Newsletter - July 2003

Articles

A Midsummer Night’s Concert | Quote of the month | June Meeting | Next meeting | Playing in a garden for charity | Lute player wanted | Federation of Guitar Societies | A Busy Day | Future Meetings | Concert Diary | Contact Numbers

A Midsummer Night’s Concert

The long awaited Midsummer Night’s Concert came to Dorchester on 21 June, and exceeded all expectations. Stephen Kenyon’s Guitar Concerto no 1 (written in 1992) finally got its first outing.

Having volunteered myself, Ann and Helen to make tea and sandwiches for the orchestra we duly arrived about 1.30 p.m. Others - including Matthew and Andrew were already there, piecing the stage together like a jigsaw. Other people were sorting out the lighting. Talking of lighting, I’m loath to admit that we nearly fused all the lights with a faulty kettle!

Rehearsals, it seems to me, always sound a bit muddled, and I never cease to be amazed how everything suddenly comes together in the end. I was seriously anxious at one point when one of the violinists just put her violin down on her lap and looked totally bewildered and one of the flute players complained that he couldn't play the flute and the piccolo at the same time - or perhaps it was that he didn’t have enough time to change from one to the other. Of course that’s what rehearsals are all about and they were professionals after all, so they should be able to cope. On the other hand they had never played this work before.

However, 120 cups of tea and three loaves of bread later the performance was about to begin. Had I missed something in the interim! The transformation was breath taking. The quality and texture of the music immediately came to life in the hands of these excellent musicians.

What better way to start a Midsummer Concert than with Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The deep tone of the ophicleide (made in 1844) added extra interest and a touch of authenticity. Stephen looked totally at ease conducting the Oberon Chamber Orchestra - obviously all his practising on us has paid off!

Internationally acclaimed guitarist Fabio Zanon then took the stage to play the solo in Concerto no 1. This superb concerto paints an imaginary story of events.

The first movement sets the scene with many exciting images.

The second movement opens with a haunting melody from a solo bassoon, creating a feeling of calmness. This tranquil mood is gradually broken as the tension rises. The calmness eventually returns but with a kind of melancholy. Actually Fabio thought that this movement would be a good one to be played on classic FM.

In the third movement, happiness is restored in a scene of revelry.

Tim Panting, reviews editor from Classical Guitar Magazine has written a review of this concert and it will be published in a later addition of Classical Guitar - so do watch out for that.

The evening ended with an excellent party at Sarah’s house with loads of scrumptious food! I wouldn’t mind having the recipe for the hummus.

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Quote of the Month

You know why conductors live so long? Because we perspire so much.

John Barbirolli (1889 - 1970)

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June Meeting

Unfortunately Stephen couldn’t make this meeting but I think that he would have been pleased that we put on our sight-reading hats once again.

We played through three guitar quartet arrangements by Ray Burley of The Fairy Queen by Henry Purcell. The pieces we chose were Entry Dance, Rondeau and Dance for the Fairies. The Fairy Queen is based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The first performance of the musical stage play took place in 1692 at the Dorset Gardens Theatre in London.

Terry brought along his brand new bouzouki which he recently bought while on holiday in Skiathos. Terry explained that his has three double steel strings, which are tuned to d,a, and d. The modern designs have four double strings.

Led by Terry and his bouzouki we played through our two Greek pieces Speak to me and Greek Dance by Hatzidakis. This was great fun and sounded much more authentic with the bouzouki.

Richard asked for feedback on the proposed application for charitable status and also the amended constitution. There were no objections to the amendments made in the constitution and everyone was in favour of becoming a charity. Therefore the motion was carried.

After coffee players were:

• Matthew played his three grade 4 pieces, Bockington’s Pound by Francis Cutting, Danse Exotique by Lee Sollory, and Lochan Brae by Stephen Kenyon.
• Bill R played Modinha by Francisco Mignone.
• Valerie played Ejercicio by Jose Ferrer.
• Valerie, Bill E, Bill R, and Bernadette played Danza Alta by Pieter Van Der Staak and Il est bel et bon by Pierre Passereau.
• Richard played Study no 19, op 60 by Fernando Sor.
• Terry played Spanish Guitar Blues by Charlie Byrd.

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Next Meeting

The next meeting will take place on 20th July at 5.45 p.m. until 9.30 p.m. in the small hall. Stephen will not be able to be with us, so we will go through a some of the pieces that we intend to play for The Southbourne Literary Society on September 17th.

Please bring all of your DGS orchestra music that you have accumulated from last year and the year before. We are quite a few Palladio copies short and we may play this piece again.

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Playing in a garden for charity - 6 June

Zoë and I were asked by the Citizen's Advice Bureau to play at Cranborne Manor gardens on 6 June. lovely venue. The gardens are set out as different "rooms" and there were different musicians in each one. We were in the Green Garden, peaceful with a pond and surrounded by hedging.

We played from 5.30 pm to 7 pm, and at 7.30 the Salisbury Brass Ensemble took centre stage. Only one thing marred an otherwise idyllic setting - the weather! Cold, damp and drizzly. Having hoped for 300 people, many decided not to come. Costs were just covered and a small profit made. Oh well, next year?

Valerie Evans

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Lute player wanted to accompany singers and dancers
November 15 2003

An early dance group are looking for a lute player to accompany singing and dancing on a Pepys evening on Saturday 15th November [this clashes with the November lute society meeting!] near Orpington, Kent. There will be a small fee.

Telephone Kate Morrison, 0208 892 6225 if interested.

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Federation of Guitar Societies

Goddards - A house designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with a Gertrude Jekyll garden in a beautiful setting on the slopes of Leith hill, Nr Dorking. This was the venue for the meeting of guitar societies on Friday 13th June. The event was hosted by Martin Shaw.

Representatives from seven guitar societies and the Lute Society attended:

1. Greenwood (Martin Shaw and Jamie Fernandez)
2. Southampton (Wayne and Julie Lines & David Tripp)
3. Pendon (Peter and Christine Li)
4. North Bucks (Mike Hill)
5. Berkshire (Gary Jordan)
6. The Lute Society (Chris Goodwin)
7. Dorset (Margaret & Nick Tredwell)
8. Enfield (Ray Butcher)

plus Brian Cohen (Luthier) and Russell Morris (Coordinator-works at Goddards)

Left to right - Back row: Martin Shaw, Peter Li, Ray Butcher, Jamie Fernandez, Wayne Lines, Chris Goodwin, Gary Jordan, David Tripp, Brian Cohen, Russell Morris.
Front row: Margaret Tredwell, Christine Li, Julie Lines.

It was established fairly early on in the discussions that we would not try to set up a huge organisation similar to the 'The Guitar Foundation of America'.

It was however, generally agreed that our objectives would be:

1. Support for other societies
2. Helping new societies (with advice and information, publicity etc)
3. Sustaining the guitar community
4. Networking opportunities

One of the ways of supporting other societies was an offer from Chris Goodwin who has a huge database (700 people). Chris has offered to advertise society events via email to all the people on his database.

The Networking opportunity would be in the form of a central website for all the societies that want to take part. Listing all the guitar events in the South and also summer schools etc.

The website would be set up by a volunteer (no prizes for guessing who volunteered - my decorating will have to take another setback). It was not decided however who would maintain it. The cost of setting up the website would be divided between the societies - probably about £4 each. The organisation would be called 'Federation of Guitar Societies'.

An email exchange has since been set up to exchange ideas.

It was very interesting to learn about guitar societies.

GREENWOOD (9 years) ~ 15 members ~ Weekly ensemble sessions ~ promote 5 or 6 concerts year (mainly promoting junior guitarist) ~ audience of approx 70 people.

SOUTHAMPTON (30 years) ~ 100 members, approx 25 attend meetings ~ Twice monthly meetings (one for ensemble) ~ promote 5 concerts a year ~ audience 200 ~ guest player at meeting every 3 months ~ 1 day mini festival.

PENDON ~ No membership, £3 at door ~ ensemble sessions ~ guest 3 times a year (concert not a separate entity)

NORTH BUCKS 12 members ~ ensemble + guests (sometimes students) ~ occasional concerts

BERKSHIRE (20 years) ~ 25 members, 3-15 attend meetings ~ separate evenings for orchestra, members and ensembles.

THE LUTE SOCIETY ~ 200 members (international)~ 2 speakers and recitals a year ~ residential weekends.

ENFIELD (21 years) ~ 10 members ~ Twice monthly ensemble meetings ~ regular social evenings at each others houses.

Another meeting will be held in 2004.

To round off the day we were treated to a stunning evenings recital by Amanda Cook.

Amanda’s programme included a beautiful piece by William Lovelady This morning in Omagh the sun rose again. This piece was written for Amanda, commissioned for the 1st Anniversary of the bombing in Omagh.

Amanda Cook has subsequently been asked and has agreed to be patron of the FGS.

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A Busy Day for Guitarists
Sunday 6th July

Coda Summer Music Festival

This three day event at Coda started Friday evening with an eclectic mix of music for a summer’s evening featuring the Coda Choir and guests. Saturday included Kindermusik & Foundations Concert, a Piano Festival and a Barn Dance in the evening. Sunday morning started with Sing your Heart Out, followed by a Classical Concert, Vocals, and Coda Strings.

All the proceeds of this event will be for The Coda Music Therapy Unit.

Quartetto Concertante opened the Sunday lunch time concert with an energetic performance of Quartet in C Op. 4 No. 2 by N. Paganini. This was followed by Hungarian Dance No. 17 by J. Brahms.

My contribution Concerto in D, 2nd Movement - Largo by A. Vivaldi, with the Coda Strings (the ones at the back - the ones at the front were waiting their turn - they weren’t that bored - honest!)

2.30 p.m.- Music in the Meadow

The Tivoli Theatre held a fundraising event "Music in the Meadow", with light refreshments and cream teas. Valerie Evans and Zoë Cox provided the music.

The weather this time seemed perfect (see 6th June) and we felt far more at ease and comfortable playing, when a sudden gust of wind blew a rather large gazebo up and over our heads and nearly over the wall, breaking one of its legs in the process. Nobody hurt, instruments OK, Zoë and I a bit shaken - time to have our sandwiches and cream tea, then back to playing. This was a happy occasion and the Tivoli should have made a reasonable profit.

Valerie Evans

8.15 p.m. - Mayor’s Charity Concert

The curtain opened and there we were - A Luminous Row of guitarists on stage at the Mayor’s Charity Concert, Barrington Theatre in Ferndown.

Twelve members of the society played the Telemann Concerto and Kalimba to a sell out audience of 250. It was very hard to hear each other but I have it on good authority that we sounded good! It was also a little disconcerting as the audience could see us but we couldn’t see them. Oh well, (as Terry pointed out) that’s show business!

Other acts in the programme included Scottish dancers, a percussion band and a jazz band. All the proceeds from this concert will be donated to the Children’s Playground Project in Ferndown.

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Future Meetings

July 20	from 5.45 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.	August 17	from 5.45 p.m. - 9.30 p.m.
September 21	from 5.45 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.	October 19	from 2.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.
November 16	from 2.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.	December 21	from 2.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

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Concert Diary

Summer Schools - Concert Series

BATH - JULY
Sat 19 - 1.30 p.m. Helen Sanderson *
Sun 20 - 2.30 p.m. Tom Kerstens
Mon 21 - 1.30 p.m. Students (Flamenco & Classical)
Tue 22 - 1.30 p.m. Rebecca Baulch *
Wed 23 - 1.30 p.m. Thibault Cauvin *
Wed 23 July - 7.00 p.m. Admira Competition
Thur 24 - 1.30 p.m. Abigail James
Thur 24 - 8.00 p.m. Student & Teacher
Tues 29 - 8.00 p.m. Stuart Ryan & Tristan Seume *
(* Young Talent)
£3 (Children free)

DILLINGTON - AUGUST
Sun 3 - 6.30 p.m. Music for Guitar Duos & Harpsichord
Mon 4 - 8.00 p.m. The Katona Twins
Tue 5 - 8.00 p.m. Arctic Guitar Trio - (Norway)
Wed 6 - 8.00 p.m. Eduardo Niebla Duo (Spain)
Thur 7 - 8.00 p.m. Groningen Guitar Duo (Holland)
£10 (season ticket £25)

WEST DEAN - AUGUST
Sat 16 - 8.00 p.m. Ben Verdery
Sun 17 - 2.00 p.m. Ben Verdery (Masterclass)
Sun 17 - 8.00 p.m. Eden Stell Duo
Mon 18 - 8.00 p.m. Karen Schaupp
Wed 20 - 8.00 p.m. David Leisner
Tel: 01243 778830 £10 Masterclass £5 (season ticket £35 - excludes Masterclass)

Sat 4th October
Derby Classical Guitar Society
Derby
Workshop & Concert with John Mills

Sat 11th October
Dorset Guitar Society
Kinson Community Centre, Pelhams Park, Millhams Rd, Kinson, Bournemouth.
Workshop & Concert with John Mills

Sun 12th October
Dorchester
Concert with John Mills

Saturday 22nd November - Concert 7.30 p.m.
Sunday 23rd November - Workshop
DORSET GUITAR SOCIETY
Kinson Community Centre
Neil Smith
Tel: Margaret Tredwell 01425 613 739

Friday 12 - Sunday 14 December (Weekend)
Urchfont Manor, Devizes, Wiltshire
Guitar course
A course aimed at providing guitar ensemble experience in an orchestral situation and in smaller groupings.
Tutors: Raymond Burley & Cornelius Bruinsma
Tel: 01380 840495
£88 (non residential), £109, £115, £126, £136

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