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 @ Judy's

At our second summer music gathering of the season, we had a marathon music-making session...here's what we played:

• 'Tahiti- Trot (Tea for Two)' by Shostakovich
• 'Marche Militaire' by Schubert
• 'Alle Hornpipe' from 'The Water Music' by Handel
• 'Sinfonia' from 'Pulcinella' by Stravinsky
• 'Rondo' from the 'Suite in B Minor' by J. S. Bach
• 'Sicilienne' by Faure
• 'I Feel Pretty' from 'West Side Story' by Bernstein
• 'Bouree' from 'The Water Music' by Handel
• Overture to 'The Mastersingers of Nurenberg' by Wagner
• 'Allegro moderato' from Brandenburg Concerto No. 3' by J. S. Bach
• 'Elizabethan Serenade' by Ronald Binge

Thanks to everyone for the delicious food, and to Judy for being a wonderful host.

Concert - 11th July

We had a lovely summer's evening for our end of term concert,and a rather 'select' audience...although it did seem to grow during the course of the concert! If you weren't there, here's what you missed:

 

Programme

'Overture' to 'The Mastersingers of Nurenburg' – Richard Wagner (Arr. H. Brammer)

The Broken Consort

'Largo & Allegro' from Trio Sonata in G Minor – G. F. Handel

George Goodall & Imogen Locke (Treble Recorders); Margaret Willson ('Cello); & Joan Goodall (Piano)

'Variations on the theme “La ci darem la mano” from Mozart's “Don Giovanni” - Beethoven

Heather Loebl (Flute); Helen Brammer (Clarinet); & Mike Winterburn (Bassoon)

'A Musical Joke' – W. A. Mozart (Arr. H. Brammer)

Theresa Hitching, Nicola Thompson & Helen Brammer (Clarinets)

'Allegro moderato' from 'Brandenburg Concerto No. 3' – J. S. Bach (Arr. H. Brammer)

The Broken Consort

'Send in the Clowns' – Stephen Sondheim (Arr. H. Brammer)

Theresa Hitching, Nicola Thompson (Clarinets); Kath Russell, Rod Lackey, John Marshall (Violins); Polly Kaufmann (Viola); Diana Locke (Double Bass); & Angela Ayton (Piano)

'Largo & Allegro molto' from Concerto in C Major – Vivaldi

Heather Loebl, Judy Skelton (Flutes); Polly Kaufmann (Viola); Mike Winterburn (Bassoon); & Angela Ayton (Piano)

'March, Canzonetta & Tirolese' from 'Soirees Musicales' – Rossini/Britten (Arr. H. Brammer)

The Broken Consort

We of course enjoyed an 'after party' hosted once again by Mike and Angela (thank you!), with delicious food and drinks.

I filmed the concert, and the videos have been uploaded to our YouTube channel, so if you fancy having a look (or re-living the occasion!) click the link in the sidebar to watch them.

We will be having some 'Summer Music' gatherings over the course of the summer break, starting with a visit to Nicola's on the 1st of August.

Class - 4th July

It was the last class before our concert this week, so despite the fact we were missing a few players, we put the finishing touches to our laarge ensemble pieces, and also managed to get through most of the small group pieces too!

Small group items:

• 'Variations on "La ci darem la mano" from Mozart's "Don Giovanni"' by Beethoven - Heather, Helen & Mike
• 'Send in the Clowns' by Stephen Sondheim - Kath, John, Polly, Diana & Angela
• Trio Sonata in G Minor by Handel - George, Imogen, Margaret & Joan
• Sonatas for Two Flutes by Telemann - Judy & Maureen
• Concerto in C Major by Vivaldi - Heather, Judy, Polly, Mike & Angela
• 'Rondeau' by Mouret - Maureen, Diana, Kath & John

Class - 27th June

We're getting to the 'sharp end' of term, with only one more class to go after this week before our concert, so there was much to do this evening! 

Small group items:

• Concerto in C Major by Vivaldi - Heather, Judy, Polly, Mike & Angela
• Trio Sonata in G Minor by Handel - George, Imogen, Margaret & Joan
• 'A Musical Joke' by Mozart - Theresa, Nicola & Helen
• Concerto for Four Flutes by Telemann - Alison, Maureen, Kath, John & Diana

Class - 20th June

We're still working away on our large ensemble pieces, and everything is starting to come together nicely...there are even some dynamics starting to creep in!

Small group items:

• 'Variations on "La ci darem la mano" from Mozart's "Don Giovanni" by Beethoven - Heather, Helen & Mike
• 'Send in the Clowns' by Stephen Sondheim - Theresa, Nicola, Kath, Rod, John, Diana & Angela
• Concerto No. 5 by Pepusch - Alison, Judy, George, Imogen, Margaret & Joan

Class - 13th June

We had a visitor this evening...a composer who may be comissioned to write a piece especially for us! He listened (and offered some constructive feedback) to all of our large ensemble pieces, then worked with one of the small groups - and seemed very positive about working with us.

Small group items:

• Concerto in C Major by Vivaldi - Heather, Judy, Alison, Polly, Mike & Angela
• Trio Sonata in G Minor by Handel - George, Imogen, Margaret & Joan
• 'Greensleeves' (Arr. H. Brammer) - Theresa, Nicola, Rod & John

Class - 6th June

We continued working on all of our large ensemble pieces...and we're even beginning to pick up speed in the 'Brandenburg'...much to Heather's relief! We're looking forward to welcoming a visitor next week...a composer that we may be looking to comission a piece from.

Small group items:

• 'Send in the Clowns' by Stephen Sondheim (Arr. H. Brammer) - Theresa, Nicola, Kath, Rod, John, Helen, Margaret, Diana & Angela
• Sonata for Three Flutes by Quantz - Alison, Judy & Heather
• Trio Sonata in G Minor by Finger - George, Imogen, Mike & Joan

Class - 23rd May

We were still rather depleted in numbers this week (with only one flute!) but managed to make progress with our large ensemble pieces, as well as trying our possible concert pieces in our small groups.

Small group items:

• 'A Musical Joke' by Mozart (Arr. H. Brammer) - Theresa, Nicola & Helen
• Concerto in A Minor by Vivaldi - George, Maureen, Diana, Margaret & Angela
• Concerto in C Major by Vivaldi - Imogen, Annabel, Kath, John, Rod, Mike & Joan

It's our half-term break next week, so we'll be back in a fortnight.

Class - 16th May

We were reuntied this week, and it was time to try our final large ensemble piece...'Overture' to 'The Mastersingers of Nurenburg' by Wagner...despite the fact that I've edited it (and cut quite a lot out!) it's still fairly epic! We were missing a few people this week, but still managed to make good progress with our other pieces.

Small group items:

• 'Summer Sketches' by Alfred Castle - Alison, Polly, Theresa & Nicola
• 'Variations on "La ci darem la mano" from Mozart's "Don Giovanni"' by Beethoven - Heather, Helen & Mike
• Trio Sonata in G Major by Telemann - Judy, Kath & Joan
• Quartet in C Minor by Schickhardt - George, Imogen, John, Dinana & Angela

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 - 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 - 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