Newsletter - October 2003

Articles

John Mills Concerts | Quote of the month | Next meeting | September Meeting | Dates for Diary 2004 | Neil Smith | Federation of Guitar Societies | Southbourne Literary Society Concert | Future Meetings | Concert Diary | Contact Numbers

On Tour with John Mills

Derby - Sat 4th Oct

We all more or less arrived at the same time at our pick up point - Maurice’s house. Sarah and Stephen were enthusiastically waving as Bus Driver Richard drove towards us and expertly parked the mini bus. I was so excited that I almost forgot to say goodbye to Nick. We all bundled into the bus.

Our journey was enriched by lovely sunshine and beautiful views over Dorset and Wiltshire all the way to our next stop - John Mill’s house.

We did contemplate calling in on Julian Bream (who apparently lives very near to John Mills) and asking him if he would like to come along with us as we were short of a part three player. However, this was quickly dismissed and decided that on reflection perhaps he wouldn’t quite appreciate the joke!

After picking up John we drove onwards and upwards, stopping only once for a quick cup of coffee and we finally arrived at our destination at 2 o’clock (1 hour late - oops).

We were greeted by Nigel, Peter and Mark and then given lunch before being introduced to the rest of the Derby players, John, Gaynor, Francis and Jenny.

Rehearsals went well and there didn’t seem to be anything too amiss - just a few changes of dynamics and shaping of phrases. In fact I would say it was sounding pretty good!

We even managed a quick bash through our Kalimba - I was a little apprehensive as although we have played this piece a lot we had never actually practised it with this combination of players.

After a short break and more food we climbed back into our bus and headed for the evening’s concert venue.

Cedar Park is a new major music and arts facility, opened in January 1998. The facilities include a digital multitrack recording studio, rehearsal rooms and a concert hall.

It was a lovely spacious hall and there was a good atmosphere. Lathkill Music publications were on sale in the foyer.

The concert started with DGS playing Kalimba and then Derby players with Palladio. By coincidence both Societies had chosen entertaining, fun pieces. They were well played and I think that they complimented the rest of the programme extremely well. The remaining first half was given over to John Mills’ solos.

John Mills started his programme with four pieces by Gaspar Sanz and then a glorious selection of pieces from Ireland and Latin America. He played everything absolutely beautifully and it was a positive thrill to be there listening to him.

The second half started with the Vivaldi Concerto in D with John as Soloist and both societies joining in, playing the string parts which were arranged for guitar by Jeremy Sparks.

This was followed by Stephen and John playing Andante from Concerto for Two Mandolins also by Vivaldi. Gorgeous!

Finally we all joined forces again for Stephen’s (now very famous) Concerto II. Brilliant.

Well - I think we did ourselves proud, and John was - Just Amazing!

Then - off we went to the pub for a well deserved glass of wine!

Many thanks to our friends in Derby for their hospitality.

Watch out for review by Steve Marsh in Classical Guitar Magazine.

Margaret Tredwell

Kinson - Sat 11th Oct & Dorchester - Sun 12th Oct

Saturday dawned bright and sunny for the weekend of guitar music in Dorset. I arrived early at Kinson and to my astonishment some Derby members were already there. Stephen and John Mills soon arrived followed by Dorset members with food for the buffet lunch. It was evident we were in for a very harmonious day.

At 2 o’clock, after some shuffling around of chairs, the two guitar societies soon settled into their places in the enlarged guitar orchestra. There followed 2 hours of intensive rehearsal until the cry of 'Is the kettle on’ was heard. After a further rehearsal session we were ready for anything.

Our sandwich team had meanwhile been hard at work to supply more sustenance for the hard working players. Nigel then set up some very impressive recording equipment he had brought from Derby to record the concert.

As the visiting team, Derby Guitar Society started the concert with a fine performance of Palladio by Karl Jenkins. This was followed by the home team playing Kalimba by Jurg Kindle.

We were then treated to some beautiful solo playing by John Mills. Four pieces by Gaspar Sanz followed by three Irish pieces. As a DGS member said 'You could have heard a pin drop’ during the hauntingly beautiful She moved through the Fair. I almost believed the 11th Century army in the Irish March had marched right through the Hall and disappeared over the hill into the distance. Then followed a selection of Latin American pieces with all the intricate rhythms and wonderful melodies.

After the interval it was time to hear the two guitar societies merge to accompany John Mills for Vivaldi Concerto in D. It was then time for our hard working Conductor to don his playing hat and join John Mills for a duet of Vivaldi Andante for Two Mandolins. This was followed by Stephen Kenyon's Concert II with everyone playing and Stephen conducting.

The evening finished at Valerie and Michaels house for a good chat about the days events.

On Sunday we had to wind ourselves up to perform the whole concert again in St Mary’s Church, Dorchester. As this was an afternoon event Stephen had the idea of styling it as a cream tea concert. So once again our intrepid caterers pulled out all the stops. Judy baked over 100 scones and the team supplied a cream tea for all the Orchestra and audience. Wow! Terry was the most eye catching in the catering section with his bow tie and striped apron. It was good to see Paul Wright the founder of the Dorset Guitar Society in the audience. I did wonder, seeing other known players in the audience, would they have liked to be involved? After the concert all the participants were invited to Sarah’s house for more wonderful food and much chat.

The idea for a combined, three concert, two society tour, was an idea Stephen had to give the guitarist the experience seldom available for amateur guitar players to build one concert after another in quick succession. I can confirm from comments made that it was an experience they would not have missed and had indeed benefited from the extended concert tour.

My lasting impression of the whole weekend will be the impressive commitment by everyone taking part and especially the unstinting support given by DGS members and spouses who contributed to all the hospitality.

Ann Plumb

and Finally

Stephen will be writing up a report next month but in the meantime would like to say well done and a big thank you to everyone involved in the three day tour for all their help and dedication.

Top of page

Quote of the Month

Why on earth didn’t I know that one could write a violincello concerto like this? If I had only known, I would have written one long ago!

Johannes Brahms (1833-97)

After reading the score of Dvorák’s cello concerto, quoted in Robertson, Dvorák, 1964

Top of page

Next Meeting

The next meeting will take place on 19 October at 2 p.m. until 5.30 p.m. in the SHARPE ROOM. Please note change of time

Top of page

September Meeting

We worked predominantly on Stephen’s Concerto this month, which was coming along really well. After coffee we worked on the third movement and then a quick run through of Kalimba for the benefit of those who have not played it very much. Yes there are still some people left who haven’t!

A very short concert by Stephen and Maurice followed:

Maurice played The Way We Were by Marrin Hamlisch and Alan & Marilyn Bergman. This song was from the 1973 film staring Barbara Streisand and Robert Redford.

Stephen played three traditional Irish tunes (his own arrangements). The Old Rambler, The Hawk of Ballyshannon and Jem the Miller. and then Maurice joined Stephen for a duet Largo and Rondo from opus 34 by Ferdinando Carulli.

Top of page

Brad Richter Concert

Dates for your Diary 2004

Concert...Saturday 5th June 2004
Workshop...Sunday 6th June 2004
Keep Dates Free - More information next year

Top of page

Please Note

Due to lack of space - Guitar Notes on Practising by Bill Rhys will appear in the November issue.

Top of page

Neil Smith - November 22nd & 23rd

Neil Smith will be giving a concert for DGS at Kinson on Saturday 22nd November and a workshop the following day Sunday 23rd.

From past experience I can tell you that working with Neil there will never be a dull moment and you will learn heaps!

His workshop will outline a variety of guitar techniques and illuminate areas of chords and scales.

I know that you have barely had time to recover from last weekend but I would appreciate it if you would return your application forms to me on Sunday. Please don’t forget to come armed with cheque books. The workshop is excellent value for money at £25 for the whole day and includes Saturday Evening’s concert. The usual posters and flyers will be available at the meeting.

Biography

Britain is famous for its guitarists and among the top players today, you can find Neil Smith. His reputation has been established over a period of 30 years, travelling to over 40 countries making him one of the most experienced classical guitarists on the planet. For so many music clubs and festivals, he is the one player they return to, year on year, and often full-house notices appear on his return visits. As one international critic declared, 'He belongs to the very front rank of guitarists.'

His early studies took place in Manchester and London with Duarte and then later at Toronto University, Canada with Alirio Diaz sand Leo Brouwer. On his return to the UK, he made his Wigmore debut.

He followed this with tours and Proms Concerts with some of our finest orchestras and conductors including the CBSO under Sir Simon Rattle, the SNO under Sir Alexander Gibson and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

His first LP record Classical Guitar was featured Pick of the Month in two national magazines and two of his BBC Radio 3 broadcasts were featured as special repeats and his broadcast with John Turner on recorder received the unusual accolade of two repeats.

He has recorded for the Guitar Masters label and Devil Records, XLCR, Apoyo, Forsyths and the HLM (Holland) labels and has been a featured artist on radio in Europe and the USA.

He has examined for the University of Wales, the Royal Northern College of Music and is a Fellow of The London College of Music. He has given masterclasses in the USA, Russia, Greece, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Canada, Italy and the Netherlands and has been a member of several international music juries. Neil has also taught for the world-famous Chetham's School in Manchester.

His recent successes include a special appearance at Glamis Castle in August 2000 for the 100th birthday of Her Majesty The Queen Mother for an audience of 5,800.

Not only has he played in such distinguished venues; he has also played for His Highness Sheikh Maktoum in Arabia and for His Excellency the Spanish Ambassador, H.E. the Colombian Ambassador and H.E. the Israeli Ambassador in addition to the film-star Elizabeth Taylor in Rome and a special recital for a Soviet tank division at the castle of Attila the Hun.

Neil was recently appointed Examiner at The Royal Northern College of Music. His recent concerts include appearances at 12 British Festivals and the opening of Gibraltar Festival. His latest CD Hat Box was described in The Times as 'impeccably polished' and he plans to re-issue his last cassette, Virtuoso with music by Paganini.

Top of page

Federation of Guitar Societies

The very impressive website for the Federation of Guitar Societies is now up and running.

You can find it on: www.federationofguitarsocieties.org.uk

Any feedback or ideas will be gratefully received. One suggestion was for Societies without a website to have a single page made available to them.

Top of page

Southbourne Literary Society Concert - 17 September

Well done everyone who played for the Southbourne Literary Society - it seems like ages ago now. I think we gave them a pretty good concert.

Their President, Mrs Ford thanked us at the end but asked why the music we play was so old. I am sure that this was not meant as a criticism but merely an observation. Anyway, if we do it again we could always ask Maurice if he would teach us Rock Around The Clock.

The evening started with a very enthusiastic speaker Richard Wirdnam on the life and works of Theodore Powys.

I have to say I personally couldn’t understand the enthusiasm and was not inspired to rush out and buy any of his books. Well apparently they all out of print anyway.

Top of page

Future Meetings

November 16	from 2.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.	December 21	from 2.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Top of page

Concert Diary

Thursday 30 October - Lunchtime Recital 1.05 p.m.
Lighthouse, Poole
John Mills
Tickets and Information Tel: 01202 685222 - £5

Friday 7 November - Concert 7.45 p.m.
Music at Canford
Canford School, Wimborne, Dorset
Michael Hulmes & Hayley Savage
Tel: 01202 841254 - £11 (Students £5.50)

Saturday 15 November - Concert 8 p.m.
Southampton Guitar Society
The Point, Leigh Rd, Eastleigh
José Manuel Dapena
Tel: Box Office: 023 8065 2333 £9 (conc £6)

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

Wednesday 26 November - Concert 8 p.m.
Music Society Concert
Dorset County Museum, High West Street, Dorchester
Michael Partington
Tel: 01305 262 735 - £8

Saturday 17 January - Concert 8 p.m. (bar open 7.30 p.m.)
Dorchester Arts Centre
School Lane, The Grove, Dorchester
Sam Piha & Martin Vishnick (International guitar duo)
Tel: Box Office 01305 262 735 - £8 (Conc. £5)

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

Friday 30 January 2004 - Concert 7.45 p.m.
Music at Canford
Canford School, Wimborne, Dorset
Emma Kirkby (Soprano) & Anthony Rooley (Lute)
Tel: 01202 841254 - £15 (Students £7.50)

Friday 20 - Sunday 22 February
Dillington House, Ilminster, Somerset
Guitar course
This weekend gives classical guitarists of all ages and of varying abilities the opportunity to participate in a guitar orchestra. Parts in the orchestra range in difficulty from elementary (grade 2) to advanced (grade 8) and will be allocated in accordance with playing standard, The music will be made available one month before the course, allowing some advance preparation.
Tutors: Peter Rueffer
Tel: 01460 258 613
www.dillington.co.uk
£106 (non residential), £141, £152, £157, £168, £179

---