Bromley Guitar Society Blog

Federation of Guitar Societies

2012-02-02T06:37:00.000-08:00

Annual General Meeting to be held on 24th June 2012

The AGM of the Federation of Guitar Societies will take place on Sunday 24th June 2012. This year it will be hosted by the North Bucks Guitar Club and held at Woburn Village Hall - Crawley Road, Woburn MK17 9QD
The day will start at 10.30am and end at 4.30pm. Peter Nuttall will be leading us in the ensemble work, and in the afternoon each society will have 10 minutes to play its own musical piece(s). This event is also a fun social occasion for us all to meet and we hope we can get all societies represented on the day.

There will be a charge of £10 per person to cover the cost of the hire of the hall, refreshments etc. We would be grateful if each society would nominate someone to liaise with Wendy Wagstaffe at the North Bucks Guitar Club, and let her know how many people will be attending. Please inform your members who do not have access to the Federation's website about this event.

Emails please asap to wendy.wagstaffe@yahoo.co.uk with the contact details of the society’s representative. The numbers of those attending from each society should reach Wendy by 31st MARCH - please note that we can acommodate a total of sixty people. Alternatively, you can telephone her on 01462 621920

January Meeting

2012-02-02T02:44:00.000-08:00

Your correspondent receiving some much needed
advice from his grandson

A belated Happy New Year to all members of the Bromley Guitar Society!

Unfortunately I missed the last meeting which explains my absence from the photo in the last issue...probably just as well- an overweight Aussie is not a pretty sight!! Still it is great to return back from Australia, after a stint of grand parenting, to take up the cudgels once more and faithfully record the highs and lows (not that there are too many of those) of life in the BGS.

I have also been a bit remiss in keeping abreast with developments in the Classical Guitar World and I hope to put that right this year! One of my New Year Resolutions!!

Upon returning for the first meeting this January, I was pleased (and secretly terrified) to note how advanced the standard of ensemble performance was since I attended the November Meeting. Tributes have to be paid to members John Mann and Rob Sellery who have proved to be worthy successors to Ray Butcher in organising and ably leading everyone through the mysteries of Joporo (Forrest) and Minuet and Trio (Von Calls). We were introduced to these pieces in November and the reason for my terror is that everyone has steamed ahead with the pieces with the exception of yours truly who has a bit of work on his hands in order to catch up!!

I am indebted (along with all the other players of Guitar part 1) to Den Stockton for annotating the Joporo piece with finger placement guides which were invaluable! And it was great to see the return of our old Enfield task master Ray Butcher , who dropped in after a long absence! And he is still on form!!

As per usual we were treated to an evening of excellent solo performances as well.

Solos included
Falling Tears composed and performed by Danny Kim
Somebody Loves Me (Gershwin) performed by Freddie Carvalho
Pla-it Cool (Dunlea)
That's a Wrap (Dunlea)
Stripey Strips (Dunlea) All three pieces performed by Jenny Wormald

11 Junction St, Newstead (composed and performed by Andrew Ferrier and dedicated to his Grandson)

Stairway to Heaven and Joropo (Merlin) performed by Dave Hampton
Vals Poetico No.1 (Granados) Larisa Lieberman and Vince Chittenden
Scarborough Fair performed by Vince Chittenden

We are grateful to Vince and his sound pixies for recording and publishing the solos.
The link can be found here http://www.questel.co.uk/bgs/bgs21.shtml

Special thanks to Rob and John for the work they have put into the ensemble work. Thanks to their efforts, we are confident that we will have something to show for the Federation of Guitar Societies meeting in July (need to check) as well as the next Beckenham Music festival.

And my thanks to Larisa who organised the refreshments for the evening.

See you all soon

Andrew Ferrier Hon Sec BGS

December Meeting 2011

2012-01-11T12:53:00.000-08:00

The December meeting was well attended and we all worked very hard for a total of two hours on our ensemble pieces. Rob Sellery spent the first hour on “Leonard Von Call’s Minuet and Trio” and, by the coffee break, we had made considerable progress with not only the notes, but also the performance directions which Rob gave us.

After the coffee break, courtesy of Trevor and his home made biscuits, the following members played their chosen pieces:-

Freddy Carvalho            Amazing Grace & Silent Night.

Danny Kim                   A Blue Article.

Trevor Pike                   Away In a Manger.

Alan Green                   Salida Del Sol by Dieter Kreidler.

Larisa & Vince               Greensleeves.

John Mann then spent an hour helping us to unravel the rhythmical intricacies of “Andrew Forrest’s Joropo”. Make no mistake about it, this piece is clearly going to give us all a run for our money, so please practise your part at home and don’t rely on your sight-reading skills alone. John really had his work cut out as this is a tricky tune. Perhaps even the most experienced of us need to anticipate cadential sequences and to generally have a sense of cadence, combined with dynamic contrast. John also gave us guidance on the performance directions.

Because of the amount of work which, of necessity, we put into the ensemble pieces, we did not have time to play some Festive music brought along by John Mann and Freddy Carvalho. My apologies for these omissions but we simply ran out of time.

However, in my opinion it was a very good and productive meeting. I pointed out the obvious necessity for us to attend every future meeting, in order to attain a good standard in what is only a comparatively short time remaining.”

Den.

November 19th Meeting

2011-11-21T06:15:00.001-08:00

After the success of the Carlos Bonell concert, we thought things may be a little quiet for November's meeting. How wrong that turned out to be!! Considering we were up against Strictly Come Dancing, we had a creditable attendance!!

We had an excellent evening with quality solo performances and some great ensemble performance under the leadership of Rob Sellery and John Mann.

Our usual ensemble leader Ray Butcher is taking a quiet well earned rest for his long monthly journey from Enfield to Bromley to take up the baton for our ensemble practice. Indeed we were very fortunate to have Ray lead our sessions and in some respects we grew to depend on his contribution each month. Ray's indication of a desire for a break made us sit up and take note of our own resources.

And we are very fortunate to have some quality ensemble leaders among our team. Rob Sellery took us through a performance of a Sonata. He was very patient and authoritative in musical leadership and delivery. We spent some time concentrating on the dynamics of the piece which we managed to pull together very well.

John Mann also stepped up to the conductor's podium with a challenging piece Joporo by Andrew Forrest. This piece was a little more complex in its form but, under John's guidance, we managed to tie it together extremely well despite a few issues with the music notation.

Some great solo performances and duets were included- may have been inspired by Carlos Bonell last month!!

These included
Bach -Cello Gavotte No 1                                    (Andrew Ferrier)
Torroba -Fandanguillo                                         (John Mann)
Ryan -Birds flew over the Spire

Brouwer-El Decameron Negro                               (Rob Sellery)

Sellery- Revery
Anon-    Helston Floral Dance                                (Marion Davis)
Anon- The Rakes of Mallon
Lindsey Clark- Vals in Homage to Antonio Lauro   (Jenny Wormald)
Cottam The Centaur                                                (Trevor Pike)
Barrios Mangore Villancico De Navidas
Carulli- Et Nottorno                                                 Vince Chittenden /Larisa Lieberman)

As soon as Vince's sound pixies have rendered the music files we shall link them to the blog so you can listen for yourselves.

Update: Sound files have been added. Thanks Vince!

The Meeting was chaired (abley as ever) by our esteemed Chairman, Den Stockton who welcomed a new member David Wheeler. Den also thanked Ray and John on behalf of the group for their preparation and leadership of the ensemble performances. (I have a sneaking suspicion he was relieved to avoid having to run the ensembles himself!!)  On a serious note, Den also reminded us that we need to start thinking about the Federation Guitar Societies meeting for 2012 as well as next year's Beckenham Festival. We were rather surprised about this until he reminded us that there are less than 9 meetings before the FGS event takes place....a sobering thought!! So we need to start thinking about a program!!

Special thanks to Trevor Pike for providing the refreshments!!The evening finished at 9:45pm.

Please note that the next meeting will be on December 10th (second Saturday in December)

Carlos Bonell Concert October 15th

2011-10-24T09:20:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately your correspondent was struck down with the dreaded 'lurgy' so he missed out on what was by all accounts, a fantastic concert performance from Carlos Bonell. Which is why he is so grateful to our stalwart chairman for the following account -

Bromley Guitar Society celebrated its 30th Anniversary, on October 15, 2011, with a recital by Carlos Bonell.

Carlos played a varied and interesting programme ranging, quite literally, from Bach to The Beatles, to use a time worn cliché. In the first half, we were treated to the famous “Choros” and “Five Preludes” by Villa-Lobos, “Kinkachoo, I love you”, by the Australian composer Phillip Houghton and Bach’s Lute Suite in E Minor BMV 996.

After the interval, Carlos continued his performance with “Julia Florida” by Barrios, “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Here Comes The Sun”, by Lennon and McCartney, “Capricho Arabe” by Tarrega, “Petenera El Vito” by Sainz de la Maja and “Danza del Molinero” by de Falla, arranged by The Maestro himself.

As if this technically demanding programme was not enough in itself, Carlos then played “Penny Lane”, by Lennon and McCartney, as his encore.

The sheer brilliance of Carlos’s playing riveted the audience’s attention from the opening notes to the final encore.

We applauded him with great and well-deserved enthusiasm after every item. The technical virtuosity he displayed was utterly mesmerising and he produced a wonderful range of tone colours and dynamics from a beautiful guitar, made by a relatively unknown luthier in Madrid, whose name I have already forgotten. Carlos stopped from time to time to talk to us about some of the pieces that he was playing and made many witty observations in the process. All in all an evening of wonderful music and a fitting way in which to celebrate our Society’s 30th Anniversary.

At my request, Paul Brown kindly did the introductions and closing words as our only surviving founder member, for which I am grateful to him.

A lot of careful planning and hard work went into last night’s recital, which was a great success. I am very grateful to the Executive for their input and I am very sorry that illness prevented Andrew and Fran from attending.

Steve, please thank Naomi for helping you to produce a superb souvenir programme and thank you for handling the financial matters so efficiently.

Shirley, there are not enough words to express our thanks for your handling of the ticket applications and allocations, as well as for all your help on the day. And the good thing was that you managed to get to SEE and HEAR the concert.....it was poor old Andrew's turn to miss out this year !! Wonder who it will miss out next year??

Denis Stockton.

By the way if anyone has any photos from the concert, please email them to me so I can add them to the blog site adn the news letter.

Update: The luthier that made Carlos's guitar was Juan Menduiña, (Madrid- http:// www.sistemamenduina.es/

BGS Saturday meeting

2011-09-24T04:03:00.000-07:00

Here we are back again ready for another vigorous pluck and strum workshop with more ensemble and solo performances….but there are some subtle changes.

The first change was a rather sneaky one……we used this meeting to host our Annual General Meeting (held over from August). In many ways it was a good thing to do as we had more input from members (nothing like having a captive audience!!!) and as a result it was much easier to canvass new ideas and at least get some reassurance in any decision making.

Denis presented his chairman’s report that outlined some of the successes and challenges we had in the 2010-2011 season. Among the highlights were the successful Federation Guitar Societies AGM by Bromley Guitar Society and the March visit from the Widmore Guitar group. Denis also paid tribute to the hard work of the executive members in his report.

Steve Pearson submitted a Treasurers report that indicated we are still travelling well financially despite the withdrawal of funding support from Bromley Arts Council due to financial cutbacks.
This is the start of a number of changes that will affect the society long term. And it’s not confined to financial viability either.

The main issue that needs to be considered is rejuvenation of support from all the members. For instance the BGS have been dependent on Ray Butcher’s outstanding leadership of the ensembles over the last couple of years. While we have been lucky to have Ray taking up the helm we cannot expect him to maintain such a high level of support. Ray (who travels from Enfield to Bromley every third Saturday in the month…a not inconsiderable feat!) has already indicated that he will not be available as often. In fact he will not be able to attend the next three meetings. Management of the ensemble side of the evening is now up to us as members!! Our first ‘Big Society’ challenge!

The executive was re-elected UN opposed which as secretary, I should be flattered. However the fact that all positions were filled by members who have been doing the same task for the last three to four years is not a healthy sign of a ‘ re juvenated’ society. Apart from the creation of a ‘Members Secretary’ post (ably filled by Shirley Russell) , the same faces are still there. While we are happy to perform the executive management tasks required by the committee, let me remind you all (as someone who has experienced the ‘joys’ of recent redundancy in the workplace) that circumstances can change dramatically and swiftly. A change in health, financial, family or employment circumstances could affect the BGS. That’s why it is important for all members to be involved in what happens to the BGS long term!

Gosh that was serious wasn’t it… Let’s leave this and get onto something more pleasant.

Carlos Bonell

Tickets are still available for the Carlos Bonell Concert. You can order tickets by downloading and completing the flyer on the blog site. If the newsletter has been delivered by post, the flyer has been enclosed

And last but by no means least here are the listing of performances

In the absence of Ray, our stirling conductor appeared in the form of Denis Stockton (David Rattle’s secret twin brother) who lead us through a range of pieces provided by himself and Dave Hampton who has been busy trawling the web for ensemble resources. This was followed by some great solos provided below

Performances

• Aria by Guiseppe Brescianello performed by Jenny Wormald. (A characteristic of Jenny’s performances is that she always chooses composers with names that are longer that the pieces she plays!!)
• ‘My Love is like a Red Red Rose’ and ‘Down by Sally Garden’ performed by Trevor Pike with a distinct Irish twinkle in his eye
• ‘A ray of light shines from my past’ original composition performed by Danny Kim in contemplative mode
• Melancolia and Cancion De Luna by Per Orlov Kindgren performed by Steve Pearson in Scandinavian mode
• Villa Lobos Prelude Number 5 and Bach performed by Miles Roberts successfully moving between Latin America and Germany in style and performance
• Carulli Nocturne Number 1 performed by Larisa Lieberman and Vince Chittenden

Click here to listen to them

Special thanks again to Trevor Pike for his work in the refreshment department! And a special thanks to Vince Chittenden for taking charge of the sound recordings

See you at the Carlos Bonell Concert on the 15th

An Evening with Carlos Bonell

2011-09-07T02:23:00.000-07:00

The Bromley Guitar Society proudly presents

Carlos Bonell

St Marks Church Saturday 15th October 2011 7.30pm

Carlos Bonell is one of today's most celebrated guitarists. He studied at the Royal College of Music and gained prominence through his Decca recording of Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Charles Dutoit.

His discography includes more than 20 CD and DVD recordings ranging from the music of Queen, The Beatles and the Bach lute suites. His latest album release is "Carlos Bonell’s Magical Guitar Tour" dedicated to the music of the Beatles.

In 2007 he was awarded the prestigious Spanish prize Premio Trujamán for his work for the solo guitar. His career includes TV, Film and CD recordings, worldwide tours, concertos with the major orchestras, and the creation of his own ensemble.

Carlos is a popular performer. He has performed as a guest for the BGS in the past and his concerts have been enjoyed immensely.

For more information about the concert please download the flyer

In the meantime here is a recording that Carlos made for City of Derry festival in honor of the 100 year anniversary of the deaths of Albeniz and Tarrega. Listed to the solo arrangement of the Concierto de Aranjuez!! It should whet your appetite for a great evening

Aranjuez Mon Amour" The Life of Joaqui Rodrigo in his own words"

2011-09-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

ARANJUEZ MON AMOUR

"The life and music of Joaquín Rodrigo in his own words"

narrated by Cecilia Rodrigo

with Carlos Bonell, guitar

script compiled by Carlos Bonell

UK TOUR 7 – 11 OCTOBER

INCLUDES BURY ST EDMUNDS, CAMBRIDGE, ISLE OF JERSEY, LONDON AND NORWICH.

FULL DETAILS FOR ALL VENUES BELOW.

LONDON DATE:

Wednesday 7 October 7.30pm
Canning House, 2 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8PJ

ARANJUEZ MON AMOUR

"The life and music of Joaquín Rodrigo in his own words"

Programme note:

Cecilia Rodrigo introduces and reads a fascinating collection of letters and essays

written by her father, composer Joaquin Rodrigo. No guitar work has enjoyed greater popularity than his Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar and orchestra, which is widely regarded as the most popular concerto written for any instrument in the 20th century. Together with Carlos Bonell playing music by Falla, Sanz, Sainz de la Maza and Rodrigo himself, the presentation will include letters to some of Spain's leading artists of the last century, including to Segovia, Mompou, and Manuel de Falla, and his future wife Victoria K. The letters reveal a personal and artistic struggle to find success and satisfaction, and are a vivid evocation of the turbulent times which Joaquin Rodrigo's long life (1901-1999) encompassed.

Music includes:

By Joaquín Rodrigo:

Sarabanda Lejana

Fandango (from 3 piezas españolas)

Sonata a la española

Ya se van los pastores arr J. Rodrigo

Pequeña Sevillana

En los trigales

Theme from Adagio from Concierto de Aranjuez

By Regino Sainz de la Maza:

Peteneras

By Gaspar Sanz (1660-1720) :

Selection of pieces that inspired la Fantasia para un Gentilhombre

By Manuel de Falla (1876-1946):

Homenaje a Debussy

TOUR DATES

Wednesday 7 October
7.30pm
Canning House, 2 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8PJ
Starting time of concert: 7.30pm
Box office telephone: 020 72352303 ext. 222
Information email address and/or www site: www.canninghouse.com/content/culture/events/ http://www.canninghouse.com/content/culture/events/

Thursday 8 October
8pm

Venue: St. James

Jersey Arts Centre. Phillips Street, St. Helier, Jersey JE2 4SW

01534 700444

www.artscentre.je

9 October

7.0 for 7.30pm

The Consevatory

7 Grange Road, Cambridge CB3 9AS

Contact Becky Cawdry at Camsight (01223 420033), or email becky@camsight.org.uk, or send a cheque with a s.a.e. to her at Camsight, 167 Green End Road, Cambridge CB4 1RW

10 October

7.30pm

Taverham Hall,

Norwich

NR8 6HU

Box Office:
Elkin Music 01603 666332

Sunday 11 Oct

4.30pm
Bartonmere Farmhouse,

Great Barton,

Bury St Edmunds,

Suffolk,

IP31 2PH

Box office telephone:

07805 347744
Information email address:
isabellaalston@mac.com

Cheltenham Guitar Festival 23rd -29th July

2011-07-22T12:44:00.001-07:00

Still not too late to register. Visit http://www.igf.org.uk or phone 02070142814 for more details.

BGSTV presents...

2011-07-06T14:25:00.001-07:00

The Federation Guitar Societies Music Meet and AGM !!

Federation Guitar Societies Annual General Pluck 'n Strum!!

2011-07-04T11:10:00.000-07:00

And a Happy 30th Anniversary to Bromley Guitar Society!!

Sunday 26th of June will mean many things to many people!!

For the Bromley Guitar Society, it was the culmination two great events- our 30th 'birthday' of the Bromley Guitar Society coinciding with the annual FGS Meeting and all round jam session at Hawes Down Primary School!! What better way of celebrating a birthday than inviting all your nationwide Guitar Societies pals to join in the fun!!

The day commenced with a few musical 'aerobic' exercises provided by Cornelius Bruinsma to get us all in the mood. Because we were based at a school, Cornelius took advantage of the 'house system' to ensure that we kept on track and paid attention to his words. We found ourselves organised into house groups (a little like Harry Potter....10 points to Gryffindor!!) His method looked like it was going to succeed until he appointed Ray Butcher to tally the points!! It didn't escape anyone's attention that Ray's "house team" seemed to be leading in the points scale all the time........!!

After a welcome from our chairman, the Federation day got off to a great start in high Russian style with the performance of Shostakovich's March and Waltz under Cornelius's careful control. There were some of us (your correspondent mainly) who previously despaired at attempting to master the March after constant rehearsals. However it was amazing to see how a large assembly of guitarists can bring out that bit of 'magic' that makes the whole thing work ! I understand that Vince has made a recording of the pieces which we will put on line as soon as they are available.

Special thanks to the following guitar societies who joined us including the Widmore Players, Southhampton Guitar Society, North Buckinghamshire Guitar Society, Dorset Guitar Society, Greenwood Guitar Society and Enfield Guitar Society making the day truly successful

Ensemble work requires a lot of energy (especially during a 'heatwave') and we were fortunate to have the catering organised and delivered by Trevor Pike. Trevor, along with Theresa and Shirley, performed a mammoth task in providing a huge spread of food and drinks. The anniversary cake in the photo was provided by Shirley (and your correspondent can attest that it was delicious!!). Trevor, Shirley and Theresa deserve our thanks and praise for a job well done!!

After a great lunch each society entertained us all with some brilliant ensemble performances which the BGS managed to round off with a lightning quick version of Los Palmeros that I am sure Ray hadn't counted on during his previous rehearsals. (We certainly hadn't!!) More like Lost Palmeros!!! Well it was a hot day!!! Fortunately we got away with Carvavalito. (Even though your correspondent broke a thumbnail and his footstool in the process!! I blame it on those Latin rhythms!)

A lot of work went into the planning and delivery of the day and it is important to acknowledge the key people whose efforts made it such a success. This includes Ray Butcher for all his work in helping us develop our ensemble prac work. Our executive members Denis Stockton (chairperson), Steve Pearson (Treasurer) and exec members Shirley Russell and Trevor Pike were the main drivers for the success of the day. Along with Den's partner, Theresa (we all agree you don't deserve her, Denis!!) Dave Hampton and the head teacher of Hawes Down Junior Matt Defreitas who pitched in and helped in preparing the venue. I can even forgive him for being an AFL Hawks supporter!!)

The head of the Federation of Guitar Societies, Martin Shaw, was fulsome in his praise for the work put into the organisation and delivery of the event!

Keep following this site for a video update, once Vince's sound pixies have performed their spells!

Saturday May 21st Meeting

2011-05-31T01:13:00.001-07:00

Unfortunately your correspondent was not available for the meeting of May 21st. However we have an excellent report provided by Steve Pearson which is reproduced below:

Another enjoyable and well attended meeting at St Mark's. The evening was divided into ensemble rehearsal for the FGS meeting and members solos and duets.

Ray, as usual, showed great patience with us and progress of sorts was made with both Los Palmeros and Carnavalito. As for the mass ensemble Shostakovitch pieces, the Waltz was recognisable although the March can definitely be regarded as 'work in progess'. With only one full rehearsal left before the big day could all participants put in as much practice as possible - and yes that includes me! As always a big thanks to Ray for his continued and invaluable help.

The Society would also like to extend a warm welcome to new member, Paul Yates. Paul was reluctant to get out his guitar for the first ensemble (despite the odd 'comment' from Ray) but proved later that he should have no doubts about ability. As usual members performances were varied in content - as follows;

Vince and Larrisa - La Rossignol (anon) and Interludio (Brouwer)
Vince - Prelude (Weiss)

Marion - Nostalgia (anon)

Paul - Lagrima (Tarrega) and Julia Florida (Barrios)

Tommy - Fantasia (Mudarra) and Choro De Venezuela (Page)

John - Lettre a soi-meme (Dyens) and Tango en skai (Dyens)

Special thanks to Vince for recording the performances. Click here to listen

Tommy's Choro De Venezuela was written by him and was excellent. It also meant a world premiere for St Mark's Church hall. I should also highlight Paul's performance, not many have the courage to play Julia Florida from memory at their first meeting. Finally, this review would not be complete without a special mention of John's interpretation of Dyen's Tango en Skai which was brilliant and breathtaking. I cannot imagine how much practice must be required to play this piece to this standard - well done!

Larrisa was unavoidably delayed so for a while we thought we'd be nipping off to Costa Coffee at the interval. Luckily she arrived in time to save the day. Thanks.

See you all in June

Meeting Saturday 16th April

2011-04-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

Had a great turnout for the meeting. Tonight's meeting was a combination of ensemble practice under the baton of Maestro Ray Butcher plus some great solo performances. Special welcome to our newest members Shaun Gilmore and Liam Fitzpatrick (who both must have be wondering what they have walked into!!)

Ray pushed us all into the deep end of the pool with another hearty burst at Los Palmeros- which saw Den banished to the back of the room all in the aid of acoustics balance and I stress NOT for any behaviour misdemeanour...well if there was I certainly didn't see it!! Seriously I think we will have a pretty good handle on Los Palmeros well in time for the FGS Meeting. Our second piece Carnavalito is also showing signs of great promise- all we have to do now is concentrate on starting and finishing on time!!

Ray also introduced us to Cornlieus's arrangements of Shostokovich's March and Waltz. The waltz arrangement I liked- mainly because I recognised the tune!! The March???? Hmmmm- well at least we have May and June in order to get to grips- Gulp!! Only two more meetings!!!???!!

The solo performances were up to the usual high standard. The following performances were provided

Siciliana (Messioner) performed by Jenny Wormald
Packington's Pound (Anon) performed by Liam Fitzpatrick
My Lord Willoughby's Welcome Home (Dowland) performed by Larisa Lieberman and Vince Chittenden
Minuet in D Minor (De Visee) and Waltz in D (Tarrega) performed by Steve Pearson
Study in A (Tarrega) performed by Freddy Carvalho
Confused Mind (Kim) performed by Danny Kim
I Dream of You (Per Orlov Kindgren) performed by your correspondent.

As soon as Vince sorts out the sound pixies you will be able to listen to the pieces online.

Update
Here are the soundfiles (Cheers Vince)

In his relentless drive to ensure that we look at least like a cohesive unit, Ray took a leaf out of Captain Mainwaring's book and made us practice the gentle art of bowing to the audience. Stand 1-2-3 Bow 1-2-3 Site 1-2-3. Unfortunately our response was more Corporal Jones ....still two more sessions to go so we get it right!!

We missed Trevor but his role as quarter master was well and truly handled by Larisa for which we were very grateful (as always).

See you back in May!!

Saturday 20th March 2011

2011-03-29T04:44:00.000-07:00

Been a very busy time for us all. Change is in the air what with budgets,redundancies, austerity measures and other aspects of gloom pervading the UK at the moment. However just for a moment, they were all forgotten with a great turn out for March. With the Federation Guitar Socities meeting rapidly approaching we pulled all stops out to work on our presentation pieces or the day. Los Palmeros and Carnavalita are all coming along nicely. Your correspondent managed to get though most of Los Palmeros although he was tripped up a bit in the third section.......but it is definitely showing great signs of progress!!
Under the baton of our concert meister Ray Butcher, the two pieces look definitely promising. So roll on June the 26th!! While we have a dedicated group working on these pieces there is always room for more. Its not too late to come along and be part of what will be a fun day on the 26th June a Hawes Down Junior School. If you want to join in the pluck and strum prac do come along to the next meeting scheduled for Saturday April 16th. Bring along any solos for performance as well!
We were also entertained to a performance from Paul Brown and the Widmore Guitar Concert who performed some delightful pieces such as the the theme from Romeo and Juliet and a very ambitious and creditable performance of Vivaldis Spring from the 'Four Seasons'. Paul and his group have been regular guests at the Bromley Guitar Society and their performances are always eagerly anticipated. Long may it continue!!

As usual there are many people to thank for their efforts. That includes Ray Butcher (our conductor), Den Stockton (Master of Ceremonies) and Trevor Pike for refreshments.

See you in April

Performer Spotlight: Trio Rhapsody

2011-03-28T02:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was sent an email from Lavininia Alberti about an exciting classical guitar ensemble called the Trio Rhapsody.
The Trio Rhapsody is formed by Francesco Cipriani, Luca Marrucci and Alessandro Minci, young guitarists with and academical background who want to propose one particular repertoire, cultured and popular at the same time, mixing Brasilian, Argentinian and Afro-American rhythms.
Among their pieces there are: Bellinati’s “Baiao de Gude”, Pujol’s “Tagondo’”, “Golliwog’s Cakewalk”, taken from Debussy’s “Children’s corner”, and an enchanting new interpretation of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”. They also pay tribute to young contemporary artists, such as Roberto Fiore, who dedicated to the Trio Rhapsody his piece “H”, and Bernardo Sisto Misticoni with his “Autunno mosso”.
Trio Rhapsody succeed in proposing interesting music and touching an heterogeneous public at the same time, using all the possibilities of the classical guitar. Despite the young age of the players, Trio Rhapsody already obtained several approvals in important festivals and concert seasons in all Italy, among which the 15° International festival of Syracuse, the Campobasso International Guitar Festival, Torrino’s International Season “Six Ways”, Cassino’s International Guitar Festival, Roma e La Chitarra’s Art in Sound, Adriatic’s International festival. Listen to their video below

Simply Brilliant!!

Meeting Saturday 19th February- A word from our chairman!!

2011-02-22T05:52:00.000-08:00

The February meeting was particularly well-attended, which was most encouraging.

Ray Butcher worked us hard with the FGS Day music and a lot of progress was made with both of our chosen pieces. In fact, by common consent, the meeting didn’t finish until almost 10:00 pm, such was the level of interest in practising the ensembles. Also, we enjoyed an hour of members playing their solos and duets, which were as follows:

Dave Hampton. Sonata K213 by Scarlatti.

Tom Rimmer.-Autumn Leaves by David Pash and Etude 5 by Leo Brouwer.

Marion Davis. Danza del Arpa by Vincent Lindsey-Clark.

Danny Kim. Romance d’Amor (Anon.)

Freddy Carvalho. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes by Jerome Kern.

Vince Chittenden/Larissa Lieberman. Gypsy Dance (Duet).

Vince Chittenden. Milonga by Jorge Cardoso.

Christine Dabrowa. Cavatina by Stanley Myers.

John Mann. Sons de Carrilhoes by Joao Pernambuco and Se Ela Perguntar by Dilermando Reis.

Rob Sellery. Fantasia in C Minor by Weiss and Passacaglia in D by Weiss.

Miles Roberts. Preludio Triston by Maximo Pujol and Valseana by Sergio Assad.

Click here to listen to the performances

The standard of playing throughout the whole evening was very high and members have been asked to make every effort to continue their strong measure of support for the remaining meetings, leading up to FGS Day on June 26. It will not be possible to play individual pieces or duets at the March meeting but this, hopefully, will not deter members from attending. We still have to practise the, as yet unknown, other ensemble music, which Cornelius Bruinsma will lead the massed societies in performing on FGS Day.

Lute Society and other news..

2011-02-22T05:47:00.000-08:00

1. THE VIHUELA REPERTOIRE ON CD ROM – STRICTLY WHILE STOCKS LAST!

Carlos Gonzalez of the Spanish vihuela society has been surprised to discover in his house one last unsold box of the CD ROM of the entire vihuela repertoire in colour facsimile.

The Lute Society has been allotted 10 copies, of which the first five have arrived [I’ll pick up the rest at the Gijon Festival] – so it’s first come, first served! The price is £45 including postage anywhere in the world. Cheques or paypal payments to sales@lutesoc.co.uk are welcome – but email me to reserve your copy first!!!

Best wishes, Chris Goodwin

2. JIM TYLER MEMORIAL

Lute Society members visiting the Los Angeles area on 22 March are invited to attend a memorial programme, "Remembering James Tyler," to be held at the University of Southern California's Alfred Newman Concert Hall at 7:30p.m. It will include images, recordings, and video clips of things and events that Jim regarded as highlights of his multi-faceted career as a musician, director, arranger, author, and educator, as well as performances of a few of the pieces that he loved to play by some of his most prized former students, now professional musicians in the field of early music. A reception follows the programme.

3. CONCERT IN CAMBRIDGE 26th FEBRUARY

TARO TAKEUCHI plays BAROQUE & ENGLISH GUITAR
SATURDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2011
LUNCHTIME (13.30)

LEE HALL, WOLFSON COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE
http://www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk/societies/music/concertdiary/

Programme
Henry Purcell Ciaconne for guitar
Francesco Geminiani:Menuet Affectuoso
Straube: Suite for English guitar
etc.

Instruments
5 course guitar by Marchal, Paris, c.1770
English guitar (guittar) by Perry, Dublin, c.1760

Admission Free (with a retiring collection)
contact: jrw84@cam.ac.uk (James Westbrook)

More detail
http://www.crane.gr.jp/~tarolute/cdaffect.htm

BGS Meeting: Saturday 15th January

2011-02-07T05:43:00.000-08:00

Hi Folks

Just a quick catch up on the news front.

After a bout of confusion regarding dates for this event which I can only put down to the snow, influenza, travel back to Australia, jet lag and probably excess drink (the latter the more obvious cause!!), the BGS managed to roll out a meeting for the correct date!!

Your correspondent wasn't on hand unfortunately for the event as he was suffering a bad case of jet lag but I understand from Shirley and Den that the meeting was a great success!!

The meeting was well attended with Ray keeping all the troops on task with our performance of Lo Palmeros (and Ray I HAVE been practising and I can almost play the whole thing! Well.... almost!!

Some great solos were performed including

Marion played Cubana by Patrick Benham

Freddy played L'Oiseau by Philips

Danny Kim played September by Robin Pearson

Vince Chittenden played Milonga Maximo by Diego Pujol

Ron performed Rondo by Carulli

Trevor performed Villancio de Navidad by Barrios

John performed Su Cosa by Alfonso Montes

Click here to listen to the pieces performed

Update

Make sure that you have pencilled in the following information in your 2011 diaries! Bromley will be hosting the Federation Guitar Societies meeting at Hawes Down Junior School on Sunday 26h June 2011. More information about the event will be forthcoming- Watch this space!!

New Album Craig Ogden and Greg Caffrey

2011-01-31T02:11:00.000-08:00

Australian guitar virtuoso Craig Ogden and I have just completed a new album of contemporary solo guitar pieces that I have written over the last 14 years. It’s called First Construction in Nylon and is only available at the following link:

http://www.cactusrecords.bandcamp.com

It may be of interest to some of your members and I would be very grateful if you might copy and paste the contents of this email and circulate it to your members. The album can be listened to in full at the site above and, if you like what you hear, you can download the album, with artwork, in a number of formats. You may also order a CD version if you prefer.

I would be delighted to hear feedback or comments on the album from any of your guitarist colleagues at gregcaffreyworld.com and I would appreciate anyone’s support for my music. More on my music can also be seen on my website – but try the album link above first.

Many thanks,

Greg Caffrey
www.gregcaffrey.com

Agnew McAllister Duo Edinburgh

2011-01-31T02:02:00.000-08:00

A little note about a concert coming up in February at the National Gallery in Edinburgh.

'The Agnew McAllister Duo are making a welcome return to the National Galleries of Scotland to perform works from the Italian and German Baroque in keeping with the collections on display in the gallery.'

Agnew McAllister Duo
Thursday 3rd February 2011 - National Gallery, Edinburgh
Time: 6pm
Tickets: Free
Hope to see you there!

Best wishes,

Aisling & Matthew

Exeter Guitar Festival 2011

2011-01-31T01:31:00.000-08:00

Preliminary details of the 2nd Exeter Guitar Festival which will run this year from August 13 - 20. The new web site with application forms etc. will be up and running soon.

Course tutors/visiting artists - Stephen Gordon, Gerald Garcia, John Mills (tbc), Alison Smith, Vida Guitar Quartet (Mark Ashford, Mark Eden, Helen Sanderson, Chris Stell).

This is an intensive course, for a maximum of 16 guitarists of at least grade 6 standard with good reading ability and will comprise of guitar ensemble, classes, workshops, tuition and concerts.

Stephen and Gerald will coach two small ensembles to study, rehearse and perform. Works to include the 3rd and 6th Brandenburg Concertos by Bach in new arrangements by SG.

Accommodation and classes are held in a grade II listed Georgian Town House in the centre of Exeter. The concert series will be in the nearby Phoenix Arts Centre.

Best wishes

Steve Gordon

www.esgmusic.com

News from the Lute Society

2011-01-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

1.OOPS! ERRATUM IN LUTE NEWS 96
The last piece in the music supplement, from the Balcarres lute book, is transcribed for baroque lute, not arranged for renaissance lute, as stated!

2. LUTE SOCIETY ‘CLOSED’ FOR A WEEK 20-26TH JANUARY
I am going to the Italian lute society meeting on Sunday 23rd, in Florence, and will be travelling by rail, for several days on either side of the meeting, so will be incommunicado between 20th and 26th

3. EU PROJECT

I like to introduce our EU-project to you as this might be of interest for the members
of the lute society. The MIMO project is a cooperation of 11 institutions respectively
Musical instrument museums holding historical as well as ethnographic collections.
Our aim is to present our collections online in Septmeber 2011 on the portal of
www.europeana.eu. This service will be free. We are working out a standard of photos as
well as thesaurus and multilingual database (6 languages). Of course, this database will
offer various search functions, such as instrument maker's name, ethnicity or region of origin.
Please kindly let me know, wether you like to send an invitiation via your mailing list, we
than would like to send to you our project flyer PDF as well as an invitation to subscribe the
MIMO newletter. This subscription/registration on the MIMO website (see link below) will enable the subscribers to participate in an online evaluation of our project's database content, which will take place in the coming weeks. For researchers as well as instrument makers, this is a chance to improve the MIMO database according to the users' need.
Kindly let me also know about other associations in UK, which might be interested, we like to
Offer this chance to as many experts as possible.

Best wishes for the coming New Year 2011

Susanna Schulz

----------------------------------------------
Susanna Schulz
Wissenschaftliche Museumsassistentin i. F.

Abteilung Musikethnologie,
Medien-Technik und Berliner Phonogramm-Archiv
Ethnologisches Museum Berlin
Arnimallee 23-27
14195 Berlin, Germany

Tel.: ++49 (0)30 8301 336
Fax.: ++49 (0)30 8301 292
email: s.schulz@smb.spk-berlin.de
www.mimo-project.eu

----------------------------------------------

4. LUTE SONG CONCERT IN YORK 18TH JAN

Concert of Elisabethan lute songs and lute solos, held on 18th of January '11 at 1pm at the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, York.

Performers :
Rosamund Cole, Lizzie Marshall - voices
Elena Cicinskaite - lute.

5. LUTE RECITAL, OXFORD 1st FEB

Oxford Concert - Tuesday 1st February, 1300-1400Lute Recital at The Bate with Richard MacKenzieIl liuto italiano - The repertoire of a northern Italian lutenist c1630featuring music by Kapsperger, Milano, Terzi, Melli and PiccininiAdmission: FREEBate Collection of Musical Instruments, Faculty of Music, St Aldate's, Oxford, OX1 1DBhttp://www.bate.ox.ac.uk/forecast-of-events.html

6. CAMBRIDGE WORKSHOP 12th FEB

A reminder about our next workshop! Philip Cave and Sally Dunkley, both founder-members of The Tallis Scholars, will be co-directing a day of music by Philippe Rogier, a contemporary of Victoria who would have been much better-known had more of his output survived. His music is hugely engaging and rich, and this is a rare opportunity to learn about it with some leading experts.

The workshop will work on some music a cappella, and other pieces with cornetts, sackbuts etc. We still have space for more singers in all parts except soprano, and for a couple of bass viols, theorbo and more brass players. Please apply as soon as possible to reserve your place. Email us for a booking form.

The workshop is on Saturday 12th February, in the Chapel of Girton College, Cambridge, where there is plenty of parking space. You might like to note that Philip Cave's professional group, Magnificat, will be performing music by Rogier with His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts the following Saturday, 19th February, in Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge (details at
http://www.cambridgeearlymusic.org/).

With good wishes for 2011,

Selene Mills Membership Secretary, Eastern Early Music Forum 5 Tunwell's Lane, Great Shelford, Cambridge CB22 5LJ 01223 847330 info@cambridgeearlymusic.org

7. FRENCH CHILDREN’S LUTE GROUP ON YOUTUBE

Avec ma classe et les jeunes élèves nous avons monté un spectacle que nous sommes allés jouer à Genève. Il y a des extraits du spectacle que P. Boquet a filmé sur you tube : http://www.youtube.com/user/SFLUTHLe spectacle s’appelle “Luthomanie”...

Claire Antonini

Note from Matthew McAllister

2011-01-17T08:56:00.000-08:00

Just a short note about two concerts coming up this month.

Maelasta - Sunday (23rd Jan) - Kirkmahoe Parish Church, Kirkton - 2:30pm.

The recital will include works by Moilno, Gragnani, Ysaÿe, Stevenson, Brouwer & Paganini.

'Maelasta - Feargus Heatherington (violin) and Matthew McAllister (guitar) have appeared in major concert halls and venues across the UK including the Sage, Gateshead, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Harty Rooms in Belfast and the National Galleries in Edinburgh. They have performed and given workshops as far afield as Denmark and Abu Dhabi and recorded a debut album Maelasta for Natural Studio Records. The duo performs a wide range of music from classical works to traditional Scottish music.'
Tickets are £8 and are available from the Midsteeple, Dumfries / Thomas Tosh, Thornhill /at the door / or tel 01387 740 045 to reserve.

The village of Kirkton is situated very close to Dumfries in the Scottish Borders.

Agnew / McAllister Duo - Forfar Arts Guild - Thursday (27th Jan) - 7:30pm.

Repertoire will include works by Locatelli, Handel, Bach, Caffrey, Wella & Brouwer.'Flautist Aisling Agnew & Guitarist Matthew McAllister are celebrating Ten Years of concert giving during 2011. Since giving their debut recital in Belfast in 2001 the duo have built a worldwide reputation as one of the finest and most popular exponents of the genre.'

Forfar Arts Guild Concerts take place in East and Old Church Hall, Chapel Street, Forfar.

Tickets are available on the door more information and reservations on 01575 572324.

Hope to see you at a concert!

Best wishes,

Matthew

December Meeting 2010

2010-12-18T05:52:00.001-08:00

Well, what have we here? Who is that jolly chap in the gold hat?

Is it Good King Wenceslas conferring with his faithful chamberlain? Or Catweazle with his familiar Touchwood? Or Saint Nick (not Old Nick) spreading gifts to one and all?

Actually you would be close if you went for the latter. It is none other than our favourite ensemble leader Ray Butcher sharing a few Christmas jokes with our chairman Denis Stockton.

Like St Nick, Ray came prepared with Ensemble gifts for the rest of us including Carnavalito and Los Palmeros which the BGS will be performing for next years Federation Guitar Society Meeting, which will be hosted by the BGS. (Keep visiting the blog site for more news about the event. Keep late June 2011 free in your diaries!!)

As it was our final meeting for 2010, we marked the occasion with a Christmas party spread. The port was flowing freely as you may judge when you listen to some of the solo performances enclosed.

The solo program included the following

Irish Folk Songs

The Belle of Barking Creek

I'd wish they'd do it now

Both performed by Trevor Pike (and I suspect the latter song really came from the heart!!:)

The second performance saw a return to Christmas theme with a rendition of Silent Night and Joy to the World performed as a guitar duet by Trevor Pike and Larissa Liebermann.

This was followed with a piece performed by Vince Chittenden called Milongue del Ayer by Abel Fleury.

And finally a delightful rendition of Pachabel's Canon in D performed by Steve Pearson

Click here to listen for yourselves

It was a very Merry Christmas turnout for the BGS and special thanks should go to our Chairperson Den Stockton, Ray Butcher and our BGS Quartermaster Trevor Pike for their efforts. God Bless us all and Tiny Tim!!

On behalf of the BGS let me wish all members a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2011!

Update

If any one found a black scarf/headband on Saturday night, please let Larissa Lieberman know as it belongs to her?

Lute Society News

2010-12-02T09:11:00.000-08:00

1. THE ITALIAN LUTE SOCIETY RIDES AGAIN! MISTAKE IN WEBSITE

Many people have pointed out that there was a mistake in the web address, which should read www.societadelliuto.it there is only one t in societa.

One piece of news- their first members’ meeting will be in Florence, on Saturday 23rd January 2011.

2. FUZEAU SPECIAL OFFER

Editions Fuzeau are offering 20% off on their Methodes et Traites series, including the treatises on the lute – visit their website for details.

3. CONCERT IN NORWICH 5th DECEMBER

Lute recital
Robin is to the Greenwood Gone.

Lute pieces by Dowland, Johnson and Holborne and settings of Elizabethan ballad tunes.
Yair Avidor (6 course lute by Paul Thomson)

Sunday 5 December 4 pm
King of Hearts, Norwich
£10 on the door or from the box office
http://www.kingofhearts.org.uk/

4. GORDON FERRIES’ BARTOLOTTI CD

New video to promote Gordon Ferries' new recording of Bartolotti's music for guitar and theorbo. It's on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t2XE1dMfMg or website wwwgordonferries.com

ILAM Concerts

2010-11-30T08:07:00.000-08:00

Listed below is a link to all the ILAM concerts taking place for December.

Click on the link to find out more

November 20th Meeting

2010-11-30T07:11:00.000-08:00

I have just finished frantically searching through my sheet music, along with other odds and ends from my BGS Music Bag to find my notes from the last meeting. As it contains all the notes on the solos and performers it was just as well! However I have found them and hopefully my nearest and dearest will overlook the paper chaos left on the carpet (no such luck!!) while I complete the meeting report.

Bromley in November!! It was a very cold evening so we weren't really surprised to see an Eskimo appearing at the door with a large guitar (didn't have my camera quite ready...Damn!!) Lo and behold it was our BGS 'chair', Denis doing his impression of Earnest Shackleton.

We were all very pleased to welcome our favourite Enfield maestro, Ray Butcher back from his holidays in the Emerald Ilse. As a present for us all, he brought back more tricky and challenging ensemble performance pieces for us all!! We started the evening with a warm up with a piece called the Mermaid which lulled us all into a false sense of security. Then he sprung Ian Gammie's Los Palmeros on us all. Our new piece for next year's Federation Meeting!! With your correspondent on Guitar 1!! It is a delightful piece and I can only say how glad I am that we have about eight months to get it sorted!! (As soon as this report is done I will need to get back to the piece and practice!!!)

Obviously word had got around that Ray was attending as we had a very strong turnout that evening with a varied range of solo performances. These included

Trilogy -Entracte, Chorale, Pastourella- by (Peter Nuttall) performed by Marion Davies.

Siciliana (Messioner) and Bouree (Grafbergen) performed by Jenny Wormald.

My Dream of You composed and performed by Danny Kim.

Duet (Carulli and Handel) performed by Larissa Lieberman and Trevor Pike.

Moon River performed by Trevor Pike.

Why (Per Olov Kindgren) and Sonata (Domenico Cimmarosa) performed by Steve Pearson

Passacaglia from the Levantine Suite (Bogdanovich) performed by Andrew Ferrier

Le quartier Latin (from Le Tango parisienne) by Lee Sollory and Fantaisie by Sylvius Leopold Weiss performed by John Mann

Asturias (Ibeniz) performed by Tom Page

Castles of Spain :Manzanares el Real, Siguenza, Torija, and Turegano (Torroba) performed by Rob Sellery

Click here to listen to them (Thanks to Vince Chittenden for the link)

We were all very glad to see Shirley Russell back with us after her spell in hospital. Not even Ray's fiendish ensemble pieces could discourage her!! Which indicates that she is well and truly on the mend!!

Special thanks to Ray Butcher for the work an preparation on the ensemble part of the evening. And to Denis for his role as MC for the night. And to Trevor Pike for his work on the refreshment front!

See you all in December for Christmas

Vale Alison Stephens Mandolinist and teacher

2010-10-25T04:43:00.000-07:00

We were all deeply saddened to learn of the death of Alison Stephens. Most members will remember the wonderful recital she provided to the Bromley Guitar Society in 1996.

Alison Stephens was arguably the leading exponent of the classical mandolin in the UK. She was the first graduate of mandolin from Trinity College of Music, London, and was appointed as a teacher upon graduation, a post she held up to her death. Alison has played across the UK and has toured extensively across the Far and Middle East; Australia, South Africa, across Europe and in USA.

In addition to concerto performances, Alison regularly gave recitals for music clubs and festivals across the UK both solo and as a duo with Craig Ogden (guitar) or with Lauren Scott (harp) as Duo Mandala and also with Steven Devine (fortepiano/piano). She also regularly played in opera, ballet, film scores (incl. The Queen, Golden Compass and Fantastic Mr Fox) and concert performances with the country’s leading orchestras. She also made broadcasts and recorded live for National Radios in many countries.

Alison recorded seven CD’s in a solo or Duo capacity on labels including Chandos and Naxox. Her most recent CD Souvenirs (CHAN10563) with Craig Ogden (guitar) was released on the Chandos Label in Sept 09.

She worked on many projects in connection with Captain Corelli’s Mandolin including a best-selling CD (with Craig Ogden, guitar), a sell-out stage show (adapted by Mike Maran), the soundtrack for the Hollywood film, a BBC Radio 4 dramatisation, a Bookmark Documentary on BBC 2 and many poetry and music recitals with Craig Ogden and Louis de Bernières.

She will be sadly missed.

Meeting Saturday October 16th

2010-10-25T03:21:00.001-07:00

Your correspondent learnt many things about himself at this meeting. His skills in multi-tasking (some unkind people such as his nearest and dearest would refer to it as 'floundering') reached new heights (or plummeted new depths) as he took on the role of Master of Ceremonies, Ensemble Leader, Refreshment provider for the evening.

However thanks to the patience and good will of those members who joined us, especially the timely assistance of Christina Dabrowa and John Mann with the ensembles, we managed to have a great evening. It was a small but nevertheless dedicated group who arrived!

We revisited some of the pieces played at the Federation meeting with a brave attempt at Valse Venezuelienne which didn't sound too bad, thanks to John taking the lead with it.

After a coffee break we launched into some great solo performances which included the following
Peter Nuttall's Nightpieces performed by Marion Davies

Weiss ' Passacaglia' performed by Dave Hampton

Dowlands 'Lord Zouches Masque' performed by Derek Carter

Weiss 'Fantasie' performed by John Mann

A performance of Pernambucos' Sounds of Bells, Tarrega's 'Tango' and Figueredo's Priva Resuello performed by Rob Sellery

Louise Walker's Ein Kleine Romanz' performed by Christina Dabrowa

And a Brouwer piece performed by Larissa Liebermann. (Sorry Larissa- I mislaid the name of the piece!)

(Your correspondent managed to murder Bogdanovich's Passacaglia which STILL continues to remains a work in progress!!)

It was a great evening and we all look forward to a return to normality in November when Ray Butcher returns from his Irish travels. And the other good news is that we gained a new member- Welcome to Ron Eaves from Sidcup!! We look forward to seeing you at the next meeting in November.
The not so good news is that I (or should I say the BGS Committee) owes Dave Hampton ten quid!!!

Performer Spotlight Seb Genovese

2010-10-06T01:14:00.000-07:00

SEB GENOVESE Guitarist/ Composer
Presents: Live Music for the silent Movie

Sebastiano Genovese hails from Naples, Italy he is a classical guitarist and Composer, his latest project is “Live Music for Silent movies”.

The 1st movie he has compiled music and provided accompaniment for is Charlie Chaplins The Kid (1921)

Featuring composers from Brasil, France, Venezuela & his own compositions. The main inspiration for this project is the composer Anibal Augusto Sardinha (Garoto) (1915-1955) who is of the same era as Chaplin himself, Garoto’s music weaves in and out of the drama effortlessly. Chaplin & Garoto as a pair the two share a joyful irony and at the same time depth of artistry.
Seb Genovese performs solo guitar and provides an exquisite live soundtrack for this classic silent film.

Titles:
GAROTO: Brasil Tristeza de um violao, Esperanca, Jorge do Fusa, Gente Humilde, Grazioso,Choro Triste 2, Lamentos do Morro, Vivo Sonhando Ronald Dyens: French: Tango en Skai SEB GENOVESE:Italy Tango de los encuentros, Tarantella ieri e domani, Antonio Lauro :Venezuela: Vals Venezolano Villa Lobos:Brasil: Choros No.1

just 9.37 min on youtube of Seb Genovese plays Charlie Chaplin (THE KID 1921):

Seb Genovese:
contact :07859998347
Email: sebgenovese@yahoo.co.uk
www.myspace.com/sebgenovese

Lute and Guitar Concerts October

2010-10-04T03:33:00.000-07:00

1. BELSIZE BAROQUE CONCERT, LONDON 30TH OCTOBER

Belsize Baroque OrchestraSt James's Piccadilly, 30 October at 7.30 pm
Works by Arne, Handel and Boyce.
Soprano: Lisa RijmerTickets *
£12, Bookings 020 7381 0441*For further details: www.belsizebaroque.org.uk

2. CONCERT, YORK 16TH OCTOBER

The Secret Lover
Saturday 16 October 2010 7.00-8.00pm
Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, York

Early Music as you've never heard (or seen) it before! Theatrical Baroque ensemble Incandescenza bring you courtesans, singers, passionate love poems exchanged between nuns - and who knew baking could be so subversive? Poignant, tender, witty and rebellious, the untold stories of Renaissance women come to life in a theatrical tapestry woven from texts from early modern Europe and music by Monteverdi and Barbara Strozzi.

Incandescenza: Rosemary Carlton-Willis soprano/director, Rosamund Cole soprano, Hugh Mackay actor, Elena Cicinskaite chitarrone, Andrew Passmore harpsichord/organ, Sam Stadlen baroque cello/viola da gamba

Tickets: £8.50; students/concessions £5.00
Box Office: 01904 432439. boxoffice@york.ac.uk
http://rosemary-soprano.tumblr.com/thesecretlover

3. LEEDS CONCERT OCTOBER 8TH

Friday 8 October 2010 at 7.30pm and 9:00pm
Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall, School of Music

Peter Martin - Lute
An opportunity, prior to his late-night recital, to explore the world of the lute, its repertoire, its history and its techniques. The workshop is open to all - including lute players and audience members.Lutenists: please register by emailing your details to: concerts@leeds.ac.uk

9:00pm-10pm – Late night recitalLutenist Peter Martin plays a programme drawn from one of the most important collections of late 16th-century English lute music, with music by Dowland, Holborne and Johnson, and their continental contemporaries Francesco da Milano and Philip van Wilder. Admission Free: subject to availability on the evening.

This performance is part of the City Wide Leeds Light Night Programme
http://www.lightnight.co.uk/leeds/index.php
Jillian Johnson,Concerts Administrator,University of Leeds Concert Series,The School of Music,The University of LeedsLEEDS LS2 9JTTel. 0113 343 2584 (Tuesdays and Fridays + voicemail)concerts@leeds.ac.uk

4. NIGEL NORTH CONCERT OCTOBER 29th, LONDON

INTERNATIONAL GUITAR FESTIVAL
Oct 29th 7.45
Hall 1, KIng's Place
90 York Way
London N1 9AG

Nigel North (lute)
"The Heart Trembles with Pleasure"
Music for 11 course lute by S.L.Weiss
Launch concert for a new Cd on the BGS label

Nigel North
nigel.j.north@gmail.com

5. OXFORD CONCERT OCTOBER 16th

Saturday, October 16 · 1:30pm - 2:30pmThe Queen's College Chapel, The Queen's College, High Street, Oxford, OX1 4AWentry: FREESilva de sirenas - 16th century Castilian music for the vihuela de manofeaturing music by Luys de Narváez, Enríquez de Valderrábano, Diego Pisador and Josquin des Prezplayed by Richard MacKenzie on a six-course vihuela de mano by Paul Baker (2010).

Message from the Calcutta Classical Guitar Society

2010-10-04T03:27:00.000-07:00

This is to introduce the Calcutta Classical Guitar Society http://www.ccgs.in who are organizing Calcutta International Classical Guitar Festival & Competition ‘Nikita Koshkin’ 2010. Details of the festival may be viewed at http://www.calguitarfest.in

With over $16500 in cash prizes, concerts, trophies, diplomas, and implements for participants from all continents and special categories this is the only guitar festival in the world with a special prize for European Guitarists For spreading awareness about and love for classical guitar and particularly to assist us in this first-time event in the nascent classical guitar-horizon of India, we request you to kindly .

Become a Friend of the Festival – this only involves reciprocal exchange of web links – some Guitar Societies have already become friends and you can view them at http://www.calguitarfest.in/guitar_societies.aspx

Pass the word around to your guitarist members who may consider participating or competing in the Festival.

Circulate the Festival’s website link to your general database If you don’t mind, we would love to send you posters of the Festival, which may be put up in your office/recital venues.Thank you so much for your time and patience.

Warm Wishes,

Avik Saha
Competition & Participation Director.
Calcutta International Classical Guitar Festival & Competition “Nikita Koshkin”
5A, Fifth Floor, Hastings Chambers •
7C K.S.Roy Road • Kolkata
700001P +91 33 22426439 • F +91 33 22426466 • M +91 9830052766 E competition@calguitarfest.in • W calguitarfest.in • Skype avik.1964

Message from Carlos Bonell

2010-10-04T03:20:00.000-07:00

Bolivar Hall, London, Friday 22nd October at 7.30pm

I am very pleased to invite you to the Bolivar Hall, London on Friday 22nd October at 7.30pm where I will be playing in the first concert of the Transformations Music Series.

Also appearing will be my special guest Esteban Antonio playing the astounding ha-shem, a 3-necked guitar, plucked and bowed, an instrument of his own invention. We will be playing our own compositions and music by Gordon Mizzi, Queen, The Beatles and Renaissance composers. Admission is free.

We hope to make this a special occasion not to be missed!

Full venue details: Bolivar Hall, 54 Grafton Way, London W1T 5DL. For more info visit https://mail.lgflmail.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=feab0c4ad0ac4c8d85fc42af88f1c266&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.carlosbonell.com%2f

September 18th Gary Ryan Masterclass

2010-09-27T09:14:00.000-07:00

We had a great turn out for the third Gary Ryan Master Class Event last Saturday night! Delegates for the event included Jenny Wormald, Danny Kim and Rob Sellery. As you can see our resident waiter appeared to welcome everyone to the evening!!

Jenny started the evening with a great performance of the Siciliana by Messionier which Gary deconstructed and reconstructed with a great deal of humour and sensitivity. Jean Antoine Meissonnier a famous guitarist, was one of many music publishers who established a business in Paris in the early years of the nineteenth century. He was also on nodding terms with Carrulli and Fernando Sor. (We could speculate whether he was on nodding terms with Jenny although I have been brought up to understand that it is bad manners to ask a lady about her age!!). I couldn't find any more information about this composer so if any one out there in virtual BGS land has some information about the Siciliana to share I would be obliged.

Rob Sellery performed an intriguing, rather sinister piece called the Usher Waltz by Nikita Koshkin which placed high demands on the performer's skill. In his introduction Rob stated that the composer was influenced by the Edgar Allen Poe's story of the Fall of the House of Usher. The rather dark tones of the piece were definitely in keeping with mood of the story.

Wikipedia describes the piece as "Cast in a single movement, it is a motoric waltz whose careering harmonic progression around A minor threatens, and ultimately succeeds, in tearing the music apart. Its climax is an extraordinarily effective sequence of pounded right-hand chords, 'Bartok pizzicato' (where the strings are deliberately snapped back against the fingerboard), and then ghostly harmonics. Like much of Koshkin's work it has an immediate appeal to a wide audience who are both astonished at the visceral impact of the piece, and at the range of sounds coaxed from the guitar, which sounds "bigger than it really is" "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikita_Koshkin

Finally, Danny Kim performed 'Evocacion' by Juan Luis Merlin. The piece was delightful and we were amazed to learn that Danny based his performance on a tablature arrangement. Gary's comments on this led to some interesting insights about the merits and demerits of using tablature for Classical guitar. It could be argued that while tabs are useful in demonstrating where fingering should be applied they can be limited in trying to convey important information to the performer about technique and dynamics. Yet this doesn't appear to affect performances by lutenists. What do you think?

It was another great evening full of good humour as well as being instructive to us all. Denis summed up the evening well when he said that he always learns something new about the guitar and performance technique whenever Gary runs one of these classes.

Special thanks should go to Denis for organising the evening and supporting the ensemble session earlier prior to Gary's arrival. And to Trevor for keeping us all fed and watered during the break.

See you all in October!!

Manuel Barrueco Concert -Wigmore

2010-09-14T04:22:00.000-07:00

I am contacting you on behalf of Wigmore Hall. On 24 October, Cuban guitarist Manuel Barrueco performs a recital of works, including compositions by Ardévol, Piazzolla, Tarrega and Malats (full programme information at http://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/whats-on/productions/manuel-barrueco-guitar-25854).

Would the members of your guitar society be interested in this concert? If so, would it be possible to either post details of the concert on your website, or email your members about it? It should be a very good concert and it would be a shame not to pack out the hall!

Thanks for your time and help.

Best wishes

Chris Pickett

Marketing Assistant
Wigmore Hall
36 Wigmore Street
London W1U 2BP

Tel: 020 7258 8276

Fax: 020 7258 8201

Email: cpickett@wigmore-hall.org.uk

Listen to Manuel below

Next Meeting: Gary Ryan Master Class Sep 18th 2010

2010-09-13T04:33:00.000-07:00

Hi Folks

We look forward to seeing as many members as possible this Saturday, as we are running another Guitar Master Class with Gary Ryan. This will be the third class Gary has conducted and, judging on past form, it should be an extremely informative and entertaining evening for guitarists and non guitarists alike.

On the program for the Class are

• Jenny Wormald (Siciliana by A. Meissonnier)

• Rob Sellery (Usher Waltz by Nikita Koshkin)

• Dave Hampton (Sonata K123 by Scarlatti)

• Danny Kim (Evocacion Jose Luis Merlin)

The Master Class Sessions will commence at 8:00pm.

Please note that, in accordance with the last AGM Minutes, there will be a discretionary charge of £3 per audience member and £10 per delegate performer.

Ensemble practice for BGS Members will still take place at 6:30pm.

Call for Guitarists from Christine

2010-09-02T00:45:00.000-07:00

I am a member of the Bromley Guitar Society looking for other guitarists who would like to meet up and play guitar more often than our monthly meetings. I have Grade 8 A.B.R.S.M and I like most styles of music.

I live in Forest Hill London S.E.23

You can contact me via my e. mail which is:

ChristineDabrowa251@btinternet.com

or ring me on 0208 699 6324.

Novice to Slash: 100 Free Resources for Teaching Yourself Guitar

2010-08-24T01:03:00.000-07:00

Received this letter from Carrie Oakley. It might be of interest to members..

Hi Andrew,

I know this email is out of the blue, but I just posted an article on my blog entitled “Novice to Slash: 100 Free Resources for Teaching Yourself Guitar” at http://www.onlinecolleges.org/novice-to-slash-100-free-resources-for-teaching-yourself-guitar/ . Anyway I figured I’d bring it to your attention in case you thought it interesting enough to drop a quick mention on your site about it as I’m trying to increase readership of my blog.

Either way, hope you have a good week.

Thanks,

Carrie Oakley

Performer Spotlight Jose Manuel Dapena

2010-08-23T02:33:00.000-07:00

Guitarist José Manuel Dapena and composer Octavio Vázquez have combined their blazing musicianship and innovative works, with the ability to deliver one memorable live performance.

Galician Folk Dances Op.20, takes Galicia sentiment to heart and guides you on an exciting journey to distant lands and celtic culture of Spain.

Live at Baden Powell Hall in Rio de Janeiro.

Thanks to Regina Picardal, secretary.
http://www.manueldapena.com

Ramirez Guitar for Sale

2010-08-16T02:45:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Due to unforeseen circumstances one of the members of the Worcester Classical Guitar Society is looking to sell his guitar.

It is a Ramirez R2 in mint condition with case. £650.

If anyone is interested please contact, Brian Abraham in Worcester 01905 26015

Many thanks,

Stephen Begley

www.worcesterguitar.co.uk

St Martins in the Fields Concert Duo Rossi Pompilio

2010-08-16T02:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Andrew,

As you may be aware, there will be a Latin American Music Festival at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square on Bank Holiday Monday 30th August.

The first event of the evening will be at 6pm, featuring the wonderful Argentinian guitar Duo Rossi Pompilio. I'd be extremely grateful if you might be able to send this out to your members as I'm sure there are many that would be interested in coming along.

If you'd like any more information, please do let me know.

Here is a link to the concert on the St. Martin's website:
http://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/jserv/concerts/view.jsp?id=3222&command=concert

Kind regards,
Chris Grist
Curator, Latin American Music Festival

Concert Updates

2010-07-22T05:02:00.000-07:00

Four concerts, the first of them tonight:

1. Thursday 22 July 6.30 pm, La Reveuse
Theorbo music and arrangements of viol and harpsichord pieces by Robert de Visee, Marin Marais and Francois Couperin.

Handel House Museum, London

Yair Avidor (theorbo, Klaus Jacobsen 2004)

2. Saturday 31 July 7.30 pm, L'infidele
Baroque lute music by Sylvius Leopold Weiss, Jaques Gallot, Charles Mouton, and Francois Dufault

Yair Avidor (11-course lute, Paul Thomson 1987)

£10 on the door or from the box office:

King of Hearts, Norwich http://www.kingofhearts.org.uk/

www.amphionconsort.com

3 Suffolk Villages Festival: MONDAY 30 AUGUST 2010
St Mary’s Church, Boxford, 12.00 midday MEINE LIEDER, MEINE SÄNGE.

Songs with guitar by Schubert, Weber & Spohr.

Stephen Varcoe (baritone), David Miller (nineteenth-century guitar - orig Lacote, Paris 1844 ).

The six-string Spanish guitar, the forerunner of the modern instrument, became popular in Germany around 1800 as a portable alternative to the pianoforte; Carl Maria von Weber is known to have played it, and Franz Schubert may have done so as well. The songs in this concert are chosen from those by Schubert, Weber and Louis Spohr published at the time with guitar parts, presumably with the composers' approval. David Miller also plays guitar solos by Johann Kaspar Mertz (1806-1856), a Hungarian guitar virtuoso active in Vienna. Stephen Varcoe is one of Britain's most distinguished and versatile baritones, with more than 125 recordings to his name, ranging from Purcell, Bach and Handel to Nigel Osborne and John Tavener. He is also the author of several books on singing and is in great demand as a teacher and lecturer. David Miller is one of Britain's busiest lutenists (he took part in our performance of Monteverdi's Orfeo in 2007), and also plays a range of other plucked instruments, including the early nineteenth-century guitar.

4. DARTINGTON INT SUMMER SCHOOL: Saturday 24 July

LAGRIME MIE - Emma Kirkby, David Miller & Friends. English and Italian Laments including works by Dowland, Coperario, Purcell, Carissimi, Kapsperger, Monteverdi and Strozzi.

8.15pm GREAT HALL£18.50 reserved/£14 unreserved

Federation Meeting July 18th

2010-07-19T07:50:00.001-07:00

After a frantic but good humoured rehearsal on Saturday at St Marks (where Ray made a fashion statement by turning up to conduct the ensemble in shorts!!) all our hard work finally paid off at the FGS 'Big Gig' day on Sunday! No photo of Ray in his shorts though--women and children might be viewing this site!!

Special thanks to all BGS members who contributed to our orchestral offering. You can see them below hard at it with Signor Scarlattis Sonata.

The Federation Day was a great success despite the closures of the Blackwall tunnel and the curious attempts by the road maintenance at Enfield Council, who obviously so loved our performances that they were not prepared to let us leave ...at least that is the only explanation I can come up with for the traffic congestion. Mind you it was just as bad at Dartford!!!

Still, despite those minor mishaps, it was a fantastic day and on behalf of all the Bromley Members I would like to thank Ray and his team at Enfield for organising the venue and the catering. I would also like to pay tribute to Cornelius Bruinsma's stewardship (and patience) in leading the mixed performance of all the FGS members- this was no mean feat! Cornelius did a great job in preparing us to tackle a few rather complex pieces such as the Valse Venezualean and a particularly tricky Canzon which for some members came as a bit of a surprise!! (Especially for your correspondent who only looked at it the night beforehand!!!).

I would also like to pay special tribute to the work that Ray Butcher put into getting us all ready for the event. The lengthy trip to Enfield and back yesterday reminded us all what a journey Ray makes every month to visit the BGS to cajole and encourage us to perfect our ensemble technique. His efforts are much appreciated by us all!

It was terrific to catch up with all the other Guitar Society Members yesterday and we look forward to seeing them again in 2011 when Bromley (and I can't believe that I am actually typing this, so I will say it again)...when BROMLEY BGS will be the host for the the Federation Meeting . Still we have time to sort out a few minor matters such as venues and catering- but I am aware that with Enfield GS we have a pretty big act to follow!

Keep the third week of June free in your diaries for 2011!!

Federation Meeting at Enfield July 18th

2010-07-16T08:29:00.001-07:00

A friendly reminder about the Festival of Guitar Socities Meeting at Enfield.

Click below for the details

http://bromleyguitarsociety.blogspot.com/2010/06/federation-guitar-societies-annual.html

For those requiring transport from Bromley on Sunday please email me at aferrier.305@lgflmail.org

Guitars for Sale

2010-07-16T08:25:00.000-07:00

2009 Casimiro Lozano cedar/indian rosewood with fustero tuners. This guitar has a patented bracing system giving concert level volume and a good high register. Excellent condition and with hiscox case - £2700 ono

2007 Stephen Hill lattice - cedar/brazilian rosewood. This guitar has been played quite alot and therefore isn't in very good condition with some scratches but the sound has benefitted a lot from being 'played in' and the price is half of a new one. Hiscox 'artist' case included £2250 ono

Both guitars can be tried in Dartford area. Email for further details - rsellery@live.co.uk

ILAMS Concert updates

2010-07-04T04:43:00.000-07:00

ILAMS, the UK Society for the promotion of classical Iberian and Latin American music invites you to our forthcoming concerts in July and others we recommend:

Duo Spirito Latino
Sat 3 July 2010, 7.30pm Bolívar Hall 54 Grafton Way London W1T 5DL United Kingdom

(Not an ILAMS concert, but one we highly recommend!)

Led by Roberto Molina (poet) and Eralys Fernández (piano) this unique multi-media concert fuses classical music and Afro-Cuban poetry set to the contemporary rhythms of Salsa, Timba and Reggaeton. Special Guest: Ahmed Dickinson (guitar). *Free welcome Mojito, Cuba Libre in interval and Mojito after the show!*

Running order:
6.00pm, Cuban Documentary: El sabor del solar; La familia aspirina by Jane Thorlbon
7.00pm, Music: DJ plays traditional popular Cuban music
7.30pm, Concert
Sindo Garay Perla marina (Arr. for guitar)
Eduardo Martín Divertimentos tropicales (guitar)
Ernesto Lecuona Danza de los ñañigos (piano)
Nicolás Guillén Camina caminante (poem)
José María Vitier Danza de fin de siglo (piano)
Ernesto Lecuona Comparsa (piano)
Nicolas Guillén Sóngoro cosongo (poem)
Nicolas Guillén Tú no sabe inglé (poem)
Moisés Moleiro Joropo (piano)
Nicolás Guillén Quirino con su tres (poem)
Alberto Ginastera Three Argentine Dances (piano)
Jose Martí Versos sencillos (poems)
Ernesto Lecuona Ante el Escorial (piano)
Roberto Molina María Antonia (poem)
Ernesto Lecuona En tres por cuatro (piano)

http://www.culturacubana.co.uk/

This event is supported by the Cuban Embassy and Cubana Restaurant
Information:Web siteTickets: £12 / £10 ILAMS members (please email us to obtain the discount code)

Joanna MacGregor and Adriano Adewale with the Britten Sinfonia
Mon 5 July 2010, 7.30pm
Mansion House
Walbrook
London
EC4N 8LB United Kingdom

(Not an ILAMS concert but one we highly recommend!)
Programme includes:

Villa-Lobos Bachianas brasileiras No. 9
Gismonti Forrobodo Gismonti Frevoarr.
Joanna MacGregor Brazilian Folk Songs
http://www.soundcircus.com/http://www.brittensinfonia.com/http://www.adrianoadewale.co.uk/

This event is part of the City of London Festival

Information:Web siteE-mail0845 120 7502
Tickets: £30 / £20 / £10

Jennifer Pike & Tom Poster
Tue 6 July 2010, 6.00pm
St Giles Cripplegate
Fore Street
London EC2Y 8DA United Kingdom

(Not an ILAMS concert, but one we highly recommend!)

Jennifer Pike violinTom Poster piano
Villa-Lobos Sonata-Fantasy No. 1 for Violin and Piano
J.S. Bach Violin Sonata in C minor, BWV 1017
Mendelssohn Violin Sonata in F minor Op. 4
http://www.jenniferpike.com/http://www.tomposter.co.uk/
This event is part of the City of London Festival

Information: 020845 120 7502
Tickets: £10 unreserved

Sond'Ar-te Electric Ensemble
Tue 6 July 2010, 7.30pm
Mercer's Hall
Ironmonger Lane
London EC2V 8HE
United Kingdom

(Not an ILAMS concert, but one we highly recommend!)
Sond'Ar-te is one of Portugal's most innovative contemporary music groups, bringing together voices, acoustic instruments, video projection and electronic sound.

Luís Tinoco O silêncio e as pedras
João Pedro Oliveira Lâminas líquidasFlo Menezes O farfalhar das folhas
Miguel Azguime (ThS)inking Survival Kit*
http://www.sondarte.com/

This event is part of the City of London Festival

Information:0845 120 7502
Tickets: £15 unreserved

Machaca
Tue 6 July 2010, 7.30pm
Bolívar Hall
54 Grafton Way
London W1T 5DL United Kingdom

(Not an ILAMS concert, but one we highly recommend!)

'Machaca’s take on contemporary South American work, from Brazil’s Villa-Lobos to Argentina’s Piazzolla, with lesser knowns such as Venezuela’s Antonio Lauro, breaks moulds for agility of play and the airy quality of their music, which darts deep while remaining subtle and delicate.'

Jan Fairley, The List

After a sold out launch of their new CD, 'Los Ambulantes' at London's South Bank Centre during
La Linea '10, the virtuoso ensemble appear at London's Bolivar Hall with a programme to mark Bi-centenary celebrations of Venezuela, Mexico, and Argentina.

Morgan Szymanski guitar
Lizzie Ball violin and voice
Gemma Rosefield cello
Phuong Nguyen accordion
Tim Gibbs bass

Programme includes:
Brouwer, Piazzolla, Lauro,Villa-Lobos, Ponce

http://www.morganszymanski.co.uk/

Information:Web siteE-mail

Tickets: Admission free

Khatia Buniatishvili
Wed 7 July 2010, 6.00pm

St Mary Aldermary
Watling Street
London EC4M 9BW United Kingdom

(Not an ILAMS concert, but one we highly recommend!)

Khatia Buniatishvili piano
Chopin 3 Scherzos
Ivo Cruz Aguarelas No.s 3 and 4
Prokofiev Piano Sonata No 7, Op. 83
http://www.impresariat-simmenauer.de/

This event is part of the City of London Festival

Information: 020845 120 7502
Tickets: £10 unreserved

ATOS Trio
Thu 8 July 2010, 6.00pm
St Bride'sFleet Street
London EC4Y 8AU
United Kingdom
(Not an ILAMS concert, but one we highly recommend!)

Annette Von Hehn violin
Thomas Hoppe piano
Stefan Heinemeyer cello

Sheng Four Movements for Piano
Trio Cassadó Piano Trio
Schumann Piano Trio No. 2 in F major Op. 80
http://www.atos-trio.de/

This event is part of the City of London Festival
Information:020845 120 7502
Tickets: £10 unreserved

BBC Singers
Fri 9 July 2010, 6.00pm
St Giles Cripplegate
Fore Street,
Barbican London EC2Y 8DA
United Kingdom
(Not an ILAMS concert, but one we highly recommend!)

The natural world and music from the Portuguese-speaking world are the twin themes of this year's City of London Festival. This concert brings together both strands, with entertaining portraits of animals and insects by Elizabeth Maconchy and Sir John Tavener; Miguel Azguime's contemporary setting of words by the 16th-century mathematician Pedro Nunes, and Villa-Lobos' vibrant Prelude and Fugue for unaccompanied voices.

Miguel Azguime O Centro do Excentrico do Centro do Mundo
Elizabeth Maconchy Creatures
Sir John Tavener Butterfly Dreams
Heitor Villa-Lobos Bachianas brasileiras No. 9
www.bbc.co.uk/orchestras/singers/

This event is part of the City of London Festival

Information:020845 120 7502
Tickets: Admission free

Rosana Lamosa & Clélia Iruzun
Sat 10 July 2010, 7.00pm
Schott Recital Room 48,
Great Marlborough Street
London W1F 7BB United Kingdom
(Not an ILAMS concert, but one we highly recommend!)

Brazil's No. 1 soprano Rosana Lamosa joins forces with another Brazilian virtuoso, Clélia Iruzun(piano), making a rare appearance on the London stage. Her interpretations of Santoro's songs are unsurpassed. Absolutely unmissable!
Robert SchumannSergei RachmaninoffHeitor Villa-LobosClaudio SantoroFrederic Chopin
http://www.cleliairuzun.com/

Information:Web site
Tickets: £10 / £8 concessions / £8 ILAMS members (please email us for the code).

Ticket includes a glass of wine.

The Cardinall's Musick

Mon 12 July 2010,
7.30pm Wigmore Hall
36 Wigmore Street
London W1U 2BP United Kingdom

(Not an ILAMS concert but one we highly recommend!)

The Cardinall's Musick, vocal ensembleAndrew Carwood, director

‘Il siglo d’oro’ – the Golden Age – was the name that Spaniards gave to their great flowering of music and culture in the 16th century. Spain brought forth some of the finest writers of the age and the Virgin Mary was a popular subject with all of them. Francisco Guerrero was known as ‘el cantor de Maria’. Much of his highly characterful music was dedicated to the Virgin, from well-crafted four-part pieces to the more splendid double-choir numbers. This fascinating exploration of music from 16th-century Spain sets Guerrero alongside his contemporaries and colleagues Morales, Esquivel, Vivanco, Alonso Lobo and the brightest star of all, Tomás Luis da Victoria.

Guerrero Surge propera
Morales Regina caeli, laetare
Vivanco Dulcissima María
de Victoria Alma redemptoris mater
de Victoria Sancta Maria, succerre miseris
Esquivel Exaltata est sancta Dei genitrix
Guerrero Ave virgo sanctissima
de Victoria Ave María
Guerrero Quae est ista
Guerrero Trahe he me post te
Morales Sancta Maria, succerre miseris
Lobo Ave María
de Victoria Gaude Virgo Maria
Guerrero Regina caeli
http://www.cardinallsmusick.com/

Information:
Web siteE-mail
020 7935 2141
Tickets: £30 / £25 / £20 / £15

Adam Brown (guitar) & Shlomy Dobrinsky (violin)
Mon 19 July 2010, 1.00pm
St Martin-in-the-FieldsTrafalgar Square London WC2 N4J United Kingdom

(Not an ILAMS concert, but one we highly recommend!)

‘Adam Brown is a wonderful talent, deeply musical and artistically sensitive. He has proved himself to be a performer of the highest level. I give my highest recommendation for Adam Brown.’ Sharon Isbin

Born in Scotland to American parents, Adam Brown studied with Carlos Bonell as a Foundation Scholar at the Royal College of Music in London, where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree with Honours and received several prestigious awards. He continued his studies with Sharon Isbin at the Juilliard School in New York City and Pepe Romero at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Antonio Lauro Virgilio
Alfonso Montés Preludio de Adiós
Leo Brouwer Cuban Landscape with Bells
Agustín Barrios Julia Florida
Agustín Barrios Waltz No. 4
Astor Piazzolla Histoire du Tango
http://www.adambrownguitar.com/

Information:020 7766 1100
Tickets: Admission free; suggested donation £3.50

'Mostly Tangos': Piano Music from the Americas
Fri 30 July 2010, 1.10pm St James's Piccadilly 197 Piccadilly London W1J 9LL United Kingdom

‘Macchioni is a sublime pianist with a deft touch…’ El Paso Inc., USA
A passionate performer of Latin American music, Oscar Macchioni brings a unique programme to his London debut which focuses on the Argentine tango genre which intrigued and inspired major twentieth-century composers. A unique opportunity to hear works by Villa-Lobos, Castro, Ponce, Bolcom, Piazzolla and Ginastera.

Heitor Villa-Lobos Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4
Juan José Castro Tangos
Manuel M. Ponce Intermezzo
William Bolcom ‘The Dead Moth Tango’Astor Piazzolla Adiós Nonino (arr. Laercio de Freitas)Alberto Ginastera Malambo (first edition)

This event is sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and the Music Department at the University of Texas at El Paso.

http://www.oscarmacchioni.net/www.utep.edu/music

Information:Web siteTickets: Admission free, suggested donation £3

Concert Updates

2010-06-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

SIXTEENTH STOKE NEWINGTON EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL 2010

SAINT MARY'S OLD CHURCH
STOKE NEWINGTON CHURCH ST LONDON N16

THURSDAY 1st JULY 8.00 pm
Corbetta Geminiani Handel Matteis Straube
ayres and divisions
Taro Takeuchi baroque guitar Music for Early guitars Taro Takeuchi plays 17th and 18th music on original baroque guitars by Lambert and Marchal,18th century cittern (English guittar) by Preston and Perry. Works by Handel, Merchi, Straube and Geminiani.
More details are on http://www.crane.gr.jp/~tarolute/english.htm http://www.stokenewingtonearlymusic.org.uk/index.htm

MONDAY 5th JULY 8.00 pm
Matthew Locke – consorts for viols
Ibrahim Aziz Vanessa Coode
Fiona Huggett and Suzanne Heinrich viols
Taro Takeuchi theorbo

WEDNESDAY 7th JULY 8.00 pm
Gesualdo and Monteverdi – motets
Carys Lane soprano Caroline Trevor alto
Simon Wall and Mark Dobell tenor
Thomas Guthrie bass

SATURDAY 10th JULY 8.00 pm
Buxtehude and Bach
sacred arias and cantatas
Katharine Fuge soprano Mark Radcliffe oboe
Bojan Cicic and Philip Yeeles violin
Vanessa Coode viol Christopher Bucknall organ

THURSDAY 15th JULY 8.00 pm
François Couperin
Les Nations – L'impériale and La piémontoise
Bojan Cicic and Philip Yeeles violin
Vanessa Coode viol
James Johnstone harpsichord

TICKETS £10/£7 SEASON £45/£30
CHILDREN FREE
Reservations 01865 308374
On sale at Bridgewood and Neitzert N16 or on the door
WINE/FRUIT JUICE AFTER EACH CONCERT
www.stokenewingtonearlymusic.org.uk

The French Connection
Lute recital by Willem Mook
King of Hearts, Norwich
7.30pm, Thursday 12 August 2010
http://www.vanedwards.co.uk/concerts2.htm#mook

Lute Music in the Lives of
Lord Herbert of Cherbury and Constantine Huygens

Edward Herbert served for some years as an ambassador in Paris, his famous Lute Book (nowadays in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge) is one of the most important anthologies of lute music from the period 1600-1640 and it is a unique document of the influence of French music in English aristocratic circles.
Constantine Huygens, the younger of the two, claimed to have written some 800 compositions, of which a large number were for solo lute. Unfortunately a mere 40 songs with the lute of a very high level remain under the title Pathodia sacra et profana (printed in Paris 1647).
Both Herbert and Huygens seem to have had a clear preference for French lute music. In particular they shared an admiration for the music of Jacques Gautier. This temperamental French lute player entered the English court towards 1620, and Lord Herbert of Cherbury's Lute Book happens to be by far the most important source of Jacques Gautier's highly characteristic music, which is given a prominent role in this programmme.
Of a slightly older generation was the French Huguenot Nicolas Vallet, who chose his domicile in Amsterdam around 1612. His Secret des Muses (printed in 1616) is a remarkable fusion of lute music of French, Dutch and English styles. His music shows his high standard as a lute composer and a certain preference for the more popular repertoire, which gives his music a lighter touch than the more aristocratic repertoire of the Cherbury Lute Book.

Tickets £10.00 from King of Hearts Box Office 01603 611412
The King of Hearts, 7 - 15 Fye Bridge Street, Norwich, NR3 1LJ
This concert is in association with the 11th international summer lutemaking course. This year there are people coming from Australia, USA, France and England.
http://www.vanedwards.co.uk/summers.htm

-- The Smokehouse,6 Whitwell Road,Norwich, NR1 4HB England. Telephone: + 44 (0)1603 629899Website: http://www.vanedwards.co.uk

Saturday Meeting June 19th

2010-06-27T03:48:00.000-07:00

We had a great turnout on Saturday. With the lead up to the Enfield visit plus the performance from Gary Ryan's students, Manus Noble and Jadran Duncomb we had many players, members and visitors on deck. We also welcomed a new visitor, Ash, who we hope will become a regular .

The only person 'missing in action' was our esteemed chairman who was no doubt enjoying the 'delights' of the continent (and driving poor Theresa to near distraction in the process!!)

We gave Signor Scarlatti's Sonata in D another workout and we are confident that we will give a stellar performance in July!! Timing is everything!!

Ensemble performers include

Tom Page (Guitar 1)
John Mann (Guitar 1)
Nick Bell (Guitar 1)
Andrew Ferrier (Guitar 2)
Jenny Wormald (Guitar 2)
Dave Hampton (Guitar 2)
Shirley Russell (Guitar 2)
Larisa Lieberman (Guitar 3)
Trevor Pike (Guitar 3)
Denis Stockton (Guitar 3 )
Stephen Pearson (Guitar 4)
Vince Chittenden (Guitar 4)
Christine Dabowa (Guitar 4)

An orchestra indeed!!

We have the chance for a final rehearsal on Saturday 17th of July at St Marks. For those members who require transport, Steve, Shirley and I will be organising a car pool to transfer members from Bromley to Enfield. We will be leaving from St Marks at 8:30am on Sunday 18th. More information will be available at the Meeting on the 17th! If you require transport please email me at aferrier.305@lgflmail.org or email Shirley at shirley@therussells.eu

For more information and the program about the Federation Guitar Societies Meeting click here.

Student Performance

To break up the evening we were entertained to an outstanding performance by young, talented performers Manus Noble and Jadran Duncomb. A visit to their web site will confirm the experiences and achievements already made by these students. Definitely worth watching!!

For those who missed the meeting you can catch up with a few excerpts care of BGS TV below.

Here is Jadran performing a Schubert Lieder

And it was great to welcome Manus Noble back to Bromley. Here he is performing Yocoh's Sakura

News from the Lute Society

2010-06-27T03:46:00.000-07:00

1. WANTED: LUTE PLAYER/MINSTREL FOR PRODUCTION OF ‘LOST’ SHAKESPEARE PLAY, ‘DOUBLE FALSEHOOD’, LONDON, AUGUST

I am directing the London premiere play called Double Falsehood recentlypublished by Arden as the "lost" work of Shakespeare (see attached formore details) and want to have a musician playing live on stage duringthe production.

The production is set in 1613 Andalusia. The individual chosen will have alot of input regarding the final choice of music.I hope to find someone who is happy to appear on stage sometimes as partof the action but more often as an observer.

One of the major charactershas to sing and I have cast an actress with a strong voice, musicaltheatre experience and the ability to sight read.
Sadly there is no fee payable to anyone (including me) working on the showbut it promises to be a lot of fun and will be a prestige production.

The show plays at the Union Theatre in Southwark from 17 August 2010 to 21 August 2010 with a matinee on 21st and the dress on 16th.We started rehearsals last night and will be rehearsing mon,weds eves andsunday afternoons from now on.
The lutenist would plainly not be needed for all rehearsals until nearer the time.
My original plan was for a musician to appear as a strollingminstrel at various points thoughout the play although that is very flexible and a lot of the control would the musician’s.
We have some other talented musicians including a violinist and a choralsinger(who will sing something in the wedding scene) as well of course as Violante, the singing part.

If you think may welcomethis challenge or get them to contct me direct onbarrie.a@mypostoffice.co.uk or call my mobile 07931356387.
Barrie Addenbrooke, Director, Double Falsehood

2. WANTED: LUTE PLAYER FOR TWELFTH NIGHT, JULY, MIDLANDS

Lute player to play intro, link and end music for an amateur production of William Shakespeare's
Twelfth Night
to coincide with The Droitwich Arts Festival (If you want to play the in between songs as well, that would be amazing !)

When: JULY 15th (7.30pm), 16th (7.30pm), 17th (2pm & 7pm) and 18th (2pm)

Where: Droitwich - in theatre and Open-air - last performance at Mary Arden's House in Stratford-upon-Avon

We should be able to help with travel expenses etc - please contact me (I am the Director) by e-mail at
pat1st@msn.com if you think you could help !

If YOU can't help, can you 'RECOMMEND A FRIEND' ???

Dorset Guitar Society SUMMER CONCERT

2010-06-27T03:40:00.000-07:00

The Dorset Guitar Orchestra Directed by Stephen Kenyon

Music by Albeniz, Bach, Haydn, Chopin, Giuliani, Pitfield, Franck and Schubert
Saturday 3rd July 2010 at 7.30 pm

Kinson Community Centre, Pelhams Park, Millhams Road, Kinson, Bournemouth BH10 7LH.

Tickets £5 (children under 16 free)

For advanced bookings, email: chair@dorsetguitarsociety.org.uk or phone 01305 834774

Promoted by the Dorset Guitar Society http://www.dorsetguitarsociety.org.uk/
Registered Charity 1101122

Saturday June 19th Reminder!!

2010-06-15T09:52:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that this coming Saturday 19th June is the Bromley Guitar Society. We have Manus Noble and Jadran Duncumb from the Royal College of Music to play for us.

The evening however, will start with some ensemble practice of the Scarlatti piece and some solo items from members. If you would like to play as part of the Bromley ensemble at the Federation Guitar Societies event on the 18th July at Enfield and are not listed below, please let Shirley or a committee member know by the June meeting, if possible along with which guitar part you are playing in the Scarlatti piece.

See list below of those people who have already said they are coming along. Apologies if you have been left out – please let us know. The more the merrier!

There is a fee of £8 for those attending which should be paid at the BGS meeting on the 19th June, This is to cover the hire of the hall and lunch. Alternatively you can send us a cheque for Ray in the post asap.

If you want to share the car journey to Enfield, or need a lift, contact Shirley or one of the committee members so that we can organise car sharing and get people in touch with each other.

Those attending the July Guitar Federation Day so far...

Name and Guitar part
Tom Page (1)
Nick Bell (1)
Andrew Ferrier (2)
Jenny Wormald (2 )
Shirley Russell (2 )
Dennis Stockton (3)
Trevir Pike (3 )

Steve Pearson (4)
Vince Chittenden (4)

Shirley can be contacted at Shirley@therussells.eu

Federation Guitar Societies Annual Conference

2010-06-01T06:21:00.000-07:00

The next Annual Conference of the FGS will be hosted by Enfield Classical Guitar Society on the 18th July 2010.
The venue is Highlands Village Hall, 5 Florey Square, Winchmore Hill, London, N21 1UJ (adjacent to Sainsbury’s car park).

Please note that there will be a charge of £8 per participant to cover costs. Bromley members wishing to participate should email Andrew Ferrier (aferrier.305@lgflmail.org ) or Shirley Russell (Shirley@therussells.eu )

The suggested programme is as shown here.

10:30 Welcome - coffee
11:00 Informal whole group warm up ensemble. Music to be supplied on the day
11:30 Whole group ensemble rehearsal – piece to be advised. Music will be circulated in advance.
12:30 Lunch and informal practice time. UK Federation Committee Meeting
14:00 Each Guitar Society is invited to play a prepared piece (10-15 mins).
15:15 Tea
15:45 Whole group performance
16:30 Close

Cornelius Bruinsma is going to conduct the orchestra

Cheltenham Guitar Festival

2010-06-01T05:58:00.001-07:00

Dear Guitar Friends,

We are very happy to write to you about the new and exciting Cheltenham Guitar Festival (24 – 30 July).

Formerly held in Bath, the move to the beautiful campus at the University of Gloucestershire has prompted a fresh start for the course with an amazing line up of special guests who rarely perform and teach in the UK. David Russell, Nigel North and Scott Tenant will all be offering private lessons and a masterclass alongside their recitals.

The week long course will include many opportunities for playing and learning in both solo and ensemble settings, with masterclasses, private lessons and open classes which will focus on all aspects of guitar playing, small ensemble coaching and guitar orchestra.

Every student will come away feeling inspired and ready to put into practice all they have learnt!

To celebrate the relocation IGF are making a special offer available to all guitar society members:

•Tuition for the week is £250 and private ensuite accommodation and half board is available at £295.

Some flyers have been posted to you where addresses were available; if you don't receive any and would like information in hard copy please reply to this email with your address. To download a full programme please visit www.igf.org.uk. For all other enquiries please reply or email Phil Castang - phil@igf.org.uk

We look forward to seeing you there!

Best Wishes,

Amanda Cook & Tom Kerstens,

Course Leaders, Cheltenham Guitar Festival
International Guitar Foundation (IGF)

T: 020 7014 2814 / 0870 2406783
W: www.igf.org.uk

LISTEN.PLAY.CREATE

Wealden Guitar Society Visit

2010-05-25T05:46:00.000-07:00

It was a real smorgesbjord for the astute pluck and strummers out there!! The night's session began with the BGS practice of the Scarlatti Sonata under the gentle baton of Ray 'Don't Mess Me About' Butcher!!

While the turnout was quite good , we seeme to be missing some of the big hitters for Guitar 1 section of the Sonata which left poor Tom Page to carry the can for us all. (Which he did superbly). Unfortunately the speed issue was a problem with the result that I copped a musical 'speeding ticket' from the conductor for going too fast. I will have to spend more time between now and June in the slow lane with my metronome as punishment.

On the whole despite these few setbacks, the piece is coming on. However we will need the AWOL members of Guitar part 1 to be present next month (and more importantly) in July 18th when the Federation of Guitar Societies meets once more at Enfield. Ray has indicated that this time thre will be a small charge of £8 to cover costs for refreshments and other incidentals. Please note that more details about the Federation Meeting will be appear later on the blog site and in the BGS newsletter......as soon as I hear from Ray!! In the meantime keep watching this space!

The Wealden Guitar Society joined us later on inthe evening and presented a wonderful program of solos and ensembles. Special thanks to Ray Love and his team for providing such a great program for us all. There were some delightful pieces performed , much of which I captured on video (as you can see below)

Listen to this delightful version of Simone Molinaro's 'Passamezzo' performed by Eileen and Shalom Cohen.

Absolutely wonderful!!!

Lute Society News

2010-05-11T03:54:00.000-07:00

1 NORFOLK LUTE DUET CONCERT
Saturday 15th May at 7.30pm at St Andrew's Church, Great Ryburgh, Norfolk.I Musicanti Music for four, five and six voices from Tudor times to the present.....selected to appeal to all tastes with music for 2 lutes and topical readings. With David Capp and Peter Trent lutesMany thanks,Peter

2. LONDON CONCERTS THIS WEEK
Two concerts with the Amphion Consort this week:
Thursday 13 May 6.30 pmModerne e Curiose Inventioni Dazzling sonatas for two violins amd chitarrone by the famous virtuosi of the day:Fontana, Castello, Merula , Piccinini and Salomone Rossi el Ebreo.Alison Bury (leader of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment) and Jennifer Bennett - baroque violinYair Avidor - chitarroneHandel House Museum, London http://www.handelhouse.org/news-and-events/live-music/
Friday 14 May 4pm A baroque recital of violin sonatas and therobo music by Biber, Bach ,Corelli and Robert de ViseeJennifer Bennett baroque violinYair Avidor theorbo A concert at Dulwich Library as part of the Dulwich Festival http://dulwichfestival.co.uk/

3. OUD AND VOICE INTERVIEW ON RADIO
This week on Wednesday I have a radio interview with my group Jaljala (with Abdul-Salam Kheir, Voice & Oud, Haytham Souba'i, Percussion and Meg Hamilton Violin for London Diaspora Live on Radio Resonance 104.4fm (http://resonancefm.com/).
The interview is from 6-7pm, we will be playing some of our recordings, some live tracks, as well as some music that has inspired us!
Please do listen in if you can - apparently it's better online if you have internet than over the radio.
http://resonancefm.com/listen
Our myspace is: www.myspace.com/jaljala.
With all best wishes
Merit
-- merit ariane stephanoswww.myspace.com/meritariane0044-7971-339398

4. GUITAR COURSE
Subject: BMG FEDERATION CLASSICAL GUITAR COURSE

Gerald Garcia is tutoring a classical guitar course as part of the BMG Federation summer school 11th – 13th June at Benslow Music Trust, Hitchin, Hertfordshire. I am doing some extra publicity to try to boost numbers and wonder if you would be able to publicise it to the members of Greenwood Guitar Society please. I have attached a flyer which focuses on the guitar course. Please let me know if you want any further information.

Regards

Sandra Woodruff sandra.woodruff@virgin.net

Secretary, BMG Federation

5. MATTHEW HOLMES LUTE BOOK RECITAL TOUR

All best wishes

Peter Martin

Sunday 16 May at 11.30 a.m. The Nave1 St Paul’s RoadLondon N1 2QNhttp://www.thenave.org/

Monday 17 May at 1 p.m.Bury St Edmunds festivalUnitarian Meeting HouseBury St EdmundsIP33 1RHhttp://www.buryfestival.co.uk/

Tuesday 18 May at 1.10 p.m.University of ReadingVan Emden theatreWhitenights ReadingRG6 6AAhttp://www.reading.ac.uk/

Sunday 23 May at 8 p.m.2nd European Lute FestivalHohes Schloss, RittersaalFüssen im Allgäu, Germanyhttp://www.lautengesellschaft.de/

-- Peter Martin

Belle SerreLa Caulié81100 CastresFrance

tel: 0033 (0)5 63 35 68 46mob: 0044 (0)7971 232614e:

peter.lute@gmail.com http://www.silvius.co.uk/

Štěpán Rak at the BCU

2010-05-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

Štěpán Rak - genius of the guitar, will be performing a solo concert at the recital hall of the Birmingham Conservatoire on Saturday 22nd May, 2010. It is one of only two dates he will be playing in this country and this concert is being produced by the WCGS in association with the guitar department of the conservatoire.

"There is no real purpose in the course of this brief review for juxtaposing adjectives acclaiming his brilliance, technical mastery, and what-not. Those who have heard Rak 'live' in concert will know what I mean, while those who have not heard him in such a setting cannot fully appreciate the magic and wizardry involved. Go to his concert, listen with your ears and with your heart, and you'll understand."

David Norton, California 1990

Visit Štěpán Rak page for more details of the concert at BCU http://www.worcesterguitar.co.uk/acts/Rak/Stepan_Rak.php
You can reserve tickets for Štěpán Rak at BCU by calling 01886 832715 or by emailing us at tickets@worcesterguitar.co.uk

Download the poster » http://www.contact.worcesterguitar.co.uk/downloads/Stepan_Rak_poster.pdf

Please note that a limited number of seats are available and you should reserve your tickets early if you wish to avoid disappointment.

Štěpán Rak and Neil Smith at Whalley Abbey

This will be followed on the Sunday 23rd May with a 7.30 concert at Whalley Abbey in Lancashire in which Štěpán will team up with Neil Smith for a concert of two of Europe's most respected elder statesmen of the guitar.

The story goes that Štěpán contacted Neil and suggested they should do something special together to celebrate their 65th birthday's. For those of you who may remember Štěpán from his last visit to the UK at the West Dean festival almost a decade ago, and for those of you who will have heard Neil play in the meantime, you will appreciate the irony of imagining these two magicians of the guitar as anything like "retiring gentlemen".

If you are interested in attending the Whalley Abbey concert (as well, we hope) then please note that tickets will NOT be available on the door at Whalley Abbey and that they can only be purchased beforehand, directly from Neil.

You can find directions to Whalley Abbey here » http://www.whalleyabbey.co.uk/location.asp
Download the poster » http://www.contact.worcesterguitar.co.uk/downloads/Whalley.pdf

In the meantime please visit Štěpán's MySpace page which features several tracks including, 'Irish Tea' (in praise of tea), 'Saltarello' from 6 Early Dances, 'Song for David' and 'Digeridoo'... a small sample of this prodigous and highly imaginative composer's output.

You can buy tickets for Štěpán Rak and Neil Smith at Whalley Abbey by contacting Neil on 07818 431575 or by email at » guitarsmith@sky.com
www.myspace.com/stepanrak
http://www.guitaristuk.com/

The London Classical Guitar Festival is back!

2010-05-04T07:10:00.000-07:00

Now in its third year, the LCGF is already prestigiously established as the only Latin classical guitar festival in Europe, taking the guitar back to its origins as the definitive Latin instrument, with a feast of music from Spain, Portugal and Latin America, performed by some of the most celebrated international guitarists of the moment from both sides of the Atlantic. Organised by ILAMS (the Iberian and Latin American Music Society) in collaboration with the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Festival takes place at its natural home, the Bolívar Hall - without doubt the ideal venue to hear this repertoire in London, with an unrivalled acoustic for guitar. For anyone wishing to become better acquainted with Luso-Hispanic classical music, this festival is a must.

LCGF: Music for Guitar and Oboe
Tue 11 May 2010, 7.30pm Bolívar Hall 54 Grafton Way London W1T 5DL United Kingdom

Marios Argiros (oboe) & Dimitris Dekavallas (guitar)

Formed in 2004, the Argiros-Dekavallas Duo have performed widely both in the UK and abroad, bringing a fresh new alternative to the traditional guitar-flute format. Their programme features a mixture of exciting originals and arrangements from their recent debut album Music for Oboe and Guitar.

Celso Machado Musiques populaires brésiliennes
Napoleon Coste Consolazione–Romance, Marche et Scherzo, Les Regrets–Cantabile
Roland Dyens Tango en SkaïAstor Piazzolla Libertango, L’Histoire du Tango
Heitor Villa-Lobos Bachianas brasileiras No. 5, Distribuição de flores, Etude No. 11

http://www.argirosdekavallasduo.com/http://www.dimitrisdekavallas.com/

*Click here to join ILAMS and reserve your seat.

The LCGF is sponsored by Christopher Pollard

Tours http://www.christopherpollardtours.com/LONDON CLASSICAL GUITAR FESTIVAL 2010Information:Web site E-mail020 8852 3381Tickets: Admission free; exclusive reservations for ILAMS members*

LCGF: 'Guitar Passion'
Wed 12 May 2010, 7.30pm Bolívar Hall 54 Grafton Way London W1T 5DL United Kingdom

Appassionata Trio: Rebecca Baulch, Amanda Cook & Hayley Savage

'Performance of the highest order. A persuasive and accessible programme superbly presented.' Classical Guitar Magazine

3 girls; 3 guitars.

Famed for their innovative programming and passionate performances, Appassionata Trio, formed in 2003, have performed live on Classic FM and BBC Radio 3’s In Tune, and have given highly-acclaimed concerts in the USA, Germany, Italy, Denmark and across the UK. After a two-year absence, the Appassionata Trio make a much-awaited return to the London stage with a feast of exuberant repertoire, plus a taste of their new album.

Johann Sebastian Bach Trio Sonata BWV526 (arr. by R. Baulch)
Mark Houghton Beyond Horizons
Paulo Bellinati Baião de gude, Maractau da pipa
Django Reinhardt Tiger Rag, Blue Drag, Minor Swing (arr. by R. Baulch)
Hayley Savage Arabah C’ar
Claude Debussy Clair de Lune (arr. by A. Cook)
Carlos Gardel Por una cabeza (arr. by R. Baulch & B. Coulthard)
Angel Cabral Que nadie sepa mi sufrir (arr. by R. Baulch & B. Coulthard)
Astor Piazzolla Vuelvo al sur (arr. by R. Baulch & B. Coulthard)
Gerardo Matos Rodríguez La cumparsita (arr. by R. Baulch & B. Coulthard)

http://www.appassionataguitartrio.net/

The LCGF is sponsored by Christopher Pollard

Tours http://www.christopherpollardtours.com/LONDON CLASSICAL GUITAR FESTIVAL 2010Booking information:Web site E-mail020 8852 3381Tickets: £9 in advance / £9 ILAMS members and concessions on the door / £12 on the door

LCGF: ‘More Latin Guitar Masters on 10 Strings’
Thu 13 May 2010, 7.30pm Bolívar Hall 54 Grafton Way London W1T 5DL United Kingdom

‘A Nostradamus of classical guitar...’ Pat Mastelotto

Christian Saggese sets jaw-dropping new technical and expressive standards on the guitar. He stole the show at the 2009 LCGF, making his UK debut, and is back this year by popular demand. Saggese re-interprets classics of the repertoire in his own transcriptions for 10-strings.

Francisco Tárrega Seis preludios
Agustín Barrios Mangoré Julia Florida, Vals Op. 8 No. 3, Confesión,
Cazaapa Julián Arcas Punto de la Habana
Federico Mompou Canción
Heitor Villa-Lobos Valsa-Choro, Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra, Etude No.12
Antonio Lauro María Luisa, Nocturno, Seis por derecho
Alberto Ginastera Sonata Op. 47

*Click here to join ILAMS and reserve your seat.

The LCGF is sponsored by Christopher Pollard Tours http://www.christopherpollardtours.com/
LONDON CLASSICAL GUITAR FESTIVAL 2010Information:Web site E-mail020 8852 3381Tickets: Admission free; exclusive reservations for ILAMS members*

LCGF: John Williams Explores the Life and Music of Barrios
Fri 14 May 2010, 7.30pm Bolívar Hall 54 Grafton Way London W1T 5DL United Kingdom

Guitar legend John Williams, ‘recognised as one of, if not the greatest, classical guitarists of his time’, makes a rare appearance on the London stage to explore the life and music of the seminal Latin guitarist and composer Agustín Barrios Mangoré, in an open discussion.
http://www.johnwilliamsguitar.com/

*Click here to join ILAMS and reserve your seat.
The LCGF is sponsored by Christopher Pollard Tours http://www.christopherpollardtours.com/LONDON CLASSICAL GUITAR FESTIVAL 2010Information:Web site E-mail020 8852 3381Tickets: Admission free; exclusive reservations for ILAMS members*

LCGF: Festival Gala
Sat 15 May 2010, 7.30pm Bolívar Hall 54 Grafton Way LondonW1T 5DL United Kingdom
Dekavallas-Argiros Duo; Christian Saggese; Albach Duo; Morgan Szymanski; Ahmed Dickinson
If you missed any of the events in this year's London Classical Guitar Festival, don't despair - the festival closes with the traditional Gala, featuring a selection of the Festival artists, plus the return of some very special guests from the 2009 Festival, including Morgan Szymanski and Ahmed Dickinson. Programme includes Piazzolla, Lauro, Cardoso, Mores, Brouwer, and Martín. Audience members are invited to a complimentary wine reception following the event.
The LCGF Gala is an especially popular event and you are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Alternatively, *click here if you would like to join ILAMS to reserve your seat in advance.
The LCGF is sponsored by Christopher Pollard

Tours http://www.christopherpollardtours.com/LONDON CLASSICAL GUITAR FESTIVAL 2010Information:Web site E-mail020 8852 3381Tickets: Admission free, with complimentary wine reception; exclusive reservations for ILAMS members*

News from the Lute Society

2010-05-04T07:06:00.000-07:00

Don't forget the Lute Society meeting at the Dutch Church ,7 Austin Friars, London EC2N 2HA, [nearest tubes, Bank, Liverpool Street] this Saturday 8th May.

It will be a day full of musical treats - don't miss it!

We will also have on sale a more or less complete range of French, Spanish, Belgian and Dutch lute society publications.

The timetable is:

10.30 Coffee

11.00 Gestures in lute song, talk and demonstration by Rosemary Carlton-Willis, accompanied by David Miller
12.00 Mini-recital of Sanz and Vivaldi transcriptions on 13 course lute, played by Dale Harris.
12.30 Break for lunch

2.00 Mini-recital of lute songs performed, self-accompanied, by David Protheroe2.30 AGM3.45 Tea

4.15 The Lute Society recital, David van Ooijen and Michiel Nissen play the virtuoso renaissance lute duets of Terzi

No need to book - just turn up, and bring friends if you wish.

Hope to see you there.

IMPORTANT NOTICES ABOUT THE OXFORD RESIDENTIAL WEEKEND, AUGUST 20-22.
Two important notices:
1. We haven't finalised the contract yet, IF YOU ARE THINKING OF COMING, PLEASE EXPRESS PREFERENCE FOR ENSUITE/NON ENSUITE ROOMS ETC. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THIS WEEK IF POSSIBLE - so that we can book the appropriate number of rooms.

2. No conference venue is perfect - the big problem in Oxford will be parking which is very expensive there. The university generally advises people to come by public transport - which in turn means that we will have to plan carefully which lutes to bring. If a few individuals with big cars are prepared to give lifts from their region to fellow participants and a carfull of lutes, then we may well pay overnight parking fees on your behalf. PLEASE SAY IF YOU ARE PREPARED FOR YOUR CAR TO BE A 'LUTE CARRIER'

Message from Peter Martin

2010-05-04T07:02:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,
I am giving several solo lute recitals in May in the UK and Germany. My programme features music from the greatest English lute manuscript, the Matthew Holmes book in Cambridge University Library, which dates from the 'golden age' of the lute at the end of the sixteenth century. Composers include Anthony Holborne, John Johnson, Francesco da Milano and of course John Dowland. I do hope you'll be able to make it to one of the concerts, and I look forward to seeing you.

All best wishes

Peter Martin

Sunday 16 May at 11.30 a.m.
The Nave1
St Paul’s Road
London N1 2QN
www.thenave.org
Download concert leaflet

Monday 17 May at 1 p.m.
Bury St Edmunds festival
Unitarian Meeting House
Bury St EdmundsIP33 1RH
www.buryfestival.co.uk

Tuesday 18 May at 1.10 p.m.
University of Reading Van Emden theatre
Whitenights Reading RG6 6AA www.reading.ac.uk

Sunday 23 May at 8 p.m.2nd European Lute Festival
Hohes Schloss, Rittersaal
Füssen im Allgäu, Germany
www.lautengesellschaft.de

-- Peter Martin
Belle SerreLa Caulié
81100 Castres
Francetel: 0033 (0)5 63 35 68 46mob: 0044 (0)7971 232614e:
peter.lute@gmail.com www.silvius.co.uk

Concerts, Tours and other bits and pieces

2010-04-23T06:28:00.000-07:00

1. IMPROVISATION WORKSHOP

A RISKY BUSINESS - An introduction to the art of improvisation, ornamentation and decoration.
22 May 2010 at St Mark's Church, Leamington Spa - 10am to 5pm

Paula Chateauneuf is conducting a day workshop on the above, sponsored by MEMF (Midlands early Music Forum). Paula recently received great acclaim for the Southbank Centre's "Take the Risk" weekend of early improvisation, which she curated, including several broadcasts on BBC Radio 3.

In this workshop Paula will introduce various topics based on 16th and 17th century guides to improvisation, and participants will be encouraged to throw away inhibitions and just have a go! All types of singers and instrumentalists are welcome.
If you are interested please contact Mike Ashley on mashley256@aol.com or 01564-778631

2. PANTAGRUEL TOUR

Dear Friends,

If you live or happen to be visiting the U.K. at the end of this month then you can maybe catch us on our 4 date tour..

29th April LONDON more info30th April MALVERN more info1st May SOUTHWELL(near Nottingham) more info2nd May NORWICH more info

We will be playing lots of new material from our forthcoming CD NYMPHIDIA and a few of our old favorites.

It is back back in the UK in July to play at the Winchester Festival (16th july) and Aust (17th July) and for a longer tour in September including 2 performances at the Ripon International Festival and the Saltaire Festival, where we will be presented by the Early Music Shop.

We are very proud and generally chuffed that we have been chosen as one of the recommended artists by the UK organisation Making Music for the 2011-2012 season of their Concert Promoters Network. Each year the Making Music Concert Promoters' Committee chooses a number of ensembles and soloists, in recent years these have included such renowned early music ensembles as London Baroque, Joglaresa & Charivari Agréable.

In June we are of to Paris, in September we are playing a series of concerts in Croatia and Slovenia and then of to Denmark in October.

We will also be playing 3 concerts as part of the RUHR 2010 European capital of Culture in Germany - Gelsenkirchen (7th June & 12th November) & Essen (11th July).

In between these trips we are working on 2 new CD projects that we hope to release in September 2010 and early 2011. For those of you that do not have our last CD "Laydie Lothians Lilte", we only have a few left and when they are gone...that's it...it will never agin be released in this form...ever again!

There is a new video at YouTube from our concert in Mülheim, Germany a few weeks ago...
www.pantagruel.de/videos.html

Plus a tiny one minute video of bits and bobs from a fun night we had in Copenhagen...
http://www.pantagruel.de/concerts_details_015_copenhagen.html

Hope you are all healthy and wellt, doing "what thou wilt" to your hearts content..

All the best
Pantagruel

3. MANDOLIN FESTIVAL CONCERTS

Come watch the 2010 Second London Mandolin Festival Concerts!
Due to the success of the 2009 Festival concert the London Mandolin Festival returnsUniting voluntary plucked string players all over London in one mass orchestraPromoting plucked string instruments and the ailing Mandolin and Guitar groupsShowcasing the range and beauty of music for Mandolin OrchestraFrom Folk to Klezmer to Contemporary, Japanese to Cuban
The theme for the 2010 Second London Mandolin Festival is "Rumba: Rhythm + Dance"where the Rumba rhythm is featured in 4 of the orchestral pieces out of 6 Will you determine the 2 the pieces that do not contain the Rumba rhythm??
Sunday 23rd May 2010, two concerts 3:00PM - 5:00PM and 6:00PM - 8:00PM At St. Sepulchre-Without-Newgate cnr of Holborn Viaduct and Giltspur Street EC1A 9DENear tube stations Farringdon, St Paul's and opposite City Thameslink station.
Students £5, Concession £8, Non-Concession £10Book your tickets now as the concert may sell out on the day!Email londonmandolinfestival@googlemail.com for more details
http://www.londonmandolinfestival.org.uk/

4. GUITAR QUARTET CONCERT

Our next concert is at The Point in Eastleigh on Saturday 1st May 2010 and we are pleased to welcome the Vida Guitar Quartet, details as follows:-

The Vida Guitar Quartet brings together four guitarists of exceptional ability and virtuosity sharing a passion for chamber music. After their spectacular debut at the first World Youth Guitar Festival in 2007, the quartet have already built a reputation as one of the world's most exciting guitar ensembles.
Consisting of established players such as the world famous Eden Stell Guitar Duo, Mark Ashford and Helen Sanderson, all four became friends while studying together at music college. What started as just a bit of fun has developed into a seriously good music experience that should not be missed.
Their programme will include works by Bellinati, Turina, Falla, Attaingnant and Bizet

VENUE: The Point Eastleigh (1 mile M3/J13 or 1mile from M27/J5)
DATE: 1st May 2010 8pm
TICKETS: £12.00 (usual concessions £10) Box Office 023 8065 2333

-------------------------------------
Many thanks
Lynn Beckwith
Publicity Officer Southampton Classical Guitar Society 01489 589235

www.scgs-guitar.org.uk

BGS Concert: Nora Buschmann

2010-04-21T13:47:00.000-07:00

I suppose people will remember the weekend of April 17th for many reasons. Most likely it will be for the disruptions caused by the volcano with the unpronounceable name in Iceland. For us, lucky lot at the Bromley Guitar Society, it will be the memory of the wonderful UK debut for guitarist artiste Nora Buschmann.

And the God who smiles upon all classical guitar lovers was hard at work beforehand! The Icelandic volcano held its fury back long enough for Nora and her husband Fernando to arrive safely at Gatwick from Berlin thereby ensuring the success of the BGS concert!! (Hopefully they won’t have too much trouble returning!!)

The program was an eclectic mixture of pieces reflecting Nora’s passion for the musical influences associated with the Middle East along side the haunting vibrant themes associated with South America. Her guitar was especially crafted for her by the late Alejander Van Der Horst and, in Nora’s hands, it sang sweetly. There is an absolute truth and beauty in her performance. Some guitarists ‘scratch’ or claw at the strings. (I know because I tend to do it). Nora cajoles and insinuates. She gently draws out the melody in a way that catches your breath. She set the opening mood with a two lovely pieces -Fantasia in A minor by Kellner followed by a beautiful rendition of Elegie by Mertz.

Then, under Nora’s spell, we were transported to a variety of landscapes beginning with a musical homage to South America with Villa Lobos Suite Populaire Bresielenne.

The titles of these pieces, each of which combines a European form with a Brazilian dance, the chôro, reflect a mix of popular and classical styles and forms that were part of the tapestry of the music of the cinemas, nightclubs and cafes of the early part of the century that played such a strong influence on the composer . (Such hybrids were characteristic of Brazilian popular dance music at the time.) Nora captured these impressions with the opening Mazurka-Chôros, with its somewhat nostalgic tone, followed by a Schottisch-Chôros (the schottisch was a kind of polka-like dance popular in the nineteenth century), a bittersweet Valsa-Chôros, and a lovely, almost classically styled Gavota-Chôros. The concluding Chôrinho, a miniature chôros, is a bit darker-hued and dramatic than the previous four pieces.

As a student of Domeniconi, it was to be expected that Nora would include one or two of his compositions. We were treated to a technically flawless performance of Toccata in Blue a piece that was influenced by the style of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. Toccata in Blue with its opening of high drama, eases into a more lyrical vein but towards the end there is a flurry of arpeggios and pedal point. It is a fiendishly difficult piece requiring firm mastery which Nora displayed easily.

After interval we returned back to the musical landscape of the South American tundra with a spell binding performance of three pieces by Augustin Barrios Mangore, Gran Tremelo, Maxixe and Vals No4 Optus 8 followed by Paolo Bellenati’s Un amor de Vals and the percussive fiery little piece Jongo (As I write this I am reliving the experience listening to the pieces on Nora’s CD Appassionata Latina. )

However, for me personally, the biggest treat of the evening was the performance of Koyunbaba, Domeniconi’s homage to his love of Turkish culture. The name is actually Turkish and literally translates as "sheep-father" (koyun-baba), or "shepherd", some sources also translate it to "the spirit of the sheep", but also refers to many other things, including a 13th century mystical saint-like figure.

And, like most of Domeniconi’s compositions, this is not one for the faint hearted. It requires firm but gentle mastery of the instrument.

Nora captured the intense moodiness and drama of the piece with its contrasting tempos and dynamics. Not a cough nor splutter from the audience during this performance!! Even the catankerous boiler at St Marks managed to remain silent!!

Because Koyunbaba requires the guitar strings to be tuned unconventionally to a C#minor chord, our Treasurer, Steve Pearson very generously and graciously loaned Nora his Rolf Eichinger guitar for the performance of Koyunbaba. And because of the amazing quality of the performance I will be surprised if he returns the guitar back to its traditional tuning.

All in all it was a fantastic evening and was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. It was her UK debut and we are extremely proud that we can say that Bromley Guitar Society provided the platform for her introduction to the UK Classical Guitar Scene.

As with all BGS concerts, they don’t just happen by magic. Usually you don’t see the hard work that goes on behind the scenes by the BGS Executive whose only reward is the audience’s enjoyment and excitement of the performance itself. It is time to mention those people and thank them for their hard work.

I’ll leave this part up to our chairman Denis Stockton whose kind email I have included below

“I would like to express my thanks to all of you for the tremendous amount of hard work that went into last Saturday's recital.

I am sorry that Shirley missed out, due to circumstances beyond anyone's control. However, both Shirley and Vince did a superb job regarding the ticketing, particularly with Vince "saving the day" at the last minute.

Steve Pearson handled the funding perfectly and the programme that he produced, together with his very talented daughter, is worth a special mention. Also, thank you for providing accommodation for Nora and Fernando. Please pass these thanks on to your parents.

Andrew Ferrier set the whole thing up and dealt with every detail from day one. Co-coordinating that enterprise must have been a nightmare so, well done Andrew. Also, thank you and Fran for wining and dining Nora and Fernando, and for showing them around Kent and Sussex.

Thanks to Trevor, as always, and to Steve Dowdell and Dave Hampton for their transporting of the stage.

All that I had to do was to make the closing address. It's good to know that, as I get older and less able to do the physical and organisational things so much, I can rely on such a dedicated team.”

For those of you who missed the concert, Nora is playing Bellenati's Un Amor de Vals, which was included on the concert program.

Mike Edmonds Performance

2010-04-15T07:06:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the blanket email, but I wanted to let everyone know about a charity classical guitar album I have recently recorded for a very good friend Mike Edmonds who sadly has pancreatic cancer. It has been a privilege to spend the last few weeks recording with Mike and we are both very proud and delighted with the final classical guitar album called "Milonga" which has just arrived for distribution.

Mike's performance is world class and is even more astounding considering the circumstances in which he recorded his album and his failing health throughout. We hope to raise a lot of money for Cancer Research through sales of the CD (all proceeds will go to this charity) and I hope you will be able to find a few spare minutes to visit Mike's website - http://www.mikeedmondsmusic.com/ and listen to the excerpts of each track we have posted there. All the tracks are stunning pieces of music but if you can't listen to all of them, please try the title track Milonga & Julia Florida (http://www.mikeedmondsmusic.com/listen.html) which are my personal favourites and beautiful guitar compositions. If you like what you hear, I hope you will consider purchasing a copy of the CD through the link on the "Purchase CD" page - http://www.mikeedmondsmusic.com/purchase.html and it will be posted out to you upon receipt of your order. Each CD costs Â£10 plus P&P and as I say ALL proceeds will go to Cancer Research UK

I would also be grateful if you could let other people know you think might be interested about this charity classical guitar CD, and email them the above links to Mike's website. The album has already started receiving good reviews (see below) and we even received a telephone call from John Williams who had listened to the excerpts on Mike's website and wanted to wish Mike well with the album - I'm sure you'll agree that this just shows what a decent man he is to have called and taken such a personal interest. Classic FM and Classical Guitar Magazine have both requested a copy of Mike's album for review and I'm hopeful we can achieve our target of selling at least 1000 copies of the album this year for such a good cause - by letting others know you could help us achieve this

I do hope you can let your members know about this CD and if you wish to post Mike a comment, there is a guestbook on his website for feedback. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have or discuss multiple CD purchases should you wish to purchase more than one CD

I sincerely hope I haven't upset you by contacting you direct (I got your email address from an online search for classical guitar clubs) and thank you for any support you can give

Regards
Kevin
Kevin Harding
http://www.kevinharding.com/
kevin@kevinharding.com
07974 554718 or 01803 299600
Review from Daily Mail Newspaper Group - Herald Express Thursday 25th March 2010

"I visited http://www.mikeedmondsmusic.com/ clicked on the "Listen" link and allowed the exquisite sound of Mike's playing have a remarkably soothing effect on me. This is absolutely extraordinary virtuosity by a man with the dual gifts of technical expertise and expression. As a former guitarist myself, I have no hesitation in hailing Mike Edmonds as a genuine guitar maestro; a world class guitarist who, in any other age, would have been a household name. It beggars belief that "Milonga" is his debut album. But perhaps this is a reflection of the fact that, these days, reality TV reigns supreme, while the truly talented, like Mike Edmonds, just get on with the job of making beautiful, meaningful and enduring music" David Lowe.

Read the full review at: http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/columnists/Guitar-maestro-s-inspiring-recording/article-1943470-detail/article.html

Nora Buschmann Concert

2010-04-15T06:27:00.000-07:00

Limited numbers tickets are still available for the Nora Buschmann Concert for this coming Saturday April 17th!

The concert will commence at 7:30pm sharp.

To reserve yourself a place please email bgstickets@googlemail.com or purchase them at the door from 7pm at St Marks Church Westmoreland Road Bromley. (Nearest Station is Bronley South).

Lute Society and other news..

2010-04-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

SPRING MEETING, SATURDAY 8th MAY

As is our wont, after going through the rigours of the AGM we treat ourselves to a day made up mostly of music, with mini-recitals by Dale Harris, and David Protheroe, a talk and demonstration on the use of gestures in lute song, a recital by Dutch lute duo David van Ooijen and Michiel Niessen, which nobody who has heard their superb recording of the (very hard) Terzi duets, Un’ altra canzona will want to miss. Following recent trips to the Continent, we will have on sale most of the published editions of French, Belgian, Spanish and Dutch lute societies, including the recent Thysius lute book facsimile.

10.30 Coffee
11.00 Gestures in lute song, talk and demonstration by Rosemary Carlton-Willis, accompanied by David Miller
12.00 Mini-recital of Sanz and Vivaldi transcriptions on 13 course lute,played by Dale Harris.

12.30 Break for lunch
2.00 Mini-recital of lute songs performed, self-accompanied, by David Protheroe
2.30 AGM
3.45 Tea

4.15 The Lute Society recital, David van Ooijen and Michiel Nissen play renaissance lute duets

MEETINGS IN 2010:

June 26 The Lute Society party, at the house of John and Joyce Reeve, Maidenhead, with music by Peter Martin
August 7-15 Lute building summer school, workshop of David van Edwards, Norwich, building a 12-course lute
August 20–22 Lute Society residential weekend: ‘Matthew Holmes and his musical world’ Christ Church, Oxford, with Jakob Lindberg
Jacob Heringman, Stewart McCoy and Ian Harwood
September 11 at the Dutch church, Mace day with Benjamin Narvey and David van Edwards, recital by Rosemary Hodgson
November 20 NOTE CHANGE OF DATE!!! at the Dutch church, talk on Mudarra’s vihuela songs by Matthew Spring, and mini-recital with Sara Stowe; talk on teaching the lute to children by David Capp and Peter Trent, talk on Dowland and Dowland recital by Nigel North.

Hope to see you at one or all of the above!, best wishes, Chris Goodwin

1 OUD FOR SALE

I could like to inform you about an old OUD (oriental luth) instrument by the grate luthier Manolis Venios (1850 - 1914). Manolis Venios is considered to be the greatest and most renowned of all Greek, Turkish or Armenian builders of ‘ouds, and his fame spread throughout the Mediterranean. He was born in Folegandros - Greece in 1850 and died in Istanbul in 1914. He introduced many innovations to the construction of the ‘oud and elaborated the form of the instrument as we know it today. His workshop, according to the labels he placed inside his instruments was to be found “In Constantinople, on the Great Street of Galata, No. 138”. His ‘ouds are characterized by their homogeneous, clear and refined timbre as well as the high quality of their construction. Today, they are to be found in museums and of course in the hands of virtuoso musicians in the Near and Middle East, Europe, America and Japan. My oud was made in 1907 and has been maintained in excellent condition, without damage or repairs. It has been in our possession since 1991 and with it we have taken part in numerous concerts, recordings and educational meetings in Greece and many other countries. Its sale value is estimated at between 18,000 and 22,000 EUR. I remain at your disposal for any further information you may require. Best regards, Kyriakos Kalaitzidis
+30 6974 760059
art@enmusic.gr

2. LUTE PLAYER WANTED
Mark Windisch advised me to contact you in the following matter. I'm trying to find a lute player or a guitar player in the region around Stratford on Avon for the afternoon of the 22nd of August to accompany songs by Dowland, Purcell etc. and also possibly to play either some background music or a few solo pieces. It is not a public concert. It shall be for a 90th birthday of a nice and lively lady in Bearly. I'd sing, I'm a trained singer but not a professional (I'm a Handel scholar). So the player should be reliable but does not need to be a professional either. Is there any chance to find someone? We'd only have the chance for one or two rehearsals possibly.
Best wishes,Annette Landgraf

3. MAY PASTORALE

Nothing to do with the lute, but recommended by a Man Who Knows

Caroline Jones, recorders
Charles Matthews, piano

Music in the pastoral tradition

Aubade ~ Cyril Scott
Rhapsody ~ Donald Swann
Estampes ~ Debussy

Royal Pump Rooms
Leamington Spa
CV32 4AA

Sunday, 16th May 2010 3 pm
Tickets £8, SRP members £7
Tea and cakes available after the concert
Tickets: 01788 812223 or Presto Classical 01926 317 025

4. BAROQUE CONCERT

I am writing to invite you to a very exciting concert I'll be playing with my group The Little Baroque Company http://www.littlebaroqueco.com/ on Friday April 16th at St. Anne Lutheran Church, Gresham st., London, EC2V 7BX at 7:00pm, (close to St. Paul's station). For this concert we have invited three world renown musicians, the soprano Julia Doyle http://www.juliasoprano.moonfruit.com/, the mezzo-soprano Clare Wilkinson http://www.clarewilkinsonmezzo.co.uk/ and the theorbo player Jakob Lindberg http://www.musicamano.com/ . We will perform a recital with arias, duets and instrumental music by Georg Friederic Handel. In addition, wine and Spanish tapas will be served during the interval. The program will be:

SONATA’

Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno
(Allegro - Adagio - Allegro)

‘PRENDI L’ALMA, PRENDI IL CORE’
Rodrigo

‘TANTI STRALI AL SEN MI SCOCCHI’
Italian Cantata X

‘PASSACAILLE’
Sonata Op.5 IV

‘LASCIA LA SPINA’
Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno

‘DOPO NOTTE ATRA E FUNESTA’
Ariodante

‘OVERTURE-GIGUE-SARABANDE-PASSACAILLE’
Rodrigo

‘SFORZANDO A PIANGERE CON PIU DOLOR’

‘CHE NON PUO LA GELOSIA’

‘SORGE IL DI’
Aci, Galatea e Polifemo

‘PER ABATARE IL RIGORE’
Aminta et Fillide

Soprano: Julia Doyle
Mezzo-soprano: Clare Wilkinson
1st Violin: Helen Kruger
2nd Violin: Henrietta Wayne
Viola: Frouke Mooij
Cello: Emily Robinson
Oboe: Joel Raymond, Sarah Humphrys
Bassoon: Rebecca Stockwell
Theorbo: Jakob Lindberg
Theorbo & Baroque Guitar: Manuel Minguillon

The concert will be live recorded by the producer/engineer Adrian Hunter. Attached there is a poster with more information about the event. Please feel free to invite as many friends as you want to what promise to be a very exciting evening of music. Do not hesitate to contact me for any other information you may need and also if you would like to reserve some tickets (The sales are quite advance, and St. Anne only seats about 140 people)

Best wishes,
Manuel Minguillon Nieto
http://www.manuelminguillon.com/
info@manuelminguillon.com

BGS Meeting March 20th

2010-04-02T17:16:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately I missed the March 20th Meeting but I am indebted to our chairman for taking the appropriate notes. The Widmore Consort provided another great performance

Here they are...(Thanks again Denis!)

Only eight members turned up to the March meeting, a somewhat disappointing turnout.

We welcomed Larisa Lieberman, who was making her first visit and enjoyed taking a full part in the ensemble rehearsal. We do hope that she will consider joining BGS at some future date.

Your Chairman was feeling somewhat poorly, so asked John Mann to run the ensemble session, which he did extremely well and produced very good results. We rehearsed the Scarlatti Sonata to a standard which I think would please Ray Butcher.

Before the coffee break, Garth Pinkney, from The Widmore Ensemble, requested an opportunity to play two of his Grade Six pieces, as part of the preparations for his imminent grade examination. The chosen pieces were “Vals” by Jose Ferrer, and “The Wind of Change” by Lee Sollory.

Tom Page then played “Danza Brazilera” by Jorge Morel.

After the coffee break, we were entertained for half an hour by The Widmore Ensemble, directed by our Society’s sole surviving founder member, Paul Brown.

The chosen programme was:-

Canon J Pachelbel

2nd Act Tune from The Island Princess J Clarke

Spring – 1st movement from The Four Seasons A Vivaldi

Spanish Folk Song Suite (four pieces) arr. D. Burden

A Time For Us (from Romeo and Juliet) N. Rota

Michael Jackson Medley Jackson / Krohn

News from the Lute Society

2010-03-10T09:50:00.000-08:00

1. URGENT - LUTENIST NEEDED CONCERT -

Friday 26th March,

Charlton House,

London, 13.00

Would anybody be interested in performing in a one-hour lunchtime concert at Charlton House, London on the 26th March?

The ensemble currently consists of members Rie Kosaka (winner of the Ella Kidney prize) and Callum Armstrong (recordist), both currently studying at Trinity College of Music. The concert consists mainly of 16th-century Spanish repertoire and the lutenist would be asked to play some solos (no preference) and to accompany the songs (Rie has a wonderful voice and is very pleasant to work with) on either the renaissance lute or vihuela (there is no preference). The concert series and venue is very congenial, with a regular audience.

As goes rehearsals, Rie and Callum are very accommodating and its all negotiable, they'll be very pleased to have any capable player. Rie will even cover the travel fees involved. If any tablatures are awkward I myself will be very happy to do all the typesetting and to make the whole business consume as little time as possible. The concert series provides great performance opportunities and decent exposure on the London platform.

Any enquires, please don't hesitate to contact Richard MacKenzie at:chalumeau_mackenzie@hotmail.com

2. OXFORD CONCERT ON MARCH 13th
Richard invited you to "The Golden Age" on Saturday, March 13 at 8:00pm.
Event: The Golden Age "Renaissance polyphony by candlelight "What: ConcertStart Time: Saturday, March 13 at 8:00pmEnd Time: Saturday, March 13 at 9:15pmWhere: Merton College Chapel

3. TASTER OF ANNE BOLEYN ROLLERBLADING AT THE TOWER
As a PS to yesterday’s announcement, if you want to see Stephanie Feeney the guise of a rollerblading Anne Boleyn, watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HThxPe0hJU

4. FEATURING THE VOICE OF MERIT STEPHANOS
Dear All
Next Monday at 8pm Channel 4 is broadcasting a documentary on Channel 4, I am singing on the soundtrack.
It is called 20:00 DISPATCHES: CHILDREN OF GAZA
Do watch it if you are around .
All best wishes
Merit

5. CITTERN WANTED

A Lute Society member would like to buy a budget-priced (£500 or less) renaissance chromatic 4 course cittern, perhaps such as the ones the Early Music Shop used to sell (they are currently redesigning theirs and it won’t be ready until 2011). Having searched the web and drawn a blank, he’d be very grateful if members with a surplus cittern to sell would contact Ian at lutenist@blueyonder.co.uk

Meeting February 20th

2010-02-26T07:50:00.000-08:00

Another great turnout on Saturday with some cracker solos along with a pretty decent stab at Senor Scarlatti's Sonatina for Four Guitars in D.

Under the capable baton of Maestro Butcher Esq the piece manages to actually take form and shape. We are now at the stage of playing it adagio although much to our dismay, Ray pointed out that the tempo has to be quick....very quick!! This wasn't helped by our initial 'starts' and 'finishes' in which the poor old Sonatina resembled the main event at the Grand National with the speed getting faster and faster towards the finish, despite our conductor's best efforts to keep the reins in. A friend of mine who indulges in horse riding once commented that her horse always picks up speed when she is riding back to the stable. That's because the stable means

1. dismounting of the rider
2. a rub down
3. a full belly of hay

Our playing seems to share similar traits when we get to the homestretch of the Sonatina although in our case the sanctuary of the 'stable' for us in a cup of coffee and a biscuit from Trevor!! No rub down or a full belly of hay though...oh well!!

After a break we went straight for the solos.

Bagatelle 2 (William Walton) played by John Mann
Sunburst (York)played by Will Punter
Mertz's Nocturne (Kaspar Mertz) played by Trevor Pike
Levantine Suite (Dusan Bogdanovich) played by Andrew Ferrier
Prelude
Dance
Cantilena
Postlude
Preludio Triston (Pujol Maximo Diego) played by Miles Roberts
Fandanguillo (Suite Castellana) [Moreno-torroba, Federico] played by Miles Roberts
Senhorinha (Guinga) played by Steve Pearson

Click here to listen. Special thanks to all who contributed. And to Vince Chittenden for his excellent recording of the pieces

Thanks again to Ray Butcher for his leadership of the ensembles (and yes Ray...we'll promise to keep practicing!!) Thanks also to Denis for acting as MC for the evening and to Trevor for organising the refreshments!

Don't forget to contact Shirley so you can reserve your place for the Nora Buschmann Concert in April!

We have a video of the Scarlatti piece which shows how it SHOULD be performed. Click here to see for yourselves. (Thanks Dave for the link)......we have some serious work to do...!

Keep up the practice! Your correspondent will be missing out on the next meeting as he will be in Australia for three weeks. In the mean time Den and Steve will keep me updated. I'll bring you back a jar of vegemite if you are all good.....or two jars if you are not!!

Hoo Roo!

Guitar Workshop with Gerald Garcia

2010-02-22T01:50:00.000-08:00

(From BGS Executive Member Trevor Pike )

Summer Music at Dunford House, Guitar Work shop with Gerald Garcia.

Midhurst West Sussex

GU29 0DG Tel 01730 812381

The course will be run by Gerald Garcia who has taught at numerous Summer schools in the UK, Europe and the USA. He is a regular visitor to the Iserlohn Summer School in Germany. His teaching activities also include work with the English National Opera, Kent Opera, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and conducting and teaching the teenagers in the National Youth Guitar Orchestra.

The course will concentrate on playing as a member of an ensemble. Parts will be of varying difficulties. You don’t have to be a very high standard provided you can read music, as Gerald will give you a part that suits your ability. He will also send out the music via email if you
are on line, if not I will try to send it out by post. The work and practice will be towards giving a performance on Sunday afternoon to an audience, made up of the singers from the other group who share the week end with us.

The course begins after dinner on Friday evening and ends on Sunday around 3.30pm. You will need to bring a music stand, and foot stand.

On Saturday there is a short period from lunch until 4pm when you can do what ever you like, some people go for a walk, practise or go into Midhurst. In the evening there will be an informal concert combined with the singing group, so you may like to play a piece of music, sing or recite a poem.

*Payment for Gerald’s tuition of £20 will be collected in cash at the Venue**

For more information download the attached flyer

Lute Society news...Got any spare cash?

2010-02-12T01:17:00.000-08:00

Sunday 7th March,

7:30pm

Andrew Maginley Baroque Lute Gods, Mortals & Musketeers

Ennemond Gaultier (1575-1651)Prélude- Gigue-Courante- Courante- Sarabande

Denis Gaultier (1603-1672)Pavanne, Allemande, Ulisse, Minerve, Sarabande

Denis Gaultier Orphée, Echo, L’Homicide, Apollon orateur, Diane au bois

Jacques Gallot (c.1625-1695) Les Trois Mousquetaires

Jacques Gaultier (fl. 1617-1652) Sarabande L’Espagnoletta

Sylvius Leopold Weiss (1687-1750) Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Boureé, Sarabande, Menuet, Gigue

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)Suite for violoncello transcribed for lute, BWV 1007 Prélude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Menuet I & II, Gigue

Andrew Maginley is hailed as the most dynamic lutenist of his generation. A native New Yorker and Fulbright Scholar, Andrew has since 1995 lived in Germany, and now in the UK, working as solo recitalist and high profile continuo player throughout Europe, the UK and North America. His second solo recording, Andrew Maginley – The Baroque Lute, on Avie Records, has been highly praised. He has given solo recitals at the Bachhaus in Eisenach, Germany, the Bloomington Early Music Festival and the New York City Early Music Series, as well as playing live on BBC Radio 3.

Tickets £11 Including a glass of wine Plus a £1 donation to charity

BOX OFFICE 07967 481 625

THE DYSART ARMS 135 Petersham Road Richmond Surrey TW10 7AA

http://www.thedysartarms.co.uk/enquiries@thedysartarms.co.uk

2. LUTE WORKSHOP IN YORKSHIRE
Lute Workshop Day with Jacob Heringman 20th February, Richmond, North Yorks.

WHONEEMF (North East Early Music Forum) invites players of lute and other plucked instruments to a playing day. The format will be flexible, depending on numbers. It will include a session of ‘open lessons’ in which people come to the front and play something, and Jacob brings up points which will be relevant to the group as a whole. He has found that observing and discussing in this way is a really good way to learn.

There will be ensemble playing for three or four lutes, where we can use the different spaces in the Zetland Centre, and Jacob will circulate; music will be provided mostly in tab, with some in score (with figured bass). After lunch there will be a talk on a particular topic, such as playing counterpoint on the lute – bringing out the voices.

There will be time for questions, answers and discussions. Pitch for the ensemble playing will be A=440 Hz. Jacob Heringman has established himself as one of the world's most respected and most innovative solo lute players. He appears on over 50 CDs as a soloist, collaborator and ensemble player. WHENSaturday 20th February 2010. 10.00 am (tea, coffee, etc) for 10.30am start. It ends at 4.00 pm.Refreshments at breaks included. Please bring lunch, or use local cafés, etc.

WHERE Zetland Centre, Victoria Road, Richmond, N. Yorks. DL10 4AS.

Nearby is Richmond’s theatre, Britain’s most complete Georgian theatre.

During the lunch break, there is an optional tour of the theatre with one of the trustees.

COST£15; concessions £12 (state-only pensioners, unemployed); full time students £6.

BOOKING For more information and the booking form, see http://www.neemf.org.uk/, or contact Gill Knowles knowles.shadwell@ntlworld.com

3. LUTE SONG CONCERT
Musica Transalpina - a Mediterranean Musical Hour

Wednesday 10th February 2010

12:15pm with lunch - 1:10pm concert only Alessandra Testal (soprano) Robin Jeffrey (lute and guitar) at the Riverhouse Barn, Walton-on Thames

For details see http://www.riverhousebarn.co.uk/

4. IF YOU HAVE £850,000 POUNDS TO SPARE
A portrait of Nicholas Lanier, dating from 1613 is on show in the Weiss Gallery, in Jermyn Street. They are just in the process of publishing a book on the painting, with essays by Sir Roy Strong, Duncan Thomson, Tim Wiks, Peter Walls amongst others, which will be available at the end of the month. As for the price, the painting is going to be offered for sale at around £850,000.

With best wishes, Mark Weiss -The Weiss Gallery 59 Jermyn Street London SW1Y 6LX+ 44 (0) 207409 0035

http://www.weissgallery.com/ http://www.weissgallery.com/>

5. GUITAR CONCERT

The Bromley Guitar Society (That's us Folks! Ed.) are pleased to announce a concert performance by Nora Buschmann for Saturday April 17th at St Marks Church (Westmoreland Road) in Bromley. Nora is an exciting and highly talented recitalist and teacher, receiving international accolades in Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Russia, Spain, South America and the Ukraine. Her appearance for the Bromley Guitar Society marks her UK debut and we are eagerly anticipating a fantastic evening. Her performance program for Bromley consists of works by Villa Lobos, Domeniconi, Barrios Mangore and Mertz.

Tickets charges are set at £10 per adult , £5 per child/student, £25 per family (two Adults two children).

Click here for flyer

Iberian and Latin American Music Society (ILAMS)

2010-02-08T05:41:00.000-08:00

ILAMS, the UK's leading Society for the promotion of Iberian and Latin American Music, invites you to our forthcoming concerts and others we recommend:

Wednesday 17 February 2010 1.05pm
Solo Guitar Recital: Morgan Szymanski
Museum of London 150 London Wall, London EC2
Nearest tube: Barbican, St Paul’s (Central line), Moorgate (Metropolitan/Hammersmith & City/Circle Lines)

‘A player destined for future glories’ Classical Guitar Magazine Antonio Lauro Venezuelan WaltzesAgustín Barrios Mangoré Vals Op.8, No.4Agustín Barrios Mangoré Una limosna por el amor de DiosAgustín Barrios Mangoré MaxixePaulo Bellinati JongoJoão Pernambuco Sons de CarilhõesHeitor Villa-Lobos Chôros No. 1
Part of the Winter Concert Series of the City of London Festival
www.morganszymanski.co.uk
Tickets: Admission freewww.colf.org__

Friday 19 February 2010 7.30pm
An Evening of Spanish and Latin American Song
Marina Karagianni, mezzo-soprano & Neus G. Ritort, piano
Bolívar Hall
54 Grafton Way,
London W1T 5DL
Nearest tube: Warren Street (Northern and Victoria Lines)

An evening of Spanish and Latin American 20th-century art songs for voice and piano with Marina Karagianni, mezzo-soprano and Neus G. Ritort, piano. This programme traces the links between the art songs of Spain and Latin America and explores the relationship between the 'popular' or 'folk' music and poetry, and music as an expression of nationalism. The concert also showcases a range of nanas (lullabies) composed in different styles.

Montsalvatge Obradors
Mompou Juan B. Plaza
Antonio Estévez Modesta Bor
Eduardo S. de Fuentes
www.marinakaragianni.co.uk

Tickets: Admission free

Friday 26 February 2010 7.30pm

'Ayre Español': Spanish Repertoire from Medieval to Baroque

Il Festino Ensemble
Bolívar Hall
54 Grafton Way,
London W1T 5DL

Nearest tube: Warren Street, (Northern/Victoria Lines)

The concert 'Ayre Español' will present extracts from the Cantigas de Santa Maria, Cancioneiro de Upsala, the Ladino/Sephardic influence, as well as pieces by Antonio de Cabezón, Diego Ortiz, José Marín and others performed on period instruments, by the early music ensemble Il Festino. Il Festino consists of musicians who have gained their reputation on the Early Music Scene. Its contrasting yet complementary personalities and cultural backgrounds, combined with their outstanding talent, make this group very appealing and dynamic. The Ensemble has great passion and interest in exploring less-well-known Spanish and Latin American baroque composers. Cancionero de Upsala Yéndome y viniendo Anonymous Las tres fuentes José Marín No piense Menguilla Diego Ortiz Recercadas Santiago de Murcia Pieces from Codex 4 Francisco José de Castro Sonata prima José de Torres Cantata Bosques umbrosos

www.il-festino.com www.gabrieladilaccio.com

Tickets: £10 (available on the door and online)www.wegottickets.com (type 'Ayre Español' in the search box)

Friday 5 March 2010 7.30pm
An Introduction to: Iberican Classical Music*

Morgan Szymanski, guitar; Maya Sapone, soprano and Helen Glaisher-Hernández, piano

Schott Recital Room
The Schott Music Shop,
48 Great Marlborough Street,
London, W1F 7BB

Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus (Bakerloo/Victoria/Central Lines)

If you are new to the classical music of Spain and Latin America this concert is for you. This is classical music infused with colour, rhythm, verve, machismo, passion, violence, seduction and sensuality... And for the seasoned enthusiast we also have a few new rare gems that we guarantee you will love. Three of the moment's leading young Iberican specialists, Morgan Szymanski (guitar), Maya Sapone (soprano) and Helen Glaisher-Hernández (piano) will be performing: Federico Mompou Charmes Heitor Villa-Lobos Forest of the Amazon Heitor Villa-Lobos Bachianas brasileiras No. 5 Joaquín Rodrigo Tres canciones españolas Alberto Ginastera Canción al árbol del olvido Antonio Lauro Venezuelan Waltzes (selection)

We hope you will join us for this informal ILAMS event in the intimate setting of the Schott Recital Room to sit back with a glass of wine and enjoy some rare musical treats. This is also the perfect opportunity to meet the ILAMS team and find out more about the Society and what we do, Iberian and Latin American classical music, and - meet the artists!

www.morganszymanski.co.uk

www.mayasapone.com www.ilams.org.uk

Tickets (including a glass of wine): £10 / £8 concessions / £5 ILAMS members (please email us for the discount code)Bookings: 020 7534 0710, londonshop@schott-music.com, www.schott-music.co.uk/shop

All details correct at time of publication. It is advisable to check details with the venue.To unsubscribe from this mailing list reply with 'unsubscribe' in the subject box.*
Denotes an ILAMS concert

ILAMS The Iberian and Latin American Music Society Registered Charity No. 10927494ilams.org.uk

Meeting Saturday January 16th

2010-01-22T08:47:00.000-08:00

An absolutely great turn out that evening with a few new faces as well as some past friends returning. That's just what we are at the BGS!! One big happy family!!

Our musical paterfamilias, Ray Butcher, was on hand to lead us through the dreaded intricacies of Scarlattis Sonata in D for 4 guitars which we bravely blundered our way through. Still some harmony is starting to emerge- a feat that has been considerably improved since I cheated and swapped my piece from Guitar 1 to Guitar 2, thus saving myself a heap of embarrassment from battling 'at the deep end' of the guitar pool with the higher frets! Don't tell Ray!!! Special thanks to Shirley for organising the copies of all the parts.

We'll need to get cracking on this for the Federation Guitar Socities meeting at Southhampton (which now may be taking place in September)

A great round of solos as well. Vince has recorded them and will add them to the web site ASAP.

Only one slight snag...the paper I used to note the names of the pieces and players has gone missing so I you are reading this blog AND you performed a solo at the meeting please email me the name of the piece!! (aferrier.305@lgflmail.org )

UPDATE:

Christine Dabrowa played Sons De Carilhoes By Joao Pernambuco, 1883. (Without a G and T before hand for which she is very proud!!)

John Mann played Villancico de Navidad by Barrios.

BGS Concert Update
On a more positive front, ticket forms for Nora Buschmann's concert are now available on the blog site and will be sent out with the BGS newsletter. Get in quick with your booking as this looks like it will be a cracker of a concert!

UPDATE 2:

Click here to listen to recital tracks!!

Thanks to Vince Chittenden

In the absence of Trevor, our Chairman did an absolutely outstanding stint in the refreshments area, making sure that we were all fed and watered. He has our appreciation and thanks! And thanks to Steve for getting the hall prepared (and being generously forgiving when I arrived too late to assist!!)

Victoria and Albert Museum- Closure of Music Galleries call for action

2010-01-21T01:47:00.000-08:00

I have included this letter from Chris Godwin as a matter of public interest. Please support Chris in ensuring that the Music Gallery remains available for the rest of us!

You may by now have heard the alarming news that on 22nd February the V&A museum in London is to close its musical instrument galleries permanently. The instruments, which constitute one of the world's great collections, and have been a vital resource in musical education and the early music revival, will go into storage and will only be available for viewing by special request.

The space currently dedicated to historic instruments will be given over to more fashion displays - as if there weren't enough about fashion and fashion history in the media already; the V&A probably hope to attract more visitors in this way to a more 'popular' display.

All is not entirely lost; there are plans to redisplay the instruments in few years time at the Horniman Museum or elsewhere.

But obviously now is the time for as many people as possible to make their feelings known. The decision was taken personally by the Director, so the best way to register dismay, and urge for the redisplay of the instruments to take place as soon as possible, is to write to him personally:

Mark Jones, Director
V&A South Kensington
Cromwell Road
London SW7 2RL

Also you can write an email, asking for it to be forwarded to him to Sarah Medlam, e: s.medlam@vam.ac.uk

And there is a facebook petition at

http://www.facebook.com/n/?group.php&gid=257514797266&mid=1be8e13G2c449905G49bf0e2G6

Do write to one or all of these if you have the time.

best wishes
Chris Goodwin

Nora Buschmann Concert Update

2010-01-20T03:25:00.000-08:00

Bookings are now open for the Nora Buschmann Concert scheduled for April 17th at St Marks Church in Bromley.

Click here to download booking form.

Nora's recital program includes:

Phantasia a-Moll -David Kellner (1670-1748)

Elegie -Johann Kaspar Mertz (1806-1856)

Suite Populaire Bresilienne Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959)

Toccata in Blue -Carlo Domeniconi (1947)

Gran Tremolo-Augustin Barrios-Mangoré (1885-1944)

Maxixe

Vals Nr.4 op.8

Um amor de valsa-Paolo Bellinati (1950)

Jongo

Koyunbaba Suite op.19- Carlo Domeniconi
Moderato
Mosso
Cantabile
Presto

Book in early to avoid disappointment!!

Lute Society News

2010-01-20T03:24:00.000-08:00

1. LUTE PLAYER NEEDED, LONDON, MARCH 8-10

A lute player of good standard is needed to participate in a small theatre production of ‘Ages ofMan’ to be performed by actor George Innes in Barons Court, SW London, during 8-10 March 2010.

The one- man play was first performed by John Gielgud and contains extracted speeches from Shakespeare. A lute player will contribute to the performance at strategic points and intervals to add atmosphere and accent. Probably up to 20 mins playing of early lute music will be required during the two hour play with flexibility in the selection of material.

All expenses will be paid and there is some possibility of renumeration, but this is mainly an opportunity to perform and gain experience in a theatrical environment.

Interested? Please contact George Innes on 020-8853-2187

2. EARLY MUSIC VACANCIES IN MORLEY COLLEGE COURSES

Dear musician,

I run a number of classes for adults at Morley College [near Waterloo station - http://www.morleycollege.ac.uk/], some of which need more students.

In particular, the Flute Continuation class urgently needs more people to join the current small but dedicated band. This friendly group runs from 8 to 9.30pm on Thursdays, and is suitable for those playing at a minimum standard of around Grade 4 and keen to develop their knowledge of repertoire, phrasing and ensemble skills.

There is also space available in the Flute Elementary class -Thursdays 6.30 - 8pm, approximately Grade 1 - 3 standard];
the Recorder Beginners class [Tuesdays 4 - 5.30, approximately Grade 1 - 3 standard];
the Recorder Elementary class [Tuesdays 5.30 - 7pm, approximately Grade 3 - 5 standard];
and the Recorder Consorts class [Tuesdays 7.30 - 9.30pm, minimum Grade 6 standard].

Finally, Morley College is planning to reinstate the Baroque Consort [Tuesdays 7 - 9, instruments and voices working at A=415 - not taught by me].

For information about this class and about enrolling on the others, please contact the Music Secretary at Morley College [Tel. 020.7928.8501; email enquiries@morleycollege.ac.uk]
For more information about the content of Flute and Recorder class, please contact me [tel. 020.8941.4917; email williamsummers@uwclub.net]

Please circulate this message to anyone it might interest, and please let me know if you do not wish to receive infrequent notice of my early music concerts.

Best wishes for 2010!
William Summers;
early Flutes; Recorders; Windcap instruments.

3. ROYAL LUTESTRING COMPANY

As Chairman of Snodland Historical Society I subscribe to the Origins Network for help with family history queries, etc. They have just put on-line lists of the 'Association Oath Rolls 1696', organized by Company. One of these is given as the 'Royal Lutestring Company', which I'd never heard of, but which has 110 names (many French) and again virtually all unknown to me. I wonder if anyone in the Lute Society can enlighten me? In any case, members might like to follow this up in any way they can. The Musicians' Company has 34 names.

The original reference is at the National Archives: C213/171/398 for the Lutestring Company (and for the musicians C213/171/51). I attach a list of the names in case you would like to include them (surname before Christian name), transcribed by Clifford Webb (who should be acknowledged I think). Apparently there is a note on the musicians: 'the rest of the members are in the king's service and could not be found' and Clifford prints a warning that some of the writing is illegible. Was there enough work for them all, or does the title hide a more varied employment?

If you can help, please contact me, Andrew Ashbee, e; aa0060962@blueyonder.co.uk

Message from Eleftheria Kotzia

2010-01-11T09:27:00.000-08:00

If you have any students /members of the Bromley GS that are interested to participate to a guitar summer course could you please ask them to visit http://www.guitarenfrance.org/

In this site they can find information on the 'stage de Ligoure 2010 '. They can also fill in the application and book on line.

If you prefer to receive leaflets to distribute to them. please send me your address and I will forward those to you.

Thank you for your collaboration and wishing you a GOOD New Year

Christmas Crackers at the Bromley Guitar Society

2009-12-14T02:20:00.000-08:00

Ahh! That time of the year....December and all the joys and stress of dealing with Christmas!!

Fortunately for the BGS Members there was time to escape from the shopping rituals to spend a jolly Saturday evening at St Marks getting right into the Christmas Spirit....amply supported by a great buffet courtesy of the members.

Denis and Christine kicked off the ensembles part of the evening, providing an array of Christmas Carols that in our somewhat less than reverent approach to the festive season. Still any passer by would have faintly recognised our rendering of 'Once in Royal David's City' culminating in a spirited if somewhat awkward rendition of 'Jingle Bells' which appeared to 'shift gears' in speed as the song progressed. All this without any accompaniment from Bromley's constabulary- which might have improved matters... Mind you I couldn't help feeling that Santa's reindeers would have had a bit of a fright!!

After a bit of convivial punishing of the buffet table we were then ready for the 'Christmas Cracker Awards' section of the evening- the SOLOS!!

Starting with Trevor's performance of 'Little Road to Bethlehem' finishing up with his rendition of the old Flanders and Swann favourite, 'In the Bath'. (For the benefit of ladies, children and members of the vice squad, I can assure you all that Trevor was fully clothed during his final number!!)

Other Christmas Crackers Awards went to

Will Punter: Off the Rails

Christine Dabrowa: Walking in the Air (Blake) and Oh Come all ye Faithfull'

Dave Hampton and Tom Rimmer : Choral Prelude Von Himmel Hoch

Rick Frenkel, Tom Rimmer and Ray Butcher: We wish you a Merry Christmas and Deck the Halls

Rob Sellery : Romance Number 1 ( Brunning); Capriccio Arabe (Tarrega) and Bagatelle 3 (Walton)

Tom Page: Choro1 Villa Lobos

Once more Vince has his sound pixies on the job and you will be able to hear the pieces for your selves. Click here to listen

A thoroughly great evening with lots of fun and laughter as it should be!

To compliment the Christmas Season, here is an online card from BGS TV. Please forgive the poor sound quality-the fault lies with my mobile phone not the players!!!

On behalf of the executive I would like to wish all BGS Members, non members and blog visitors a very merry Christmas and a Happy Music Enriched New Year!

Lute Society Updates

2009-12-01T04:03:00.000-08:00

1. LUTENIST WANTED, HACKNEY, 6th DECEMBER

Lutenist wanted to play festive music with a Tudor theme during a craft fair at Sutton House in Hackney (built in 1535 and now belonging to the National Trust) on Sunday 6th December – exact time(s) negotiable between 11 am and 4pm. £30 fee plus unlimited mulled wine and mince pies! Please contact: lissa.chapman@btinternet.com

2. FEEDBACK WANTED – THE MEANINGS OF DOWLAND’S SONGS

The link below should take you to Rob McKillop's fledgling 'John Dowland website', where I allowed him to post pdfs of my paraphrases or 'explications' of all the Songs of JD.
http://www.johndowland.co.uk/ and click on 'Songs'.

Clifford Bartlett has been keen to publish these as a booklet, and I have been anxious to get members of the luting community to send me any errata, comments or downright criticism of them (I must have made some howling errors somewhere), but despite pleading with folk, I have had no serious feedback whatsoever! Everyone's too busy - I can understand that, but they need to be checked through thoroughly, and some of my conclusions or theories really should be questioned and challenged! Consider, for example, 'Come heavy Sleep' in book one, or 'Flow my Tears' in book 2, to both of which I have given footnotes relating to the mythological personifications referred to, and ideas from Cabalistic thought, Hermetic philosophy and Neo-Platonism. Am I correct in my conclusions? I think we should be told!

This Dowland text project originally came about as a kind of tribute to Bob Spencer. He always urged his students to explore the texts of lute songs in considerable depth, since they can often be quite 'dense' and opaque to the casual reader, and, in fact, most singers don't really have a clue what some of them are actually about, or referring to! I know - I was one of them

3. CONCERT, THURSDAY 3rd DECEMBER

Music from the courts of Henry VII and VIII, and from the pen of Henry Purcell, performed at the Lovekyn Chapel, Kingston Grammar School [opposite main school building], London Road, Kingston upon Thames KT2 6PYTickets: £8, £6 [concessiom] on the door; refreshments served,
Enquiries, reservations and requests to be left alone should be directed to williamsummers@uwclub.net

Meeting Saturday 21st

2009-11-27T07:27:00.000-08:00

What a cracker of an evening...full of surprises for us all!!

We were expecting a rather small turnout as our 'Batman and Robin ensemble leaders ie Ray Butcher and Denis Stockton were pre-occupied with other matters and couldn't attend. Which was a pity as we had a really large turn out of members!! We even managed to drown out the usual Saturday night accompaniment from Bromleys 'Boys in Blue', along with the choral performance in the Church next door (whose members were probably wondering what in God's name was happening in the room next door!!)

Fortunately for us Christina Dabrowa and Miles Roberts took up the cudgels and did an absolute sterling job! We made a pretty bold stab at Mozarts' Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" which was recognisable after a fashion even though we ran out of sheet music parts. Mr Scarlatti's piece was put on hold as we didn't have enough Music parts (Sorry Ray). However the good news is that Shirley has successfully purchased the music on behalf of the BGS and we will be distributing the part to all members ASAP- or at least those with an email account!

After a coffee break it was time for ensembles!!

Performances included

Glissaccatura (William Baulch) performed by Marion Davies

Pavan (Gaspar Sanz) performed by Dave Hampton

Prelude and Allegro (De Murcia) and Le Centaur (David Cottam) performed by Trevor Pike

Dream- (Everly Brothers) performed by Derek Carter

Leccion24 (Jose Ferrer) and Lammas Dance (David Cottam) performed by Jenny Wormald

Berceuse (Brouwer) performed by John Mann

(Rondo (Purcell) duet performed by Carol Whinnom and Georgina

Senhorinha (Guinga Escoba) , Grossiennes (Satie) , Sonata 483 (Scarlatti) and Warriors Harp (Brouwer) performed by Rob Sellery

Catalan Folk Songs -Rossignol ,Plany ,La Nit De Nadal performed by Miles Roberts

Vince's sound pixies were on duty and managed to catch members performances. Click here to listen

Please note that, in some browsers, you may have to wait while the file downloads before it plays. Do not navigate away from the page while the MP3 is downloading.

Or you can right-click on the play buttons and save the file to your own PC for playback later.

Special thanks to Christine Dabrowa and Miles Roberts for their assitance with the ensembles. Thanks Vince for the splendid sounds page as well. And to Shirley for organising the purchase of the Scarlatti Sonata on behalf of the BGS. And to Trevor Pike for his support on the refreshment front!!

And so the Christmas...

Afte much discussion we have decided on an informal meeting for the Christmas program on December 12th . We want to encourage all members to bring along and play at least ONE Christmas carol as part of a solo performance, along with some nibblies and some drinks.

Simplicity is the best approach!! See you at the next Meeting

Message from Rob Sellery

2009-11-25T04:43:00.000-08:00

My friend and I both have two guitars that we want to sell and i was hoping that you could list them on the society blog page if you think it is appropriate to do so.

All the guitars are at my house in Dartford so they can be tried together.

The details are as follows:

Casimiro Lozano 2009 Cedar/Indian Rosewood (purchased in October 2009) - two tiny nail marks very hard to see - Â£ 3500 (Â£4500 new)

Mario Fernandez Aracama 2008 spruce/Indian Rosewood (purchased in December 2008) - mint condition Â£2950 (Â£3250 new)

Rolf Eichinger 2007 Bearclaw spruce/Brazilian Rosewood (purchased in August 2009 but was in the spanish guitar centre for 18 months) - mint condition - Â£3750 (Â£5500)

David Argent 2009 Cedar lattice/Brazilian Rosewood (arrived brand new in November 2009 from maker in Australia) - brand new - Â£4500 (Â£4750 new)

All guitars are available to try with no obligation to buy but are offered at a very good price!

Contact Rob at rsellery@live.co.uk

News from the Lute Society

2009-11-25T04:14:00.000-08:00

CHAMBER PLAYERS WANTED

Lute player seeks young musicians (students) from New Forest area (Southampton, Salisbury, Bournemouth) to perform Renaissance chamber music together:- viola da gamba player- singer- flute playerContact: Kate Siewiera, email: katarzynamilek76@gmail.com, tel.:07920116048.

2. JACOB HERINGMAN CLASSES AT EARLY MUSIC SHOP

By the way - I may have missed this from the LS... but Jacob Heringman will be giving lessons at the Early Music Shop in Saltaire, Bradford on December 4th and 18th.
I don't know how reservations have gone. I've booked mine at £30 for an hour. Is it worth circulating/

Alan

3. MAJOR GUITAR MUSIC SALE

Dear Musician

Morley harps in England who have been in business from 1817 and purchased the old Erard Business in London in1890 with that purchase came a library of music and music books.

We have now decided to sell , first the Guitar Music Library and I enclose x l files of some of the music, and a pdf file of some of the Etchings and prints.

The sale of Guitar music will be in February and the harp music will be 2010-2111

If you would like details of the sale , or are interested in any item please make contact

Clive Morley clive@morleyharps.com

NB The adobe file of pictures will not print out and should only be viewed on computer
21 prints / etchings

Clive Morley
Clive Morley Harps Ltd
Goodfellows
Filkins Lechlade
Gloucestershire England GL7 3 JG

4. FROLICK DATES NEXT YEAR

The Frolick announces two new dates for your 2010 diary - We hope to see you there!
Tuesday 23rd February 2010 – ‘The Frolick with Calliope’ at 22 Mansfield Street, London W1G 9NR to celebrate the launch of The Friends of The Frolick. We are delighted to be invited by Bob and Elisabeth Boas to perform at their beautiful home in London’s West End, and we hope that you will take this opportunity to join us to celebrate our Friends launch as part of their exclusive concert series. Evenings at the Boas’ are always fabulously enjoyable occasions. Drinks reception at 7pm, Music from 7.30, Drinks and conversation after the concert. For further details please email us at info@thefrolick.com

Wednesday 7th July 2010 – ‘The Frolick with Calliope’ at Buckingham Summer Festival, Radclife Centre, Church Street, Buckingham.

Further details from Buckingham Summer Festival nearer the time.

Both these concerts will feature Emma Curtis (contralto, director), Andrew Maginley (lute and baroque guitars, director), Jim O’Toole (baroque violin/folk fiddle), Frances Kelly (triple harp, celtic wire-strung harp) and Natasha Kraemer (baroque ‘cello) in an evening of frivolity, sophistication, exuberance and wit. www.thefrolick.com/AboutUs.html

The Frolick with Calliope -
In London in the 1740s, a time when society prized illusion and intrigue above all, subverting the accepted sexual system was fair game. Men with high voices ruled the stage, and cross-dressing abounded for comic affect or for survival. Londoner's have not changed so much in three-hundred years. Songs are still about the same things: Girls that are just after money; others searching for real love; a guy who wants to get a date; and even the best friend that wants to take him out to drown his sorrows. Poetry and fantasy combine with the luminous colours of original baroque instruments to create an opulent adventure in 18th-century entertainment.
If you would like to support The Frolick but are unable to join us for a performance please send an email to info@thefrolick.com

5. CORNISH LUTE CONCERT

DEC 19TH @ St Ia's Church, St Ives, Cornwall - BEN SALFIELD'S 21ST ANNIVERSARY CONCERT A special concert by Ben Salfield (lute) to celebrate 21 years of professional performances, at the venue where his career began.

The performance includes sets by Daughters of Elvin, the medieval music group, Moorish fusion trio Horsemen of the Apocalypse and classical guitar legend Andrea Dieci, who is coming out for Milan especially for the show. Tickets are £12 for adults, with accompanied under 16s FREE. Please call 01872 263170 for reservations. Thanks buddy, people here still talk of your performance at the Tolmen Symposium! Regards Ben
Ben Salfield
BMMI
PO Box 32
Truro TR1 3TZ

bensalfield@hotmail.com

6. NOT LUTES BUT FLUTES

if you happen to be free this lunchtime, Friday 27th Nov, do come to the concert given by four fab flutes,
or forward this email to amyone who might be interested. Thank you Julia Raeburn

four fab flutes ......
(Mary Ann Kernan Marianne McGhee Janice Norman Julia Raeburn)
St Johns Church Spencer Hill (St Johns Rd)
Wimbledon SW19 4NZ

Fri 27th Nov 1.00-1.45 (latest) free admission
programme includes "Jour d'ete a la Montagne" by Eugene Bozza
the wonderful foot-tapping "Gaelic Offering" quartet by Catherine McMichael
...and arrangements of other dance-pieces - e.g. Lord of the Dance and the Floral Dance

7. SHORT FILM SHOWING,

including one featuring Stephanie Feeney and her lute, tonight 25th November, 8pm, Roxy Bar and Screen, 128 Borough High St, London SE1 1LB

8. LATIN AMERICAN XMAS

Thames Valley Early Music Forum
A Latin-American Christmas
A workshop for singers and instrumentalists with Jeffrey Skidmore
Sunday 6th December 2009, 10am for 10.30 until 5.30pm
at the Drake Hall, Amersham Community Centre, Chiltern Avenue, Amersham, Bucks HP6 5AH

You are invited to our annual Christmas workshop which this time is for singers, and players of viols, violin family, cornett, sackbut, curtal, a limited number of recorders and as much plucked and keyboard continuo as possible. Pitch will be A=440. Jeffrey writes that the day will be “an exploration of the extraordinary Baroque music of Latin American with its fusion of Amero-Indian, European and African elements. We will perform in Inca and Aztec languages as well as Spanish and Latin and look at music from Mexico, Peru and Bolivia.”

Jeffrey Skidmore is well-known for exciting programming which is often challenging but always accessible. He read music at Magdalen College, Oxford, before returning to his native Birmingham to develop Ex Cathedra into the internationally-acclaimed choral group it has become today. He is a pioneer in the field of research and performance of neglected choral works of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, and has won wide acclaim in particular for his recordings of French and Latin American Baroque music with Ex Cathedra for Hyperion. He has directed the first performances of many new editions, including two French Baroque operas, Zaide by Royer and Isis by Lully. As well as concentrating on conducting and research, he is artistic director of the Early Music Programme at the Birmingham Conservatoire and a regular conductor at Dartington International Summer School as well as many workshops around the Country.

The day will start with coffee at 10.00 am and finish by 5.30 pm. Lunch is likely to be from about 12.30 until 1.45 and, as usual at our Christmas event, will be communal. You are asked to bring a contribution - to the first course if your surname starts with A to M and to the second if it starts with N to Z. You may choose to be inspired by our Latin-American theme but that isn’t essential. Please put perishable contributions in the fridge when you arrive, and leave anything that would be better kept cool in your car (if you came in one), assuming that the weather is cold. A glass of wine or juice will be provided, as will bread and butter. Please be prepared to volunteer on the catering front at some time during the day, as there will be lots to do (though the Centre has an excellent dishwasher).

Amersham Community Centre is only a few minutes walk from Amersham station. Turn right out of the station and follow the road round past the Health Centre and the library. The Community Centre is on the right almost immediately after the pedestrian crossing, and the hall is in the building on the right at the back of the car park, almost opposite the entrance. There is work on the line so those coming by train will need to catch the 9.15 to Beaconsfield from Marylebone followed by a bus, arriving at Amersham station at 10.05. Don’t forget to book to Amersham, not Beaconsfield. The return connecting bus leaves Amersham station at 5.40 pm and we will stop in time for you to catch it. Please check these times on the Chiltern Railways web site nearer the time. There is space on the form to offer or ask for a lift. Parking is free at the Community Centre and in the library car park. If you search http://www.streetmap.co.uk/ for the post code HP6 5AH you will see the Centre just underneath the arrow.

The cost will be £10 for Early Music Forum members, £12 for others. The hall is a large one, but this is likely to be a popular course so please book early to be sure of a place. Maps, receipts and acknowledgements will not be sent out unless requested with a SAE or email address. You can assume you have been accepted unless you hear to the contrary. Please send the attached form before November 21st to: Victoria Helby, 50 Sheepfold Lane, Amersham HP7 9EJ (01494 721582 not between 4 & 7 on weekdays) secretary@tvemf.org. (Please use a separate cheque if you are also applying to the baroque chamber music day.)

National Youth Guitar Ensemble of Great Britain (NYGE)

2009-11-20T08:24:00.000-08:00

NYGE is currently head hunting young talented Classical Guitarists to audition for the NYGE 2010 courses.

Are you a Guitarist who has a thirst for fun and passion for performing with others? If the answer is yes then NYGE want to hear from you.

You need to be aged 13 -18 years old on the 1st September 2010 and the equivalent standard of Grade 5 distinction or above.

If you would like to download a flyer please click on this link: NYGE Audition Flyers

Beat the rush and apply on-line today: On-line Application form

If you are unable to apply on-line then please print of a pdf application form and post to the Coordinator: Pdf Application form

Auditions will take place at the following venues:

Chethams School of Music, Manchester
10th January 2010

Royal Academy of Music, London
17th January 2010

Edgbaston High School, Birmingham
24th January 2010

Closing date: 18th December '09

Auditions are offered on a first-come-first-served basis. Please apply early to avoid disappointment.

Successful applicants are invited to attend two annual residential courses led by Musical Director Gerald Garcia, and to perform alongside world renowned musicians at prestigious festivals and concert venues.

For more information visit the NYGE website or contact the CoordinatorNYGE Coordinator: Liz Larner T. 0773 683 9134 info@nyge.co.uk www.nyge.co.uk

Julian Bream and Leo Brouwer- a Celebration

2009-11-16T10:45:00.000-08:00

Thursday 19 Nov, 10.00am Trinity College of Music Classical Guitar Day
Trinity celebrates the work of world-renowned soloist Julian Bream and the 70th birthday of composer and guitarist Leo Brouwer.

Featuring a talk by Graham Wade, two concerts of solo and ensemble music, a Masterclass by John Mills and the UK premiere of Brouwer's Guitar Concert No. 5 (Helsinki) with soloist Graham Devine.

10.30am - 11.30am

The life and work of Julian Bream and Leo Brouwer's Concerto No.5 Peacock Room, Trinity College of Music Admission free Talk given by Graham Wade

11.45am - 12.30pm

Informal Concert: A Tribute to Julian Bream

Peacock Room, Trinity College of Music .

Admission free

Trinity students perform a programme of guitar music written for Julian Bream. To include works by William Walton, Benjamin Britten, Lennox Berkeley and others.

1:10pm-2:00pm

St. Alfege’s Church - (just outside Trinity College of Music)

Trinity Guitar Orchestra Conducted by James Woodrow

Leo Brouwer – Aceria del cielo, elaire y La sonrisa – Guitar Orchestra

Heitor Villa Lobos – Bachianas Brasileiras No.9 – Guitar Orchestra

Erik Satie – Parade – Guitar Orchestra

Piazzolla – Histoire du Tango (2 movements) Guitar and Violin Duo

Leo Brouwer – El Decameron Negro Guitar Solo

Thu 19 Nov, 2.30pm - 5.30pm

Guitar Masterclass with John Mills Peacock Room, Trinity College of Music

Admission free Thu 19 Nov, 7.30pm

Trinity Chamber Orchestra Blackheath Halls, Great Hall Conducted by Nic Pendlebury

Graham Devine: Guitar

Leo Brouwer: Guitar Concerto No. 5 (Helsinki)

UK Premiere Haydn: Symphony No. 101 (Clock)

Karl Jenkins: Imagined Oceans

£8 (£5 concessions) http://www.blackheathhalls.com/

An Open Letter to BGS Members from Ian Segui, London Mandolin Society

2009-10-22T09:18:00.000-07:00

Dear Bromley Guitar Society,

Due to the success of the 2009 Festival Concert, the London Mandolin Festival returns with a new theme "Rumba and Accordion" which will see players taking part performing pieces featuring the rumba rhythm and accompanied by an Accordion soloist. The festival would like to encourage the Bromley Guitar Society to participate!

Participation in the festival not only means improvement in technique with a concert to aim against and more substantial pieces to practice but participation also means meeting like minded plucked string players from all over London, and having a lot of fun. Evidence of this can be found from just talking to players and audience members of the first festival concerts including one your members Shirley who gave positive reviews on the event. The festival requires participation from at least one member from the Bromley Guitar Society in the final concert for the Society to be mentioned in advertisements, and during the concert.

If any members wish to hear any recordings from the festival to get an idea of the music to be practiced and performed, please visit the festival website on http://londonmandolinfestival.org.uk/music.html,
the parts to practice can be downloaded from http://londonmandolinfestival.org.uk/music/guitar.zip. Any other information on the festival including rehearsal dates and venue can be found in http://londonmandolinfestival.org.uk/. Any interested players please ask them to register at londonmandolinfestival@googlemail.com.

The festival looks forward to hear from guitarists!

Ian Segui
London Mandolin Festival Organiser.

News from the Lute Society

2009-10-22T09:07:00.000-07:00

1. CONCERTS WITH MERIT STEPHANOS

Dear all
I wanted to let you know about my next concerts. None of them are in London, but if you are anywhere near the places they will happen, please do come along! I have posted links so you can have a look and below is a little blurb about the programme with The Clerks.

With all best wishes

Merit Stephanos

With JOGLARESA (http://www.joglaresa.com)
FRIDAY 23rd OCTOBER - BRIGHTON EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL
Friday 23 October, Brighton 8pm St George’s, Kemptown
Brighton Early Music Festival
http://www.bremf.org.uk/

With THE CLERKS (http://www.theclerks.co.uk/programmes_Qudduson.html )

WEDNESDAY 28th OCTOBER, CAMBRIDGE http://http://www.ncem.co.uk/
THURSDAY 29th OCTOBER, CARDIFF http://www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk/
SATURDAY 31st OCTOBER, YORK http://www.ncem.co.uk/

Qudduson – Sanctus – Holy: the word reverberates through the sacred music of East and West. In this new programme, The Clerks join three Middle Eastern singers steeped in Islamic and Christian music.
Qudduson presents Middle Eastern chant and Western polyphony side-b-yside. The ancient Syriac liturgy of Aleppo – thought to be the oldest Christian chant repertoire in the world, the Islamic music of Sufism and songs from the Coptic Egypt are set alongside chant and polyphony from the Cathedral repertories of the Western Middle Ages and Renaissance.

Repertoire includes chant from the ancient chant from the Syriac, Byzantine and Maronite tradtions, Islamic chanting and improvisation and classical songs.
Music from the European Middle Ages and early Renaissance includes Gregorian chant and organum, polyphony by Palestrina, Pierre de la Rue and Giaches de Wert and a song by John Dowland.

A special commission by Robert Saxton will combine the various vocal forces involved in Qudduson.

For Qudduson, The Clerks are joined by George Qas-Barsoum is a bass soloist at the Church of Hayy Surian in Aleppo, which was built by refugees fleeing Edessa in the 1920s. His experience and knowledge of singing the Syriac Orthodox liturgy of this ancient community, some of the oldest Christian chant in the world, is unsurpassed.

Abdul Salam Kheir (Lebanese) specialises in Muwashahat (classical Arab song) as both singer (baritone) and oud player.

Merit Ariane Stephanos is a Coptic Egyptian/German singer and composer who draws on Arabic and Western classical contemporary influences in her music.
--
merit ariane stephanos
www.myspace.com/meritariane
0044-7971-339398

2. GUITAR CONCERT THIS SUNDAY

Luigi Boccherini

Guitar Quintets

7 p.m. Sunday 25th October

St John’s Chapel, St John’s Street, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1UR

The Benavente Quintet

Judy Tarling and Ilana Cravitz – violins, Rosalind Hanson – viola
Lynden Cranham – ’cello, Peter Lay – guitar
(period instruments)

Tickets £10 (concessions £7) including wine
available from: judytarling@btinternet.com (01435 830839), Bastow’s Classics, 50 North Street, Chichester (01243 533264)
or on the door

3. SALE OF CDS ETC

James Evinson writes:

Tragedy!! I have reached the stage where I cannot keep collecting things (music, CDs and lute-related items excepted!) and am looking to find homes for a few items.

I have a small pile of back issues of "Early Music News" magazines, dating from July/Aug '99 to Oct '03 (the last issue). Primarily news about the Early Music world and comprehensive UK-wide concert listings, each issue is around 12-16 pages. They are hole-punched for filing purposes (a handy A4 size), but otherwise in perfect condition. If anyone would like them for their archive, I will let them go to a good home for the price of postage & packing.

In addition to the above, I have a number of duplicate Lute CDs, from the time when I thought it might be a good idea to have a selection available for sale at Lute Society meetings. The lute world is much wider than just those who attend meetings, so CG has kindly consented to circulate the list of what I have available to all LS members. All are new, most (but not all) are still cellophane-wrapped. I will deal with all enquiries democratically on a "first come/first served" basis, although I do have some duplicates.

Cost would be £5 per CD, plus postage (£1 UK / £2 Europe / £3 USA & everywhere else). I can accept cheque (£ sterling), paypal (james_evinson@hotmail.com) or simply bring cash to the next Lute Society meeting.

Finally, if anyone is looking for a specific recording not on the list below, please drop me a line with details and I will let you know if/where I find a copy available.

CD Recordings for sale

NAXOS

Dowland - Consort Music & Songs (Rose Consort/Catherine King / Herringman) 8.55326, 1997

Weiss - Sonatas for Lute Vol 2, no's 5, 25, 50, (Robert Barto) 8.553988, 1999

Weiss - Sonatas for Lute Vol. 3, no's 2, 27 & 35 (Robert Barto) 8.554350, 1999

Weiss - Sonatas for Lute, vol. 4, no's 21, 37 & 46 ((Robert Barto_) 8.554557, 2001

Music of the Italian Renaissance (Shirley Rumsey) 8.550615, 1994

Music of the Spanish Renaissance (Shirley Rumsey) 8.550614, 1993

da Milano, Fantasias, Ricercars & Duets (C. Wilson / S. Rumsey) 8.550774, 1994

Holborne / Robinson, Pavans & Galliards for Lutes (C. Wilson / S. Rumsey) 8.553874, 1998

German Lute Songs (Martin Hummel, bar. / Karl-Ernst Schroder, Lute) 8.55935, 2002

Harmonia Mundi

Baroque Lute Music vol. 1, GG Kapsberger (Paul O'Dette) HCX 3957020, 2001 (reissue)

Baroque Lute Music vol. 2, da Milano, Borrono, lo'Aquila & de Rippe (Paul O'Dette) HCX 3957043, 2001 (reissue)

EMI Classics

Lautengalanterie - Falckenhagen, Baron, Hagen (Anthony Bailes), 8 26520, 2000 (reissue of 1979 recording to CD)

Lautenmusik von S.L. Weiss (Hopkinson Smith), 8 26513, 2000 (reissue of 1978 recording to CD)

Everything Else

European Lute Music (single CD selection from 4-CD set). (Konrad Rogossnig) Eloquence, DG 469 679-2

Varietie of lute-lessons (Lutz Kirchhof) - Sony, Seon SKB 60098, 1998 (reissue of 1982 recording)

Bach on the Lute, vol. II - BWV 1006, 1003 & 1005 (Nigel North) - Linn Records, CKD 029, 1994

Greensleeves, A Collection of English Lute Songs (Julianne Baird/Ronn McFarlane) - Dorian DOR 90126, 1989

The Mad Lover (works by Blow, Lawes, Boyce, Parry, etc) (Evelyn Tubb, sop./Frances Kelly, triple harp). Musica Obscura 070987, 1993

Nutmeg & Ginger, Spicy ballads from Shakespeare's London (Musicians of the Globe/Pickett) Philips, 456 507-2, 1999.

Meeting Saturday 17th October

2009-10-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

After a heavy session of culinary over indulgence at a Thai restaurant (its all Mae Pings fault!!- the food was delicious!!), your correspondent managed to 'roll up' (literally) with guitar and sundries to St Marks for a brisk aerobic workout for the fingers and the ear.

Ray Butcher (the Lord Coe of the ensemble aerobics) took as all through our paces with a bash at the Drunken Sailor, followed by a reprise of our Federation Guitar Society Hit- that's right...I am referring to our old buddy Mr De Witt which was a ploy to get us ready for the main act- Scarlatti's Sonata in D for four guitars. This nifty little number is a major challenge, especially if you have been allocated the part for Guitar 1 where you suddenly have to pay a LOT of attention to all the notes around the 8th to the 12th fret.

But Ray was kind. We only have to get this one ready for the Beckenham Festival for 2010 which is just as well as it will take your correspondent up to 12 months just to make a decent stab at it!!

To lighten the mood a little, Christine Dabrowa kindly brought along a lovely little piece (Ronde) by Pieter Van Der Stack for four guitars. We'll add this to our repertoire for next year's festival as well.

We were entertained with a number of Solos from members as well.

John Mann reprised his performance of Sonatina from Masterclass. Rob Sellery played some wonderful Brouwer pieces while Tom Rimmer gave a tribute to Turlogh O'Carolan with Planxty Irwin, followed by a duet of easy Sor pieces with Rick Frenkel. Unfortunately we have no sound files or photos (damm)- in fact we have been a bit remiss in this area lately- I'll make sure that we have something ready for the next meeting.

It was a great evening as one normally expects. Special thanks to Shirley Russell for stepping in to take on Trevor's role as BGS 'Quartermaster' of refreshments (Or should that be Quartermistress???...no don't go there Andrew!!)

We were missing our erst while chairman who is rumoured to be wandering around the Bulgarian Countryside somewhere with a guitar in one hand and a bottle in the other. However we are confident that Theresa will keep an eye on him to make sure that he behaves! Hopefully we will see him emerge at the December meeting!!

Unfortunately Ray won't be available to lead us with ensembles at the next meeting as he has another commitment (and no, the rumour that he is in despair at our last performance is not true!!). However, Christine has kindly offered to step in and lead the ensemble practice for November.

Don't forget to keep February free as the Wealden Guitar Society will be entertaining us with some guitar performances

Vida Guitar Quartet Concert

2009-10-16T01:29:00.000-07:00

Received this message from Stephen Hatfield

Dear Andrew,
Just to let you know a bit late about this concert at Bradbourne House, East Malling ME19 6DZ,
at 8 p.m. on Thursday 22nd October. It is a lovely venue, where we have concerts once a month.
I attach a programme.
Best wishes,
Stephen

Here is the programme for The VIDA Guitar quartet concert.
We are very lucky to get four of Englands best guitarists.
I hope you can all make it. Don't forget your friends.

VIDA GUITAR QUARTET - Mark Ashford, Mark Eden, Helen Sanderson, Christopher Stell

Paulo Bellinati (b. 1950)
Baião de Gude
Joaquín Turina (1882-1949)
La oración del torero (The Prayer of the Bullfighter) Op.34 (arr. Colin Downs)
Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)
El amor brujo (Love, the Magician) (arr. Mark Eden)

INTERVAL
Pierre Attaingnant (c. 1494 – c.1551)
Six Dances (arr. Colin Downs)
Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)
from El sombrero de tres picos (from The Three-Cornered Hat) (arr. Mark Ashford)
The Neighbours’ Dance
Dance of the Corregidor
The Miller’s Dance
Georges Bizet (1838 - 1875)
Carmen Suite (arr. William Kanengiser)
Aragonaise
Habanera
Seguidilla
Toreadors
Entr’acte
Gypsy Dance

VIDA GUITAR QUARTET
The VIDA Guitar Quartet brings together four guitarists of exceptional artistry who share a passion for chamber music. After their debut at the World Youth Guitar Festival in 2007, the Quartet have rapidly gained a reputation as one of the most dynamic guitar ensembles in the UK, performing at venues including Kings Place (London), the Sage (Gateshead), St George’s (Bristol) and other events such as London Guitar Festival in the Fall, Bath International Guitar Festival, Dilllington Guitar Festival, and Winchester Guitar Festival.

Mark Ashford is an internationally renowned performer and teacher. A former scholarship student at both Chetham’s School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, Mark finished his studies with the eminent guitarist David Russell in Vigo, Spain. He is a prize winner at many national and international competitions including the Guitar Foundation of America, Alessandria International Guitar Competition, Scandinavian International Guitar Competition, Julian Bream Prize, and BBC Radio 2 Young Musician. He has performed as a soloist at major concert halls including, the Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, Bridgewater Hall, Queens Hall (Edinburgh), St George’s Bristol and the Guildhall London. Mark’s latest solo CD is of Rodrigo’s ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’ recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Nicholas Cleobury. He teaches at the Birmingham Conservatoire of Music and in 2003 was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music for his achievements in the music profession.

Mark Eden and Christopher Stell are well known as the Eden Stell Guitar Duo, one of the most innovative guitar ensembles in the world. They formed in 1990 whilst studying at the Royal Academy of Music, and continued their studies with Sérgio and Odair Assad in Brussels. The duo’s career was launched auspiciously as winners of both the South East Young Musicians Platform and the Park Lane Group young artist concert series. Since then they have gone on to record eight CDs on the BGS, Docker and Hänssler Classic labels, their latest ‘Music for an Island’ BGS117 is a multimedia CD. Mark and Christopher have perform in over 20 countries at venues including London’s Wigmore Hall and Southbank Centre and Germany’s Stuttgart and Beethoven Halle. Concerto engagements have included performances with renowned ensembles such as the Prague Chamber Orchestra, and the duo are the only guitarists since Julian Bream to receive an ‘Editor’s Choice’ in Gramophone Magazine. They hold teaching positions at the Royal College of Music, Birmingham Conservatoire and Guildhall School of Music and Drama Junior department, and give classes in other music academies and guitar festivals all over the world. They were elected Associates of the Royal Academy of Music in recognition of their performing achievements and are D’Addario strings sponsored artists.

Helen Sanderson studied guitar at the Royal College of Music with Charles Ramirez, graduating with both the Madeline Walton prize for guitar and the prestigious Anthony Saltmarsh Bursary. Her active concert career has included concerts at major international guitar festivals and recitals at the Purcell Room, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Barbican Hall, the Academy of Arts (Berlin), the British Embassy in Vienna, Bath International Guitar Festival and Winchester Guitar Festival. In addition to her solo performances, Helen is also much in demand as an adjudicator, recording artist and accompanist for voice and guitar repertoire, working in partnerships with Mark Wilde (tenor) ‘Ancient Melodies’ (Docker Records), Susan Legg (mezzo-soprano), and the eminent countertenor James Bowman.

‘Love, the Magician’ (BGS118) is the VIDA Guitar Quartet’s debut CD recording with the BGS label with a programme of distinctly Andalucian flavour.
VIDA Guitar Quartet play D'Addario strings.

www.vidagq.com
You can download photos of VIDA from our website at www.vidagq.com
just go to PRESS PACK and choose your image.

Have a listen here

Message from William Beauvais

2009-10-09T08:13:00.000-07:00

I am a classical guitarist from Toronto, Ontario, Canada and will be doing a private concert in Gravesend as noted below. There is still room for a couple of people so if anyone from your environs is interested please have them e mail me @ william_beauvais@hotmail.commuch oof the music that will be performed is on the my space which is noted below as well.

http://home.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user&MyToken=d016a278-4def-4146-8d5a-c8884917809e

Tuesday 13th October from 7pm onwards.
The Rum Puncheon Pub
87 West Street
Gravesend
DA11 0BL

Thank you,William Beauvais

BGSTV presents 'Off the Rails' with Will Punter!

2009-10-01T05:33:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to publish BGS member Will Punter's first composition 'Off the Rails'. It is a truly evocative piece with some influences from Andy McKee, Gary Ryan and others. Will has put together a performance of the piece which is truly awesome!

Listen to it here !!

You can download the music by visiting this link.

Now here is a challenge for BGS Members....A bottle of wine for any member who can play this piece for the Christmas Party in December! That should give you all some time to practice!!

News from the Lute Society

2009-10-01T05:20:00.000-07:00

1.CONCERT IN YORKSHIRE

Could you please let members know of the following concert...
7.30pm Saturday 3rd October 2009Lastingham Church, Nr. Helmsley, North Yorkshire (a truly beautiful 13thcentury church with Norman crypt and wonderful acoustics).

Dante Ferrara on lute, citterns, orpharion, colascione and hurdy-gurdyincluding works by F. da Milano, Molinaro, Kapsberger, Dowland, Johnson,Holborne, Purcell. With guests Mike Sargeant on recorders, crumhorns andvarious pipes and Richard Haynes on baroque hurdy-gurdy.

Admission free - donations in aid of church fund.

2. CONCERT IN LONDON

This Sunday – 4 October 2009 – at 5pm

The Lantana Ensemble
Monteverdi and his World
Directed from the keyboard by Peter Holman

St. Mary’s Church, Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 9ES

Music from Orfeo and Il Ballo delle Ingrate
Settings by Monteverdi and Rosenmüller of Confitebor tibi, Domine
Instrumental music by Rosenmüller, Cavalli, Legrenzi and Marini

Performed by: Rebecca Hickey (soprano); Judy Tarling, Ilana Cravitz (baroque violin); David Brooker, Zen Edwards (baroque viola); Amelie Addison (baroque cello).

Tickets: £12, £8 concs on the door. Discount advance online tickets £10 at http://www.ilanacravitz.com/shop.html

Transport: The church is opposite Clissold Park. Bus 393 passes the church & 73 (from Angel tube) and 476 within 25 yards. Note that Stoke Newington Church Street is currently one way (east-west) so diversions are in operation. Ask the bus driver if it’s best to get off at the last stop on Albion Road. Close to Stoke Newington railway station (Liverpool Street-Enfield line).

Nearest tubes with bus connections: Manor House (bus 141 or 341 southwards); Finsbury Park (bus 106) ; Highbury & Islington (bus 393 to Clapton).

3. XMAS LUTE SONGS FROM JAMES BOWMAN

Green Growth the Holly
James Bowman and Dot Linnell perform Elizabethan Xmas music for lute and countertenor
St Catherine’s Church, Houghton on the Hill, LE7 9GD
2nd December at 7.45
Tickets £12 from roger@cigol.com or 01162 412849

CLASSICAL GUITARISTS WANTED FOR ENSEMBLE

2009-09-30T02:50:00.001-07:00

The Bromley based Widmore Guitar Ensemble is looking for new members.

The current group consists of 9 adults (grade 2-8) who rehearse on Tuesday evenings during term time from 7.30-9.30pm under the direction of guitarist Paul Brown.

The group plays a wide range of music encompassing classical, Spanish, jazz, renaissance, popular and much more, performing in a few local concerts and festivals each year. Membership fees are typically £150 - £190 per year depending on costs.

If you are interested in knowing more, or would like the ensemble to perform at your local event, please contact Paul Brown on 01689 852194.

Saturday 19th Sept Gary Ryan Masterclass

2009-09-21T12:49:00.000-07:00

It was, with a great deal of nerves, that your correspondent trudged his way to St Marks last Saturday to take part in the Gary Ryan Masterclass. This was a far greater challenge than the usual 'pluck and strum' that normally takes place each month. Tonight the focus would be on just the five of us....in front of an audience. No pressure then!!

How was it going to go? Will I make a complete hash? Or will I get away with it...

I am sure that all these thoughts were roaming around the minds of each participant as we took our turns at the podium with Gary. And we needn't have worried. The warmth and humour that is generally characteristic of Gary's classes was well evident in his comments and advice to each of us. We were all put at our ease and, for my part, it was a great opportunity to gain a greater insight into my own technique as well as learning more about the music and the performance. It never ceases to amaze me how Gary can take a piece that he has just seen for the first time and play it flawlessly. Not only is he a great performer but an excellent teacher!

We had a terrific range of excellent and complex pieces such as Cardosa's Milonga (performed by Steve Pearson); Tarregga's Cappricio Arabe performed by Christine Dabrowa; Bach's Presto performed by Dave Hampton; Bogdanovich's Cantelina (Levantine Suite) performed by your correspondent and an ambitious performance of Torroba's Allegretto (Sonatina) by John Mann.

As usual our Chairman and Master of Ceremonies, Den Stockton carried out the necessary introductions with great aplomb and our audience were terrific in their support and appreciation. It was great fun and I definitely would recommend it to any member who is keen to improve their technique.

Thanks again Gary.

Once more thanks again to Trevor for organising the refreshments.

ARANJUEZ MON AMOUR

2009-09-15T02:13:00.000-07:00

"The life and music of Joaquín Rodrigo in his own words" narrated by Cecilia Rodrigo with Carlos Bonell, guitar script compiled by Carlos Bonell

UK TOUR 7 – 11 OCTOBER
INCLUDES BURY ST EDMUNDS, CAMBRIDGE, ISLE OF JERSEY, LONDON AND NORWICH.

FULL DETAILS FOR ALL VENUES BELOW.

LONDON DATE:
Wednesday 7 October 7.30pmCanning House, 2 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8PJ

ARANJUEZ MON AMOUR
"The life and music of Joaquín Rodrigo in his own words"

Programme note:
Cecilia Rodrigo introduces and reads a fascinating collection of letters and essays
written by her father, composer Joaquin Rodrigo. No guitar work has enjoyed greater popularity than his Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar and orchestra, which is widely regarded as the most popular concerto written for any instrument in the 20th century. Together with Carlos Bonell playing music by Falla, Sanz, Sainz de la Maza and Rodrigo himself, the presentation will include letters to some of Spain's leading artists of the last century, including to Segovia, Mompou, and Manuel de Falla, and his future wife Victoria K. The letters reveal a personal and artistic struggle to find success and satisfaction, and are a vivid evocation of the turbulent times which Joaquin Rodrigo's long life (1901-1999) encompassed.

Music includes:
By Joaquín Rodrigo:

Sarabanda Lejana
Fandango (from 3 piezas españolas)
Sonata a la española
Ya se van los pastores arr J. Rodrigo
Pequeña Sevillana
En los trigales
Theme from Adagio from Concierto de Aranjuez

By Regino Sainz de la Maza:

Peterneras

By Gaspar Sanz (1660-1720) :

Selection of pieces that inspired la Fantasia para un Gentilhombre

By Manuel de Falla (1876-1946):
Homenaje a Debussy

TOUR DATES

Wednesday 7 October7.30pm

Canning House, 2 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8PJ
Starting time of concert: 7.30pm
Box office telephone: 020 72352303 ext. 222

Information email address and/or www site: www.canninghouse.com/content/culture/events/ http://www.canninghouse.com/content/culture/events/

Thursday 8 October 8pm
Venue: St. James
Jersey Arts Centre. Phillips Street, St. Helier, Jersey JE2 4SW
01534 700444
http://www.artscentre.je/

9 October
7.0 for 7.30pm
The Conservatory
7 Grange Road, Cambridge CB3 9AS
Contact Becky Cawdry at Camsight (01223 420033), or email becky@camsight.org.uk, or send a cheque with a s.a.e. to her at Camsight, 167 Green End Road, Cambridge CB4 1RW

10 October
7.30pm
Taverham Hall,
Norwich
NR8 6HU
Box Office: Elkin Music 01603 666332

Sunday 11 Oct
4.30pmBartonmere Farmhouse,
Great Barton,
Bury St Edmunds,
Suffolk,
IP31 2PH

Box office telephone:
07805 347744Information email address:isabellaalston@mac.com