Saturday 2 November 2013

Last post

OK, first up: Lillian Boutté on 12th Nov is SOLD OUT.  Call 01628 486227 if you want to go on the waiting list, but there will be NO TICKETS ON THE DOOR other than prebooked collections.

Second, if that has disappointed you, then why not come to our wonderful Autumn Serenade on November 23rd.  For full details see the poster below, then call to book your place!

And last but by no means least, we have a NEW WEBSITE.  So this blog is going to come to an end.  For all future events, and the archive of previous photos etc, go to www.musicinmarlow.org.uk



Tuesday 8 October 2013

Yes, she's back!

Lillian Boutté returns on 12th November, with Denny Ilet Jnr, Dan Moore, Andy Crowdy and Daisy Palmer.  

We know this is going to be FANTASTIC again!  Need I say more?  Only this - tickets are selling fast so CALL NOW on 01628 486227 before it's too late. Miss it and you'll regret it!


Blown away


Soundforce Big Band swung their stuff in fine style at Christ Church on Sunday night, with a programme largely although not exclusively from the classic repertoire of the golden era of swing.  From the first notes of Strike up the Band to a brilliant close with Jools Holland's arrangement of Tuxedo Junction, the 17-piece ensemble was directed by Keith Pocock and delivered the even blend of sound so characteristic of the style.  There were some fine solos too, among which Carolynn's clarinet interventions were notable, although a greater willingness from some of the soloists to really stand out would bring their performances more to life.



No shyness problem with the singers, with Lea delivering her diva best on several numbers and Mick doing it his way with a fair impression of Sinatra on others.  MC for the evening was Trevor, who laid on the cheese pretty thick at times.  That's just a matter of taste, of course, but it was unfortunate that he seemed to take it into his head that the audience was entirely from the U3A, which must have bewildered those who had no idea what he was talking about (for the record, we presented this concert in association with the U3A but by no means exclusively for their members!).  

A special mention should go to Richard on the sound desk.  When I saw the quantity of kit he hauled into the church I was seriously worried that the audience would need earplugs.  In fact he used the microphones very subtly to bring up the solos and ensure a good balance, rather than to amplify the overall sound.  Top marks!

More photos on the second tab above.

Soundforce will be back in Marlow at the end of November: if you missed them at Christ Church you could catch them at the Crowne Plaza.  See www.soundforcebigband.org.uk for more details.

Thursday 26 September 2013

Strike up the band!

Soundforce Big Band, that is.  My foot is tapping already in anticipation of their gig with us on Sunday October 6th.  See the poster below:


A great result from a very enjoyable evening

Big thanks to Mary and Clare for their recital last Saturday.  A very appreciative audience enjoyed a nicely varied mix of composers and styles from both pianists.  They opened and closed with "piano four hands" duets, always a crowd-pleaser, and in between alternated at the keyboard to give us Beethoven, Grieg, Haydn and more - with my own favourite being Mary's lovely performance of Handel's Suite in G Minor.

Thanks to a very good turn-out and the generosity of the audience, a cheque for £350 will be on its way shortly to Myeloma UK, the cause which Mary and Clare were supporting.  And there will also be a contribution to the church's piano fund, for which we are very grateful.

Here are a few pictures of Mary Daniels and Clare Mayo in action:










Saturday 7 September 2013

One piano, two pianists, and a very good cause

Mary Daniels and Clare Mayo are preparing for their piano recital at Christ Church on Saturday September 21st.  It promises to be another excellent evening and it is also in support of the charity Myeloma UK.  What we need now is a good audience! - ticket sales so far have been slow and I do hope many more will want to hear this concert.


The programme has just been confirmed so here are the details:

1. Mozart sonata in D major K.381 (duet)
2. Debussy Reverie (Clare)
3. Longing for home op.57 no.6 (Mary)
4. Humoreske op.6 no.3 (Mary)
5. Beethoven Sonata in F minor op.2 no.1 - mvt.1 Allegro & mvt.2 Adagio (Clare)
6. Debussy Danse (Tarantelle Styrienne) (Mary)
 
interval
 
7. Scarlatti sonata in D major K.512 (Clare)
8. Scarlatti sonata in E major K.163 (Clare)
9. Grieg Notturno op.54 no.4 (Mary)
10. Grieg Puck op.71 no.3 (Mary)
11. Einaudi Le Onde (Clare)
12. Handel Suite in G minor HWV.432 (Mary)
13. Chopin Nocturne in Eb major op.9 no.2 (Clare)
14. Haydn Variations in F minor (Mary)
15. Moskowski From Foreign Parts - Russia (duet)


Something there for everyone, surely?!  So call on 01628 486227 to book your tickets now.



Sunday 18 August 2013

Season of Mists and Great Music!

Our 2013 autumn season leaflet is now out and we are in for some more wonderful concerts this year.

The details are reproduced below but if you'd like some copies of the printed leaflet just drop us an email and we'll send some over, especially if perhaps you can help by handing these out to your friends or fellow musicians!

The season opens on 21st September when two very talented local musicians, Mary Daniels and Clare Mayo, will be giving a piano recital in aid of Myeloma UK.  

More details of the programme have just reached us.  It will include Reverie and Tarantelle by Debussy, a Chopin Nocturne in E flat, two Scarlatti sonatas, Haydn Variations in F minor, Handel Suite in G minor, 4 pieces by Grieg and Le Onde by Einaudi.  If that wasn't enough, Mary and Clare will also play a couple of duets (piano four hands).  Sounds fabulous! - so phone 01628 486227 to book your tickets in advance.





Sunday 16 June 2013

A first class return


Carlina Carr returned to Christ Church on Saturday (see earlier post for her previous visit), this time with cellist Ian Burdge.  And a first class return it certainly was, hugely appreciated by our audience.

The programme comprised sonatas by Beethoven, Debussy and Brahms.  The Beethoven was played with great delicacy and precision, bringing out beautifully the character of a work which at times seems to look back to the earlier classical age of Mozart and Haydn while yet being unmistakably romantic in character.  The Brahms sonata with which the evening finished is much lusher in texture and here the tone of Ian's late 18th century cello was simply delicious!

In between came Debussy's sonata from 1915, for me the highlight of the evening.  It is one of his last works, written as he was dying from cancer and against the backdrop of the First World War.  Again it nods to the past, in this case the French school of Rameau and his contemporaries.  But the soundscape is very modern indeed, showing Debussy even at the end of his life pushing tonality to the very limit and striving for a new form of expression.  Astonishing music!

So thanks to Ian and Carlina, and as usual there are more photos on the second tab (above).








Saturday 25 May 2013

Last but by no means least

The last concert in our 2013 spring season will be on Saturday 15th June and it will be a finale of the very top quality.  We welcome back Canadian-born pianist Carlina Carr who played at Christ Church last year, and she is partnered this time by cellist Ian Burdge.  The programme includes three wonderful cello sonatas, as shown on the flyer below.  Call 01628 486227 now for tickets, and come and join us for another evening of magical music-making in Marlow!



Wednesday 15 May 2013

Triple Magic


Robin Ward's recital on Sunday gave us the triple pleasure of hearing not just one but three harps, all made by Robin himself.  The picture shows him playing his speciality, the triple harp (so named as it has three banks of strings but no pedals).  But at times he switched also to the lever harp and to a metal-stringed instrument, explaining the features of each and demonstrating their varying sounds.

As a fan of Spanish music, I much enjoyed Robin's "borrowing" of guitar and piano works by Tarrega and Albeniz, but there was plenty too for lovers of earlier periods, including arrangements of John Dowland, and of course for connoisseurs of "real" harp music by Turlough O'Carolan and others.  The name Sophia Corri (or Sophia Dussek) was a new one to me, and there cannot have been many Italian-Scottish women harpists in any period, but Robin's combination of three movements by her into a "Sonata Bastarda" was a delight.  As was the whole afternoon, including the interval cakes - so many thanks to Robin, our audience, and of course the cooks!

See the second tab for more photos.



Sunday 5 May 2013

What could be better...?

A spring Sunday afternoon, tea and cakes ready for the interval, and a beautiful programme of harp music.  What could be better?  Perhaps knowing that it's all in a good cause?  Well, next Sunday's recital by Robin Ward will tick all of those boxes.  So call 01628 486227 NOW to reserve your ticket!

Here's the programme which we received recently and which spans a wide range of music from both folk and classical traditions:


Aileen Aroon – John Parry (1710-1782)
David of the White Rock – John Parry
The Rising Lark – Edward Jones (1796)

Pavan Lachrimae – John Dowland (1563-1626)
Can she excuse – John Dowland

Capricio Arabe – Francisco Tarrega (1854 – 1909)

Sonata – Jean-Baptiste Cardon (1760 – 1803)
Allegro, Rondo

Si Beg Si Mor– Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738)
Sir Festus Burke – Turlough O’Carolan

Interval 

Sonata Bastada – Sophia Corri (1775-1847)
Allegro maestoso, Farewell to Lochaber, Rondo-Caledonian Hunt

General Leslys godnight – Wemyss Lute Book (c1645)
Lady Iveah – Thomas Connelan (c1640 – 1698)
The Hawke of Ballyshannon – Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738)

Miss Hamilton – Cornelius Lyons (c1680-1750)
Sir Thomas Burke – Turlough O’Carolan

La Catedral – Agustin Barrios Mangore (1885 – 1944)
Preludio Saudade, Andante religioso, Allegro Solemne

Leyenda – Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909)

CONCERT IN SUPPORT OF CHRISTIAN AID

 concert marlow music classical harp 

Saturday 27 April 2013

No fakin' required!


Lenore Raphael is playing just five gigs on her current UK tour, which puts last night concert at Christ Church right up there with the Bull's Head at Barnes and Steinway Hall in London.  So it was a great privilege to have her play for us and the near-capacity audience loved it.

In Jeremy Clarkson style: "If this gig was a cake, what sort of cake would it be?"  Well, the music certainly wasn't one of your gran's fruit cakes, a bit dry to swallow and with the risk of unexpected hard lumps.  And it wasn't Krispy Kreme jazz, bulked up with enough corn fructose to make your teeth hurt.  Nor was it a straight-laced Victoria sponge on a paper doily...  Nope, if this gig was a cake it would have to be the perfect American cupcake: beautifully textured, melt-in-the-mouth, and with the sort of icing keeps you coming back for more.  Yum!

The tunes were mainly of the kind which those of us of a certain age call "familiar".  Gershwin got a look-in, as did Jerome Kern, Rodgers & Hammerstein - and Duke Ellington, of course.  For Michael Eagleton of the Marlow Jazz Club there was an extra cherry in the shape of Charlie Parker's "Confirmation".  And the evening was rounded off, as Lenore's performances always are, with her own "Blues for O.P."  Terrific stuff, all of it.  But perhaps best were a delightful version of "It might as well be spring" and a peachy "Georgia on my Mind", both of which showed off to perfection Lenore's gentle delicacy of touch, well suited by our Bechstein piano.  



On the drums, Peter Ingram is no pixie (as I heard one of the audience whisper, "He looks like he could fall off the stool at any moment") but he never threatened to overshadow the piano and some deft touches of gentle subtlety drew smiles and chuckles from the appreciative crowd.  Behind, Dave Green's bass was simply sublime: his solo in "Georgia" was a lyrical mini-masterpiece and rightly acclaimed with applause. Hard to believe that he had never played with Lenore before!

Lenore herself told an anecdote of how she met her great inspiration, Oscar Peterson, on a jazz cruise.  Oscar's huge hands could stretch a twelfth (an octave and a half) while Lenore says she struggles to manage a tenth.  She asked the great man for any practical advice he might have.  "Fake it", he replied.  Well, there was no fakin' required last night and the enthusiasm of the audience was certainly for real.

So, another great evening of jazz at Christ Church.  Thanks to the stars and thanks to Michael and the Jazz Club for their huge support.  And a special mention for Elliot, for loan of the drum kit!  More pics on the second tab (at the top of the page).





Monday 22 April 2013

Looking like another full house

Lenore Raphael plays for us THIS FRIDAY, 26th April.  See below and also previous postings for details of this and our other spring events.

It's sure to be a really good gig and we are going to have another near-capacity audience, judging by advance ticket sales.  There should be SOME tickets on the door but to be sure of your seat call 01628 486227 as soon as possible!

Tickets are also available NOW for the Robin Ward concert in May, as featured in the Wycombe Arts Festival.  Or if you call this week you can still buy a season ticket for Lenore, Robin, and the cello/piano recital in June.  Don't delay!


Monday 25 March 2013

Is this spring, then?



Having announced that our "spring season" would start with the Borlase Gospel Choir on 23rd March, the music is living up to expectations but so far the weather isn't exactly playing ball!  Never mind: spring or not, the girls were lovely and got our new season off to a fine start.  Many thanks.

Now we're looking forward to the visit of Lenore Raphael from the US on April 26th.  This is certain to be another great gig with Lenore on piano, Peter Ingram on drums and Dave Green on bass.  I know there is much interest from the Marlow Jazz Club, with whom we have teamed up to bring you this event, so CALL NOW FOR TICKETS!  (01628 486227.  Tickets £10 - or £24 for a season ticket to the next THREE concerts)

Also a pleasure yesterday to make the acquaintance of Geoff Cronin who runs the Hedsor Jazz Club.  What a great area this is to live in if you are a music fan of any kind.  Went to Windsor last night to hear Quire Voices, a very fine young choir under the leadership of Sean Bui.  Perhaps we can bring them to Marlow before long.

And I should also give a plug to a programme of Christian music by Michael Robert, another visitor from the States, which is on 21st May at Marlow Methodist Church.  7.30 pm, free admission.

(See previous post for full details of the season's events at Christ Church)

Friday 8 March 2013

Announcing a great spring season

Our Spring Season starts on 23rd March, so let's hope the weather improves by then! 

Christ Church will play host to some wonderful musicians over the next months, starting with the Borlase Gospel Choir in a short and FREE programme.  Come along for half an hour of music followed by a glass of wine (donations).

Next, US jazz pianist Lenore Raphael will be appearing with her band, then from New Zealand we welcome Robin Ward and his triple harp, and winding up the season Ian Burdge and Carlina Carr will play a classical recital of cello and piano.  So something for everyone there!

Our colourful flyer is shown below.  For a copy of the leaflet, or more information, call 01628 486227.

And don't miss out on a great season ticket offer, giving you a seat at every concert for £24 - a saving of £3.  Call the same number by 21st April to book!






Monday 11 February 2013

Eloquent and from the heart

In his recital on Saturday, Philip Garson set out to scale some major peaks of the Romantic piano repertoire.  It was a rewarding expedition, if never likely to be an easy one for either performer or audience!

Robert Schumann, composer of Kreisleriana, wrote to Clara that he was "overflowing with music and beautiful melodies", describing his own work as "eloquent and from the heart".  Philip's performance of the fourth section struck me as particularly moving, the music taking us to the very edge of the abyss (where it comes to a complete stop for what feels an age) before the sweetest of melodies pulls us back to a temporary refuge.  




After the interval we continued our mountain journey via Beethoven to Albeniz.  Evocacion and El puerto were beautifully delivered but with Triana the technical challenges did start to intrude on the fluency of Philip's playing and it was a slight relief to reach the downhill slopes of Chopin's ballades.  Philip is a lifelong fan of Chopin's music and his deep understanding of it shone through in the cascading notes of the 4th Ballade which brought the scheduled programme to an end.  Philip then returned to the piano to leave us with a dance by Granados, putting a cherry atop the icing!

So, an evening of magnificent and challenging repertoire and, if the performance was not entirely flawless, it was one that reached deep into the Romantic heart and mind.  Thank you Philip for taking us on such a journey!

I should add one note of apology, for the recurrence of a clunky pedal that we thought had been fixed on our piano.  It was barely noticeable in some parts of the church but quite prominent in others - we can only apologise to anyone whose pleasure was spoiled by this, which will be fixed for our next concert.

More pictures on the second tab above.

Monday 4 February 2013

Treats in store

We're really looking forward to next weekend's piano recital by Philip Garson: tickets have been selling well but are still available (call 01628 486227 to reserve, or there should be availability on the door).  For details of the programme, scroll down to the previous post.

Further ahead, we can now announce our next gig in collaboration with the Marlow Jazz Club: on Friday April 26th at 8.30 pm we will be welcoming world-class pianist Lenore Raphael from the USA, supported by Dave Green on bass and Peter Ingram on drums.  It promises to be another superb evening.  


A native of New York, Lenore Raphael cites Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell
and Bill Evans as her key influences but she has created her own recognisable sound within the tradition of these greats.  She has played Carnegie Hall, Ronnie Scott's and innumerable other great venues: and now she'll be performing on our Bechstein grand in Marlow!

Jazz critic John Gilbert has called Lenore “simply one of the best pianists
in the jazz mainstream today” (AllAboutJazz.com).  Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to hear a major artist.

More about Lenore at www.lenoreraphael.com



Saturday 5 January 2013

A terrific recital coming up and more to follow...

Our next event will be a piano recital by Philip Garson, featuring Schumann's great Kreisleriana among other works.  This is on Saturday 9th February at 7.30 pm and of course will be played on the 1901 Bechstein grand piano at Christ Church.

Philip Garson MA ATCL is a piano teacher and performer based in Wellington, Somerset.  The romantic period is his particular specialism, with Beethoven and Chopin being sources of lifelong inspiration.  Both feature in this concert, for which the expected programme is:

Robert Schumann: Kreisleriana Op 16
Beethoven: Sonata in F sharp Op 78
Albeniz: Three pieces from Iberia
Chopin: Two nocturnes Op 27 Nos 1 and 2
Ballade No 4 in F minor Op 52
Tickets are £7, contact us now to book.  FREE to piano students accompanied by an adult.

Looking ahead, we also hope to have the following events:
  • Borlase Gospel Choir: hopefully in March, date tbc
  • A jazz piano concert, following the success of our Lillian Boutte gig
  • Robin Ward, harpist.  This one is firmly booked for 12th May, more details will be posted soon.