Newsletter - February 2002

Articles

January Meeting

We started our meeting slightly differently this month, grouping into four subsections of our respective parts.

This was very helpful in the sense that it gave everyone a chance to discuss any difficulties that may have arisen whilst practising on their own. We also had the chance to compare fingerings and agree on what we thought to be best. I found it quite encouraging that my group had been doing more or less the same thing.

A group leader was appointed to look after each section and act as spokesperson.

I hope that everyone found this practise as beneficial as I did. I feel sure that it will lead to more united and confident playing.

After coffee we all played together to consolidate what we had been practising in our small groups.

This month participants for our informal concert were:

• Valerie played ‘Study in Bm’ by Sor ‘Passacaile’ by R. DeVisée and ‘La Gatica’ by A. Lauro
• John S. played ‘Italia’ Anon
• Sarah played ‘Sarabande’ by J.S Bach
• Howard played ‘Prelude No.9’ by F. Tarrega
• Ann, Chris and Maurice played ‘Sonata BWV 525’ by J.S Bach
• Stephen played ‘Celtic Collection’ by S. Kenyon

Next Meeting

The next meeting will take place on 17^th  February 2002at 2 p.m. until 5.30 p.m. in the Small Hall.
This month we shall be working on ‘Dance II’ by Kenyon and ‘VI—Menuet’ from Suite No. 2 by Bach.

Quote of the Month

"The piano as the instrument used in the home has acted on music as a plague, and wrought terrible havoc."

Hermann Scherchen

Handbook of Conducting, 1933.

Future Meetings

Important Notice

Next Month will be our AGM

Emanuele Segre

Our second very exciting workshop for 2002 is almost upon us. Emanuele Segre will be giving a concert on Saturday 13th April and also running a workshop on Sunday 14th April. The workshop will be divided into two halves. The first half will be a masterclass for solo players. There will be time for five people to play. The second half will be for ensemble playing in which everyone will play. The ensemble music will be sent out in advance. If you would like to take part in this workshop please fill in the form and return it to me as soon as possible. Please don’t leave it to the last minute as we really do need to know who is participating so that we can sort out the parts sensibly. If you would like to take part in the masterclass please include the name of the piece that you intend to play.

Biography

Emanuel Segre was born in Switzerland in Locarno, the Italian speaking park of that country. He began to play the guitar at the age of eleven and studied with Ruggero Chiesa at the Milan Conservatory (also studying composition and violin), where he graduated with distinction

He has won numerous awards, including the East & West Artists Prize in New York and the Pro Musicis International Award in 1987, and was selected for the UNESCO International Rostrum of Young Performers.

He made his debut in New York’s Carnegie Hall, and has since played in dozens of cities internationally, including Los Angeles, Boston, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Vienna, Prague, Salzburg, Tel Aviv, Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, Rome, and Milan. Jean Françaix dedicated his concerto for guitar and orchestra to Segre, which he subsequently recorded for WERGO.

He has recorded various other CDs with CLAVES, AMADEUS and other record companies.

Emanuel Segre has played several times in England, including the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester and the Purcell Room in London. He has also given a live broadcast for the BBC.

Last year he was teaching and performing at the West Dean Classical Guitar Summer School in Chichester.

Reviews

• "Everything he plays, believe it or not, becomes a masterpiece" - Classical Guitar (Great Britain)
• "he shaped each piece into a persuasive, atmospheric statement with technical assurance and  propulsive spontaneity" - Los Angeles Times (USA)
• "a sensitive artist who  is completely at  one with his instrument" - The Jerusalem Post (Israel)
• "one of the rare talents that appear from  time to time to serve and publicise the universe of music" - Il Sole-24 Ore (Italy)

Alison Bendy CD

The Society has been given a CD by Alison Bendy titled Danza Mora.

Perhaps we could start a CD library similar to our music library.

I think that members will be very interested in this CD as it includes the Twelve Inventions and Diversions by Peter Nuttall. I am playing it at the moment and I must say it sounds excellent.

Gerald Garcia Workshop - 9th February 2002

'The first rule of ensemble playing is to all play the same piece!'

Our workshops are always very popular and well attended and last Saturday with Gerald Garcia was no exception.

Under Gerald’s guidance, we all worked extremely hard in an attempt to reach a very high standard of playing and achieve the results that he wanted. (I hope that he wasn’t too disappointed!)

The piece of music that we worked on was one of Gerald’s own compositions written for Alison Bendy, titled ‘Le Grazie’ arranged for guitar and guitar orchestra. The three movements are called ‘Night Sounds’, ‘Clear Day’ and ‘Star Rise’.

We started with the very beautiful slow movement, which Gerald explained should sound very soft as in the distance in a huge church.

Our very first hurdle was trying to play the first chord! Well, we could play the chord but we couldn’t play it together. This seems to be a fundamental problem with guitar orchestras (remember the Peter Nuttall Workshop - see newsletter Oct 2000). Also I think that one of the problems is that unless you are actually standing at the front you don’t always hear what is wrong in the same way. I noticed from listening to my recording of the rehearsal that Gerald wasn’t being fussy, but that it really didn’t sound good when we weren’t together. At the time, from where I was sitting in the orchestra I couldn’t always hear the problem. However we overcame this problem by counting out loud “1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and” whilst playing. We also tried to balance the sound that we were making.

'Gerald Introduces Concerto ‘Le Grazie’'

After lunch we reinforced what we had learnt and also worked on the third movement. This movement was extremely tough, especially part one and I think it true to say that we got more than our fair share of criticism. We worked on sections of the music starting with the last five bars. Moving backwards we then worked on the Trill section. Gerald wanted very short trills and these sounded very effective when the third beat rest was observed. At five o’clock we gave a performance of our efforts to a very appreciative group of friends and family. Maurice gave an excellent performance on the solo part. If anyone would like a tape of this - just bring one to the next meeting and I will record it for you. Some of us enjoyed a meal after the workshop at El Gringos in Bournemouth. Unfortunately four of us (including Gerald) have parking fines as souvenirs!

For Sale

Concert Diary

14th February 2002
DORCHESTER COUNTY MUSEUM
Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XA
Simon Dinnigan
Box Office: 01305 264216 or
The Music Box: 01305 264216
7.30 p.m. £8/ £6
http://www.simondinnigan.com/

15th February 2002
MEDIEVAL HALL
Salisbury
Simon Dinnigan
Box Office: 01722 339 983/412 472
7.30 p.m. £9
Part of a televised tour of all English Counties

Saturday 9 March 2002
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum
East Cliff, Bournwmouth
Michael Partington
Tel: 01202 451 858
£5 (Concessions £3.50)
The Museum is open 10 a.m. - 4.30 p.m. and you can have an excellent lunch at their café.
Recital Gallery can only accommodate 50 people so be sure to book in advance.

Saturday 13th April - Concert 7.30 p.m.
Sunday 14th April - Workshop 11 a.m.—4 p.m.
DORSET GUITAR SOCIETY
Kinson Community Centre
Emanuele Segre
Margaret Tredwell: 01425 613 739
Concert £8 (Concessions £6)
Combined Workshop & Concert £25

Friday 19th - Sunday 21st April
SUMMER MUSIC - WEEKEND FOR GUITARISTS
Stafford House, 91 Keymer Rd, Hassocks.
Tutor - Gerald Garcia
Tel & Fax: 020 7272 5664 - £103
For players of standards ranging from intermediate to professional
The course begins with supper at 7 p.m. on Friday and ends with tea on Sunday

Saturday 27th April - 7.45 p.m.
ST AGATHA’S CHURCH
Market Way, Portsmouth
Cambridge Guitar Orchestra &
Havant Area Guitar Orchestra
Ticket Information
Tel: 023 9247 9200 email: tickets@hago.org.uk
£6.50 (Concessions £4.50) - discount order form from me or email discount@hago.org.uk (50p off each ticket)
Visit: www.hago.org.uk