Saturday 20th March 2011

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

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

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.

Saturday June 19th Reminder!!

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