Newsletter - July 2002

Articles

June Meeting

It seems an awfully long time ago now but then I suppose we have done so much in-between.

This was of course the last meeting before the Summer Concert. We played through our programme and went through the tricky bits. It all went extremely well and I think that we were feeling fairly confident.

There was even time for two members to play for us.

Matthew and Howard both played beautifully. Matthew played one of his exam pieces Romanza by Mertz and Howard played one of the Brouwer Studies from book three.

Next Meeting

The next meeting will take place on 21st July 2002 at 5.45 p.m. until 9.30 p.m. in the small hall. Ann will be bringing along some easy music for us to have some fun with. Stephen is also bringing along something for us to try out. We can either play in small groups or one big group.

Quote of the Month

“The English are so spiffing.”

Joseph Koos

13th July 2002

Future Meetings

Quartetto Concertante - 13th July 2002

QC rehearsing before the concert.

Stephen, Brian, Gillian and Joseph gave an awe-inspiring concert at St. Stephen’s Church on Saturday evening. Guitar, violin, viola and cello proved to be an unmistakably stupendous combination of instruments. The distinctive character and tonal qualities of the guitar added an extra variant to that of a conventional string quartet.

The balance between the four instruments was just perfect. This was of course due to the supremacy of the fingers that were playing them. The guitar by nature being a relatively quiet instrument had to be amplified, but this in no way impaired the quality of the sound.

I was lucky enough to have heard the Quartetto perform the Peter Hope ‘Divertimento’ last week at the Coda Music Festival and thought it brilliant then - It was described by one of the centres trustees as “mind-bendingly beautiful”. They were in fact playing in a marquee on that occasion where the acoustics were obviously not the best in the world. However, St. Stephen’s Church more than compensated on that front with its outstanding acoustics.

There was something in the programme for everyone. Grieg, Paganini, Bach, Sor, Brahms and Hope.

The Bach Prelude and Fugue in C# minor was a real gem, beautifully arranged by Stephen Kenyon. This contrasted perfectly with the demandingly energetic Paganini Quartet.

Every guitarist is familiar with Sor Studies but how refreshing that other instrumentalists want to play them. The String Trio produced a totally new dimension to the pieces. I couldn’t wait to get back and play the Op 6 nos. 8 & 9 and I have my Sor Studies book open on my music stand as I write. You could however, be forgiven for preferring the hot-blooded Hungarian tunes. The catchy gypsy style melodies of the Brahms Hungarian Dances. Peter Hope of course is just spiffing !

QC at the end of the concert.

Unfortunately we had a very low audience attendance which was very disappointing after all our publicity efforts. However, musically speaking this concert was a tremendous success. After all, forty plus people’s lives have been enriched by experiencing the music of Quartetto Concertante.

Remembered Seas

The new untitled piece that Stephen played at the May Meeting has been given the title of ‘Remembered Seas’. Here is an explanation from Stephen of how he came to name his new piece. He says that he will play it again if we don’t behave! Well maybe if we ask him nicely he will play it again even if we do behave.

“Remembered Seas was finished on May 16th and was written especially for a recital in Derby in June. The title was retrospectively applied (like Maumbury Rings) and did not form part of the creative process, which was basically that of a structured improvisation in the manner of a fantasy. I became aware after writing it that it reminded me of my song-cycle setting poems by Thomas Hardy, all of which relate to the sea or coastal areas, and found that marine images were brought to mind, both of above and below the surface worlds. A fuller title might be Remembered and Imagined Seas since there may be things going on here that I have not experienced despite several decades pottering about in all weathers in small boats, but what is imagination if not recycled memory?”

Stephen Kenyon

Derby Day - John Mills

An exchange visit with the Derby Classical Guitar Society is being planned for October 2003 - yes 2003!

This idea has developed and grown from the time that we played in Wimborne Minster with John Mills. John was extremely taken with Stephen’s slow movement from his ‘Concerto for Guitar Orchestra’ (which he played in the Minster) and expressed an interest in playing all three movements with us. Now there's a complement! The idea is for members of the DGS to join forces in Derby with the members of the Derby Classical Guitar Society and for John Mills to run a workshop on Stephen’s Concerto with a performance in the evening. A week or two later we would reciprocate their hospitality with one workshop and two concerts. These will take place in Kinson and Dorchester. This would probably take the form of a workshop and concert in Dorchester on a Saturday and the following Sunday an afternoon concert at Kinson, giving the Derby people time to travel home on that same day. The proposed date for the Derby Day is October 4th. The travelling logistics will depend on how many of us want to go. If more than two car loads it might be worth considering hiring a mini bus.

Are you up for this? If so let me know. Also are you able to accommodate a guitarist from Derby for two nights? I’ve put myself down already!

Fiona Harrison

8th & 9th February 2003

Here is another date for your next year's diary.

Fiona Harrison will be giving a concert at Pelhams Park on Saturday 8th February 2003 and also a workshop on Sunday 9th February. The workshop will take the form of a technique session for everyone, followed by a masterclass and finally an ensemble session. More details about Fiona nearer the time. Please put this date in your next years diary; which, by the way, are on sale already.

Concert Diary

Saturday 20th July - A Gala Concert 8 p.m.
ROMSEY ARTS FESTIVAL
Romsey Abbey
John Mills & Cobie Smit
Tel: Romsey Tourist Information Centre 01794 512 987 £12.50

Saturday 27th July - Concert
ST. MARY'S CHURCH
Dorchester
Quartetto Concertante
Tel: Stephen Kenyon 01305 257 099

West Dean Celebrity Concert Series
Sat Aug 17th David Russell
Sun Aug 18th David Russell Masterclass
Mon Aug 19th Carlos Bonell
Wed Aug 21st Xuefei Yang
Tickets from Chichester Tourist Information Centre
Tel: 01243 539435

Saturday 12th October - Concert 7.30 p.m.
Sunday 13th October - Workshop
DORSET GUITAR SOCIETY
Kinson Community Centre
Eleftheria Kotzia
Margaret Tredwell: 01425 613 739
Concert £8 (Concessions £6)
Combined Workshop & Concert £25

Saturday 26th October - Concert
FIFTH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
St. Mary's Church, Dorchester
Stephen Kenyon
Tel: Stephen Kenyon 01305 257 099

Friday 13th - Sunday 15th December
Weekend course
URCHFONT MANOR, Devizes, Wiltshire
Raymond Burley & Cornelius Bruinsma
Tel: 01380 840495 Fax: 01380 840005
Email: urchfont@wccyouth.org.uk