February 10, 2013

Acocks Green Library – Temporary Closure – POSTPONED AGAIN – until further notice library is OPEN as normal!!!!

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The long awaited essential roof repairs to Acocks Green Library have now been given the go-ahead. The Library will close on Saturday 13th May, and is scheduled to re-open in September. Books can be returned to any other branch library during this time.

To compensate for the closure, the nearest alternative – South Yardley Library, will have extended opening hours.  South Yardley library is just before the Swan Island, less than 10 minutes from Acocks Green village on the no.11 bus.  For more information on the services available at South Yardley Library click HERE

The Neighbourhood Office will also be closed. The nearest alternative office is Stechford Customer Service Centre. Many enquiries can be dealt with on the phone or online. For more information click HERE

1932, Much excitement at the Grand Opening of Acocks Green Library

Much excitement at the Grand Opening of Acocks Green Library 1932

Councillor Iain Bowen’s Advice Bureau will remain in the Scout Hut on Spring Road (behind Scanlon’s) until the Library is reopened. It runs every Monday evening (except Bank Holidays) between 7pm and 8pm.  The over 50s coffee mornings will continue to run from the Scout Hut.

 

November 17, 2012

**** Stop Press******Baroque Music – Wednesday 21st November,7.30pm @ St Mary’s Church, Acocks Green

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******* The CBSO Baroque Players will grace Acocks Green with their enchanting music again – this Wednesday – 7.30pm , St Marys Church, Warwick Rd.  Free Entry, collection at end. Refreshments, everyone welcome *****************************

See below the write up of last year’s concert.

Another exceptional Swansong at Acocks Green Village Library, on the evening of Wednesday 30th June, when over 50 Folk enjoyed the music from the CBSO Baroque Players.

Rachel Latham- flute, Julia Beisswanger, Kelly McCusker- violins, Jackie Tyler-cello, Martin Perkins- harpsichord. They are part of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, which brings live music out to the communities, called CBSO On The Road and which is supported by generous funding from Mitchells and Butlers Ltd.

The players were thought sensitive to the various pieces and the spirit of the time and composition.  Particularly evident from the violin exchanges in the “Sanguineus et Melancholicus” in C minor.

Fredrick II (1712-1786), the title of the concert (See Portrait) was the son of Frederick William I, who was born in Berlin and as an adult studied music and literature, and himself wrote and composed music.  He was an enlightened absolute monarch, who favoured the French Language, and studied art and music. He had built a French Rocco Palace, `San Souci` near Berlin.

“From the Court of Frederick the Great”
Johann Gottlieb Janitsch (1708-1763) : Sonata da Camera in B flat, Op 3 (c1760)
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788) : Harpsichord Sonata in B flat
Sonata: “Sanguineus et Melancholicus” in C minor (1749)
Johann Joachim Quantz (1697-1773) : Sonata per il Flauto Traverso solo in B flat (c1743)
Carl Heinrich Graun (1704-1759) : Adagio in D minor for harpsichord
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach : Trio Sonata in C Wq.147 (1747)

The next Swansong concert is arranged for Wednesday 21st July 1900hrs at Acocks Green Library, with Stella Sims (mezzo-soprano) singing Romantic songs from Russia and elsewhere.  Costs and expenses supported by audience donations.”

 

November 30, 2010

How to Improve Street Life

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Acocks Green Library is hosting what promises to be an interesting and relevant talk on Wednesday 8th December at 6.30pm.  The speaker is Phil Jones who is an urban designer and author of  Manual for Streets. He will talk about improving street design with emphasis on the Urban Village.

His presentation will discuss how to make urban villages more attractive,  intergrated and less cluttered.  There will be a supporting presentation by the Acocks Green Focus Group who will discuss urban design with specific reference to Acocks Green village.  To book a place for this free talk click on the link and contact the Focus Group with your details. http://acocksgreenfocusgroup.org.uk/contact-us/

Manual for Streets was first published  in 2007 and resulted in the Dept of Transport’s Traffic Management Division winning a Royal Town Planning Institute prize for this publication.  The award recognises that it is radically changing designers’ and local authorities’ approach to residential street design for the better. It emphasises that streets should be places in which people want to live and spend time in, and are not just transport corridors.

As the urban design of Acocks Green centre has been much discussed in recent years, this talk will surely discuss ideas that could much improve our village.

 

 

August 8, 2010

Music to Our Ears – Swansong at the Library

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This is a review of a recent musical event that took place at Acocks Green Library on 21st July – Swansong.  Thanks to David Treadwell for his review.  If you would like to attend the next musical evening (22nd September) contact the library directly.

Swansong Review

An enjoyable occasion  in the company of approximately 50 others as part of an Evening of International Classical Songs and Piano solos, with Stella Seaton-Sims (mezzo-soprano) and Phillip Ypres-Smith (piano)

The programme was a selection of romantic songs and music from around Europe and Russia, admirably performed by both artists.

We were also honoured to be present for the World Premiere of two of the pieces, one from a local composer Richard Green with his piano composition titled ‘Five Bells’ and the programme concluding with a piano composition from our guest pianist Phillip Ypres-Smith, titled ‘Five Preludes’

Stella Seaton-Sims has a broad repertoire of sacred and secular music but her keen interest is in Russian music, which has taken her several times to Moscow, where she researched and studied with Prof Galina Pisarenko of the Moscow Conservatoire, one of the trips having been sponsored by West Midland Arts.

Phillip Ypres-Smith studied at Birmingham Conservatoire and subsequently joined the staff as a répétiteur and vocal coach before working as a freelance musician.

We had another local connection in that Mr Harry Seabourne who was present, assisted with some of the Russian Translation.

The Next Swansong Concert to look forward to is on Wednesday 22nd September at 7.30pm, when we have a visit from The Queens Park Sinfonia, who will be performing music by Mendelssohn and Strauss.

 

July 27, 2010

Lots Happening at Acocks Green Library

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Every Wednesday during the school holidays there are activities for children from 6 to 11 yrs at Acocks Green Library. Each sessions lasts from 10 to 11.30am, (apart from Wed 28th July which has a 12 – 1). The sessions encourage creativity and fun with other children.  For more information and to book please phone the library on 464 1738.

Also, on most Wednesday afternoons Fox Hollies Children’s Centre are holding activity and booktime sessions for the under 5s at the library. (All under 5s must be accompanied by a parent or carer). Again call in or phone to book a place. There are lots more activities going on in the area – information available from the library.

(Click on our link to the South Yardley Children’s Centre too.  Under 5s activities going on in our area during the holidays).

Want to give up smoking?  Help is at hand at the library:

Drop in advice and support 11am to 1pm every Saturday, no appointment necessary.  For more info contact: 465 5417.  This website may be useful to those wanting to quit too:  http://www.losethesmoker.co.uk

Also don’t forget there is  free internet access and lots of books and music at your local library!

 

May 30, 2010

Swansong @ Acocks Green Library

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Another most enjoyable Acocks Green Library “Swansong” concert held on Wednesday Evening 19th May.
A programme for Cello Duets performed by Cellists Nigel Blomiley and Felicity Vincent. Both musicians gave a well received performance of five main compositions from
over the past three centuries.  In fact, the performances gave an impression that the musicians were very much in contact with the composers, particularly evident with David Popper and Friedrich Kummer.
 
Felicity Vincent studied at the Royal Academy of Music, and was with the Halle Orchestra and the Israel Philharmonic. She studied with Vladimir Orloff and the cellist and teacher Janos Starker.
She has given solo and chamber-music concerts both sides of the Atlantic and at the Salzburg Orchesterhaus.
 
Nigel Blomiley did not begin musical training until he was fourteen.  By twenty he was playing professionally with the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra. In 1981, he was appointed principal cellist of the BBC Concert Orchestra, touring Spain, Italy and Germany, as well as North America, Japan and Hong Kong.  Nigel relinquished his post with the Concert Orchestra in 2005  to devote more time to chamber music and teaching.  He has a commitment to developing and nurturing musical talent in young people.  He is also a coach to the National Youth Orchestra of wales.
 
The compositions for the two cello were as follows:-
 
Canon for two cellos  by Domenico Gabrielli : 1651 – 1690
 
Sonata in G major
Andante : Adagia : Allegro Prestissimo           : Jean Barriere  c 1705 – 1747
 
Duo in C major, Op 15
Allegro : Andante : Andantino avec Variations   : Julius Johann Friedrich Dotzauer 1783 – 1860
 
Duo in F major
allegro : Variations on a Swiss Theme                  : Friedrich Kummer 1797 – 1879
 
Divertimento No 1 in G major, Op. 4
Adagis : Andatino : Tempo comodo- Piu Andante-Presto : Giacomo Cervetto 1682 – 1783
 
Duet in A major, Op.  51
Allegro : Andante : Allegretto                                Jacques Offenbach
 
Suite Op. 16
Andante grazioso : Gavotte : Scherzo                    David Popper 1843 – 1913.
Largo espressivo : Marcia Finale

 

November 18, 2009

Swansong at Acocks Green Library

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Local people were able to attend a most enjoyable concert at Acocks Green Library on 12th November, under the title of “Swansong” which is a regular theme throughout the season.  These are organised through the library and commence at 7.30pm, with entry by free ticket which is available from the library, but with an opportunity to make a personal donation at the end of the programme.
The November event was an evening with Alan Cuckston (harpsichord) and Martyn Shaw (baroque flute).

 

There where six musical pieces which included Suite no 3 in G (Pieces pour la Flute, 1715) by Jacques-Martin Hotteterre, le Romain:  Suite no 7 in G minor for Harpsichord (1720) George Frideric Handel:  Sonata no 2 in G for Flute and Harpsichord Arcangelo Corelli, Sonata in E minor (HWV 379) for Flute and Harpsichord George Frideric Handel: Three Sonatas for Harpsichord  by Domenico Scarlatti  (K 490-492) and finally Sonata in D for Flute and Harpsichord op. 5 no 4 Jean-Baptiste Loeillet de Gant

Both musicians gave a marvellous performance of this Baroque music and a good rendition of this period music.

Alan Cuckson`s Harpsichord was built in 1981 by John Rooks of Ticknall, Derbyshire.  It is based on an original of 1638 by the Flemish maker Andreas Ruckers, now in the Edinburgh University Collection.

 

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