburg Concerto No. 3' by J. S. Bach
• 'Peer Gynt Suite No. 1' by Greig

After playing, we enjoyed a delicious feast...I don't have a photo of us this time, but did snap the cakes before they were devoured!

Thanks for a lovely evening Annabel...see (some of) you again next week!

Summer Music @ Polly's

Our summer music sessions came to an end last night, with a most enjoyable evening hosted by Polly - thank you! We played a lovely (and varied!) selection of old (and not so old) favourites, then devoured a delicious feast, but the best thing about the evening was seeing Joan (and George!) up and about, and playing piano again!

Here's what we played:

• 'The Great Gate of Kiev' from 'Pictures at an Exhibition - Mussorgsky (Arr. H. Brammer)
• 'Serenade' - Bourgeois (Arr. H. Brammer)
• Andantino from 'The Trout Quintet' - Schubert (Arr. H. Brammer)
• Theme from 'Blackadder' - Goodall (Arr. H. Brammer)
• 'Fiddler on the Roof' Medley - Harnick & Bock (Arr. van der Goot)
• 'My Bonny Boy' from 'English Folk Song Suite' - Vaughan Williams (Arr. H. Brammer)
• 'Rondo' from 'Suite in B Minor' - J. S. Bach (Arr. H. Brammer)
• 'Capriol Suite' - Warlock (Arr. H. Brammer)
• 'Promenade' from 'Pictures at an Exhibition' - Mussorgsky (Arr. H. Brammer)
• 'Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 - Allegro' - J. S. Bach (Arr. H. Brammer)

Just a quick reminder before I go - term starts in two weeks (on September 15th). Looking forward to seeing everyone again...and working on some new music.

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

Class - 18th November

We had a lovely (warm) evening at St Thomas the Apostle Church in Hanwell...after a last minute cancellation of our booking for our regular venue. With more space (and better lighting!) we were able to seat ourselves in a more familiar arrangement...and I have to say it nice to be able to see some faces...rather than just the backs of heads! The accoustic created a really big sound, and it was reported that we sounded like a "symphony orchestra"!
With only one more rehearsal before our concert, the 'Pictures' are beginning to come together at last.

Small group items:

• Wagner 'Seigfried Idyll' - Heather, Helen, Judy, Annabel, Kath, Theresa, Dermot, Polly, Margaret & Mike
• JS Bach Trio - Penny, Diana & Joan
• Telemann Concerto for Four Flutes - George, Annie, Imogen & Emily

Class - 11th November

We had a full house for the first time this term which was lovely...a bit scary to hear how some of the large ensemble items sound with us all though! It's a good job we still have a couple of rehearsals before the concert!

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

Class - 4th November

At last...we have heat! It felt positively balmy in the Church this evening...there were even complaints from some members of the class of being too hot!

We continued working on the 'Pictures', and it's really beginning to come together.

Small group items:

• JC Bach Quintet in A - Annie, Annabel, Emily, Polly, Mike & Angela
• Telemann Concerto in A minor - Imogen, Penny, Judy, Thersa, Diana, Kath, Margaret & Joan

Class - 21st October

Hurrah! I think we've finally cracked the tricky cross-rhythms in the 'Great Gate of Kiev'...perhaps it was the arctic conditions in the Church this evening! I'm pleased to say that the other 'Pictures' are also coming along nicely, but we're yet to have a 'full house' at a rehearsal.

Small group items:

• Wagner 'Siegfried Idyll' - Heather, Judy, Helen, Kath, Theresa, Polly, Dermot, Margaret & Mike
• Loeillet Sonata in D minor - Imogen, Penny, Annie, Diana & Angela

Class - 14th October

We're still working away at the 'Great Gate of Kiev'...and it's not 'great' yet...but hopefully we'll be able to do it justice by the end of term! The ''Promenade' and 'The Old Castle' are sounding much better, and we're even beginning to get to grips with all the sharps (or flats for the clarinets)!

Small group items:

• J. C. Bach Quintet in D major (Op. 11 No. 6)  - Penny, Diana, Kath, Polly, Margaret & Angela
• 'Santis' by Chris Barron (Arr. H. Brammer) - Judy, Theresa, Dermot & Imogen
• J. C. Bach Quartet in C major (Op. 19 No. 4) - Heather, Annie, Helen & Mike

Class - 7th October

Well, 'The Great Gate of Kiev' was definitely sounding more together (in places!)  this evening, although we're still finding it difficult to get our heads around all of the threes against twos...and changes in time signatures, but I'm sure it will all make sense eventually! The other 'Pictures' are coming along nicely, but it would be so much easier if they were all in the same key!

Small group items:

• Wagner 'Siegfried Idyll' - Heather, Helen, Annabel, Judy, Kath, Theresa, Polly, Dermot, Margaret & Mike
• Molter Three Concertos for Four Flutes & Continuo - Annie, Penny, Imogen, Diana & Angela

Class - 30th September

We had nearly a full house last night, and made the most of it by working hard on the large ensemble items, starting with the final installment of the Mussorgsky 'Pictures', 'The Great Gate of Kiev'. Although it's not quite finished, there was certainly enough to be getting on with, including some deceptively difficult cross rhythms! The 'Promenade' and 'The Old Castle' are also beginning to take shape.

We also had our Inaugral General Meeting during the class, where we adopted the constitution, and elected a committee...so we are now officially a society!

Class - 23rd September

This evening we continued with the 'Promenade' and 'Old Castle' (from 'Pictures at an Exhibition' by Mussorgsky)...and they're beginning to take shape - Imogen even noticed contrasts in dynamics in the 'Promenade'!

Small group items:

• 'Snow White' (Arr. Denis Sobrielo) - Heather, Judy, George, Diana, Dermot, Theresa, Margaret & Imogen
• Telemann Trio Sonata in D Minor (93) - Penny, Annabel & Joan
• Mozart Serenade No. 4 - Helen, Kath & Polly

The First Class!

We had the first class in our new home this evening...and, although we were somewhat diminished in number, I think that we can say that it was successful!

We began with one of the large ensemble pieces that we'll be working on this term, 'Pictures at an Exhibition' (by Mussorgsky). We're only going to be doing a few of the 'Pictures', and started with the 'Promenade' (with it's challenging changes in time signatures), before braving the 5 sharps (or 5 flats for the clarinets) of 'The Old Castle'! We will also be tackling 'The Great Gate of Kiev'...but that's still work in progress!

This evening's small group items were:

• J. C. Bach Quintet in A (Op. 11 No. 5) - Heather, Annabel, Diana, Helen, Polly & Angela
• Five Gershwin Melodies for Four Woodwinds - Imogen, Penny, Annie, Theresa & Mike 

We're pleased to report that the accoustics of the Church are great - it's just a shame we'll have to hold our concerts elsewhere.

Looking forward to next week!