Category Archives: 1066 News

Maidstone Symphony Orchestra

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Mote Hall, Maidstone, 21 May 2016

What a splendid end to a splendid season! The all Russian programme looked sound on paper and proved to be so in execution. Borodin may have technically been an amateur but there is nothing un-professional about his ability to spin a musical line or summon up an oriental atmosphere. Maybe some of the colour we hear in the overture to Prince Igor has as much to do with Glazunov who completed the work as with Borodin but the final effect is as highly charged as one could wish for. Alongside the arch romanticism of the melodies we had the fine nuances of tone colour which demonstrated the strengths of the orchestra’s individual departments, and on this occasion highlighted some rousing fanfares.

If Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto takes a little getting used to it is, as Brian Wright noted in his introduction, well worth the effort. The second movement in particular is immediately accessible to anybody who knows Romeo & Juliet and there is a great deal of the ballet latent within this score.

Callum Smart

Callum Smart showed a deep and intimate understanding of the work, bringing out the contrasts between the sudden moments of gentle lyricism and the brashness which comes to a head in the final movement. Quirky and challenging it may be, but with a performance as engaging as this, it more than justifies its place in the season.

Brian Wright argued that from his point of view Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony is his finest. On the strength of this performance he could well be right! This was surely the best playing we have heard all year and a tribute to the quality of the orchestra both as an ensemble and as individual soloists. The limpid clarinet solo at the start, the subtle vibrato from the solo horn in the second movement – suggesting a slight hesitancy, a whistling in the dark – and the lovely bassoon lines, all reflected the individual quality of the players. At the same time the precision and warmth of the strings was better than I recall it before. Perhaps the exigencies of rehearsing the Mahler had made a deep impact?

The new season opens on Saturday 15 October 2016. I am sure you will be there.

The Somme 1916

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Brighton Festival Chorus, with Brighton Festival Youth Choir, Arcadian Ensemble, conducted by James Morgan

Friday July 1st 2016, 7.30pm All Saints Church, The Drive, Hove, BN3 3QE

Brighton Festival Chorus presents a concert to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, including works by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Edward Elgar, Herbert Howells, Tarik O’Regan, Hubert Parry, and Francis Purcell Warren.

It is believed that 133,000 British men died during the first Battle of the Somme, including 20,000 on the first day alone. A generation of British composers born between the 1870s and 1890s died in the Great War, including Francis Warren, who was reported missing on 3rd July 1916. He won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music in 1910, where he became a firm friend of Herbert Howells. Warren enlisted as a private in September 1914 and was subsequently commissioned as an officer in March 1916, three months before his death.

 

The concert opens with Warren’s setting of Ave Verum, written in 1912 when he was 17 years old. A bfc member will then read a speech given by Hubert Parry in memory of Francis Warren at the RCM. Howells’ Elegy for viola, string quartet and strings was also written in memory of his young friend. The first half programme is interspersed with poems by Siegfried Sassoon, Wilfred Owen, and William Noel Hodgson, who died at the Somme on July 1st, 1916.

There is an interesting link between the next composer featured and Sussex. The programme continues with Parry’s Jerusalem, written in 1916 whilst living in Rustington. This is followed by Elgar’s Give unto the Lord, written on the eve of the Great War in 1914. Brighton Festival Youth Choir will conclude the first half with a performance of Tariq O’Regan’s And There Was a Great Calm, inspired by the text of Thomas Hardy’s poem on the signing of the Armistice in 1918 .

The second half of the concert features Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem. Vaughan Williams was married in All Saints Church in 1897. He enlisted as a private in the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1914 at the age of 42. He joined a Field Ambulance unit and served as a stretcher-bearer during the Somme offensive, a highly risky and grim role. Dona Nobis Pacem is a compilation of movements written at different times in the composer’s life, unified by a symphonic conception. It was written as a prayer for peace in the light of the threat from Nazi Germany suggesting the likelihood of a second world war. Its message resonates through to the present century.

Tickets: £20, £15 and £5 for students and under 16s available Dome Box Office, 01273 709709, or www.brightonticketshop.com

Pevensey’s significance in British History – the archaeological record

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“2016 offers an opportunity for re- evaluation, reflection and celebration of the significance of Pevensey and its place in British History,” says Dr Scott Mclean in a talk to be given at St. Nicolas Church, Pevensey on 18th May at 7:00PM . Tickets are £7.    

Dr Maclean is an Associate Professor of History and was director of British Archaeology at the Hertsmonceux Bader International Study Centre’s Field School. His specialty is British history and archaeology.

 Scott MacLean

Dr. Maclean says, “Despite Pevensey developing into an important centre of trade in the Middle Ages and being awarded the status of being a Cinque Port, local historical and archaeological focus has remained on the town of Battle, the site of the Battle of Hastings. 950 years on,

With a connection to such an important event in British history one would expect Pevensey to have received a significant amount of attention from historians and archaeologists alike. However, the opposite is true,” argues De Mclean.

This highly illustrated presentation will provide an overview of Pevensey’s early development and the factors that shaped its growth, with a particular focus on the archaeological record. The most recent excavation took place in 2014 immediately south of St. Nicolas Church, itself celebrating its 800th anniversary. This excavation made some interesting discoveries and demonstrated that the history of Pevensey is rich.

All funds raised from ticket sales will go towards the church’s 800th anniversary Restoration Fund.

This Event is in association with Gaby Hardwicke (solicitors), BPE Business consultants, The Priory Court Hotel, Visick Cars, Carr Taylor Wines, Starshine Music, ‘1066 Country’, Pevensey Town Trust and Wealden District Council.

 

St Nicolas, Pevensey

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18th May at 7:00 PM,  the first of two talks to be given this year as part of the 800th anniversary celebrations by leading historian and archaeologist, Dr Scott Mclean. Tickets are £7:00. Dr Mclean’s talk on ‘The Archaeology of St. Nicolas’, will be highly illustrated. Dr Maclean is an Associate Professor of History and was director of British Archaeology at the Herstmonceux Bader International Study Centre’s Field School.

The talk will provide a particular focus on the archaeological record and an overview of Pevensey’s early development and the factors that shaped it’s growth. Over several decades excavations have taken place in land adjoining St. Nicolas churchyard, close to where William the Conqueror may have landed, within easy reach of the then existing Pevensey Castle which he enlarged and fortified. Dr. Mclean’s most recent excavations took place in 2014 in an area in the north-east corner of Church Farm immediately south of St. Nicolas Church. This excavation made some interesting discoveries and demonstrated that the history of Pevensey is not only long but rich. Dr Mclean will show some of his excavated findings – some dating back centuries, and some from continental Europe

28th May at 7:00 PM, the first jazz concert to be held in the church’s 800 year history. It will be given by the ‘Pasadena Roof Orchestra ‘Hot Five’. The ‘Hot Five’ will play two sets of 50 minutes each. Tickets are £12:50

John Arthy who founded the world famous ‘PRO’ in November 1969, will be accompanied on double bass and tuba, by four other musicians: John Nichols, piano, Ron Drake, saxophone/clarinet, Martin Wheatley guitar/banjo and Andy Woon trumpet. All have played with some of the world’s most famous jazz bands and performers over the years in Britain, The United States and Europe.

The five musicians are all widely recognized jazz musicians in their own right and specialize in music from the 20’s and 30’s. Advance booking is strongly recommended.

Ticket Booking

If you choose to purchase tickets directly in advance, (especially advisable for the 28th May concert, as there is a strictly limited capacity) please email your ticket request and send your cheque to 10, Leasingham Gardens, Bexhill on Sea TN39 4DZ, made payable to ‘St. Nicolas Pevensey Restoration Fund’.

If tickets are purchased for the Concert on line, (http://www.wegottickets.com/event/348443) you will receive confirmation directly and this confirmation document should be shown at the church when attending.

Hastings Philharmonic Choir

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The choir is returning to the glorious Christ Church, St Leonards for an evening of sumptuous music in a sumptuous setting! Brahms’s magnificent Requiem is a masterpiece for choir and orchestra; a groundbreaking ‘Mass for the Living’ as it is sometimes known. The choir sings in German and a translation can be read in the concert programme.

There will be a full romantic orchestra for this piece and another lesser known Brahms piece, ‘Gesang der Parzen’ with  text taken from Goethe’s Iphigenie auf Tauris. This is a little gem, a mini-symphony with similarities to the Brahms’ 3rd Symphony.

aysenulucan

Sibelius’s Op 47  violin concerto reaches tumultuous heights; here the soloist’s first note—delicately dissonant and off the beat— could not be more beautiful!

The choir welcomes Aysen Ulucan again to perform this concerto with her trademark virtuosity.

Tickets cost £18 (£15 concs) or £3 for children under 17yrs.

You can reserve tickets by calling the Box Office on 01424 552119 or online, subject to £1.80 booking fee, at http://www.wegottickets.com/event/357670

Harvey’s Brass in Pevensey

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St. George’s Day Brass Concert
23rd  April 7:00PM
St. Nicolas Church, Pevensey

Harvey's Brass

St. Nicolas church, Pevensey hosts Harvey’s Brass at a concert on April 23rd at 7:00PM.

It is their first concert at the church as part of the church’s 800th anniversary fund raising programme. Tickets are £10.

“We are really thrilled to have this outstanding ten piece symphonic brass ensemble give a concert in our wonderful acoustics,” said George Stephens, deputy church warden at St. Nicolas. ‘It will be a fun evening and their first concert at the church. The programme includes a mixture of well known classical and modern music, some big-band arrangements, and dance music. Composers are as varied as Quincy-Jones, Handel, Gershwin, Joplin, Offenbach, Sondheim, Quincy-Jones and many more with pieces from a wide selection of musical genres.”

Harvey’s Brass is based in Sussex and made up of experienced musicians from across the county. It was formed in 2003 by Neal Bland and Peter Cowlett, and received generous early sponsorship from the Harvey’s Brewery based in Lewes. Its aim is to play music from the Renaissance to the modern day, including modern arrangements specifically for the group.

The group has performed in over 30 concerts across the breadth of Sussex, and included guest artists such as Crispian Steele-Perkins and local jazz trombonist Mark Bassey. They have a regular berth at the Eastbourne bandstand during the summer, and also perform in various music festivals and churches around the county.

Concert Tickets are available from George at 01424 216651, g.stephens45@btinternet.com, or at the door.

The concert is supported by Gaby Hardwicke, BPE Communications, 1066 Country,  Priory Court Hotel, Starshine Music, Carr Taylor Wines, Visick Cars Pevensey Town Trust and Wealden District Council.

 

A Marriage of the talents at St Mary in the Castle

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Everybody loves a wedding; add upstairs downstairs intrigue, farce, mistaken identity and a happy ending and we have the world’s most perfect opera, Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro. An exciting new collaboration will culminate in a fully staged production of this opera at St Mary in the Castle on Saturday and Sunday 9th and 10th April.

Marcio da Silva Music Director of Woodhouse Opera (and Hastings Philharmonic Choir) has joined with Jenny Miller, founder of Barefoot Opera, to produce this ‘day of madness’ opera by Mozart, using Marcio’s orchestra, Ensemble OrQuesta, and the students of the 2016 Opera Academy, the divas of tomorrow.

Marcio is now going into his fourth year as Woodhouse Opera’s Music Director. Woodhouse Opera (http://www.woodhousesounds.com/) stages several operas a year in the beautiful arts and crafts house and Gertrude Jekyll gardens of Woodhouse Copse near Leith Hill, Surrey. Marcio moved to St Leonards with his wife and young family late last year and promises to enrich Hastings’ musical life with his boundless energy.

Jenny Miller is well known in Hastings for her innovative and imaginative stagings of great opera at St Mary in the Castle over the last five years where she makes full use of the unique surroundings. Her ensemble work and physical theatre techniques create a close emotional and physical connection between performers and audience and Barefoot Opera productions (http://barefootoperacompany.tumblr.com/about) have gone on to tour various locations including participation in the Longborough Festival Opera. As  a National Opera Studio graduate,    Jenny Miller has a lifetime of experience in opera. (http://barefootoperacompany.tumblr.com/jenny).

May this be the start of a beautiful artistic partnership!

Marriage of Figaro at St Mary in the Castle, 7 Pelham Cres, Hastings TN34 3AF 9 April at 7pm and 10 April at 5pm, Tickets Stalls £20/£18 concs. and Gallery £17/£15 concs. available at Hastings Tourist Information Centre Aquila House, Breeds Place, Hastings TN34 3UY  01424 451111,  at door and at https://www.musicglue.com/stmaryinthecastle/events/10-apr-16-marriage-of-figaro-st-mary-in-the-castle/

PLEASE NOTE THE CORRECT START TIMES ARE 7PM ON SATURDAY 9TH APRIL AND 5PM ON SUNDAY 10TH APRIL

CLASSICUS SALON

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From the people that brought you the International Composers Festival

CLASSICUS SALON

Meet established and up-and-coming classical composers, musicians and singers from Sussex and beyond in the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the ‘Royal Vic Hotel’. Join us for an informal evening of beautiful music, songs and great conversation. Don’t miss it!
 
TUESDAY 5th APRIL 2016 – 6pm
FREE ADMISSION
Piano Lounge – Royal Victoria Hotel – Marina – Hastings TN38 0BD
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free parking from 6pm opposite the venue