Federation Guitar Societies Annual General Pluck 'n Strum!!

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!

Federation Guitar Societies Annual Conference

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

And a message from the Butcher of Enfield!!

Received the following email from Ray Butcher (Enfield Guitar Society:

NOW ON YOUTUBE.

For your amusement the student concert at the Dillington summer school which (that) I attended at the beginning of August.

Diabolo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtntybMz1KM

Or would you like a comparison for the first movement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1hE8U8yWX0
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZJqlTKITzk
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnF3QiYmyow

Lair
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUmL5HPD0k4

Daemon Dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK5wBu9RIfY

Tower of Echoes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uzETcRdmGI


Diabolo Final Confrontation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLrOaZynxxU


Pachelbel's Canon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmRZS9JCvjo

Albinoni Adagio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x77WPY8r9JM

Clock Shop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fY0Zcwywc4

Un Echo d'Amerique du Sudr
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StyYlwSyZFU


This is the result of 5 days hard graft. If you would like to advertise on your respective sites, webpages and members to see what they have missed. I will be eternally grateful.

Ray"

And we have done so Ray!!

Federation Guitar Societies Concert Updates

Recital by Amanda Cook
Saturday 26th September 2009 at 7:30pm
Bognor Regis West Sussex

Recital Hall, 46 Sudley Road, Bognor Regis PO21 1ER

Admission: £12, (£8 members), full-time students half price, under 16 free.

Amanda Cook's highly acclaimed performances are noted for their sensitive musicality, fluid technique, and her ability to draw the audience in to her musical world. She has won numerous international prizes and has performed and given masterclasses in the USA , South America and throughout Europe.

01243 866462

Web site - www.westsussexguitar.com/opus85.html

West Sussex Guitar Club

BGS TV Presents... Guitar Federation Day 2009 at Enfield

A souvenir from last Sunday!

Gabriellis' Canzona




Schubert's Marche Militaire




Conducted by Cornelius Bruinsma

Special Thanks to Ray Butcher for the film!

Meeting :Federation of Guitar Societies Sunday 28th July

Well the Highlands Village Hall in Enfield, reverberated from the sounds of many a pluck and strum on Sunday!!

Eight intrepid souls from the Bromley Guitar Society found themselves in good company with players from Enfield, Richmond, Dorset, North Bucks, Greenwood and Southhampton Guitar Socities for one of the biggest ensemble performances that your correspondent here can remember for a hell of a long time.

All the hard work that Ray put in preparing us for this day paid off nicely. I can safely say that Bromley members managed to start when they should and finish when they should which, as the late Sir Thomas Beecham would say, is all you want in an ensemble performance! What happens in between is irrelevant! (His words not mine!!)

Cornelius Bruinsma had the rather unenviable task of leading this rather large contingent of players to play together (and in tune!! No small feat!!). He accomplished this with great humour and patience. We started the session with some warm up exercises and then launched straight into the Byrd's La Volta which, for some of us, was a bit of a surprise as we only received the music a minute before hand but, even more surprisingly for your correspondent, it worked really well!! By now, feeling more emboldened, so we launched into Gabrielli's Canzona, a piece that has a few interesting traps for the unwary and I think we were all amazed by how heroically it actually went. Especially when you consider our experiences with this piece in previous BGS meetings!

Then it was onto our nemesis, Schubert's Marche Militaire, another composition with a few hidden traps included. There were a couple of occasions where I had to indulge in a little bit of 'air guitar' but they weren't very often. Playing with such a large group does have the benefits of hiding your mistakes at times.

After a hearty lunch break it was time for all the societies to present their own contributions- no where to hide now! Led by our intrepid chairman Den, we made a brave and successful bash at Mr De Witts Sonata from the Entree, Main course (Minuet 1 and 2) and Afters (Bouree and even the dreaded Sarabande)

Tom, John, Vince, Shirley, Jenny and Trevor did the BGS really proud with their performance! Hopefully when Vince's sound pixies have digitised the recordings we'll have it on the web site so you can hear it for yourself.

The other societies provided a wonderful and eclectic selection of ensemble performances which was appreciated by everyone present.

Events like this don't happen by themselves. A lot of work is done behind the scenes and I can safely say that Enfield GS did a truly fantastic job both in organising the venue and the catering of drinks and meals for hungry and thirsty guitarists. A special thanks should go the Ray Butcher for all his work- not just with the organisation of the day, but for all his work and support for us in Bromley. Without Ray's cajoling and encouragement, we would probably have not been in contention let alone delivering a great performance.

In all the rush up to the day, I was hoping to have some photos and even another video of the event but certain domestic events intervened and unfortunately I had no time to get cameras ready. I understand that lots of photos were taken on the day so we will try to get these put on site. They should be available on the Federation of Guitar Societies Web Site.

No doubt there will be more Post Mortems!! Keep them for the Meeting on the 18th July! See you then!

Federation Guitar Societies Annual Conference

The next Annual Conference of the FGS will be hosted by Enfield Classical Guitar Society on the 28 June 2009.


The venue is Highlands Village Hall, 5 Florey Square, Winchmore Hill, London, N21 1UJ (adjacent to Sainsbury’s car park). (See the blog site for a map and further travel information)

Nearest Station : Grange Park
British Rail from Liverpool street Station and Oakwood on Piccadilly line underground


Click here for Map


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.