November 22, 2012

Baroque Delights enjoyed by many at St Mary’s Church

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A delightful evening of music was enjoyed by many local people on Wednesday as part of the Swansong musical evenings arranged by former librarian Mike Byrne. This was the end of the 20th season of music evenings. It was good to see such a large audience for a cold November evening.  Usually the concerts take place in Acocks Green Library, but because of proposed building work the vicar of St Marys, Revd Andrew Bullock,  has kindly opened the beautiful church to the concert evenings recently.

CBSO Baroque Ensemble perform at St Marys Church, Acocks Green

The enthusiastic CBSO Baorque Ensemble – Julia Beisswanger - violin, Kelly McCusker -violin, Jackie Tyler – cello and Martin Perkins – harspichord presented a programme of music with a common theme: ’Upon a Ground’ - referring to a Ground Bass which they explained is a short, recurring melodic pattern in the bass part of a composition that serves as the principal structural element.  The evening included pieces by Handel, Purcell and Vivaldi as well as lesser known baroque composers - Vitali and Marini. Each musician spoke about their specially-made baroque instruments and even took questions from the inquisitive and appreciative audience.

Thanks go again to the wonderful musicians, Mike Byrne for his dedicated organisation of the long-running Swansong musical series and Revd. Bullock for his church’s hospitality.  We look forward to future musical evenings next year. Check out our What’s On Page for forthcoming events, or if you know of any other public events that you would like to share, please get in contact.

Did you attend this event? Share your views and thoughts by commenting on this post.

 

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.”

 

December 10, 2011

CBSO Music in Acocks Green Library

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Another delightful Swansong concert took place on Wednesday 23rd November at Acocks Green Library. The 2011 season was brought to a pleasant close by a fine performance from the CBSO players, with string compositions from Arensky, Haydn and Rimsky Korsakov.

This was a well attended concert of approximately 75 members local music lovers, who enjoyed a programme enthusiastically performed by the musicians comprising of Violins: Byron Parish and Libby Golding, Violas: Amy Fawcett and Miriam Guillaume, Cellos: Jackie Tyley and Helen Edgar. The programme comprised of ‘Variations on a theme by Tchaikovsky’ from
Arensky. A Quartet The Joke by Haydn. and a Rimsky Korsakov Sextet.

The CBSO Players perform at Acocks Green Library

We are fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience similar standards of performance in our area over recent years and Mike Byrne reported that the ‘Swansong’ Concerts will continue in the New Year, but with a slight reduction in the number of performances. He further thanked all the folk who have given their good support over this time, which has allowed these concerts to be organised.

Also the Arts and Media events will continue  in the New Year at the library on January 11th at 2pm with a presentation from Susan Hunston, on the subject of our real thoughts called Reading between the Lines.  For more information call in at the library for  tickets.

 

October 22, 2011

Historical Music Evening enjoyed at the Library

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Local music-lovers took the opportunity to attend the October Swansong concert at Acocks Green Library, on Wednesday 12th at 7.30pm. The concert was attended by approximately 50 folk to enjoy a performance by The Linnaeus Baroque Ensemble, which featured Linnea Markgren, soprano, Lucia Capellaro, baroque cello, and Sara Wilander, harpsichord, all dressed in contemporary costumes.

The Linnaeus Baroque Ensemble performing at Acocks Green Library

With two members of the trio originating from Sweden, the excellent performance of the Baroque period included works by the Swedish composers H.P. Johnson, W.De Fesch and J.H.Roman, as well as the English compositions by G.F. Handel and H.Purcell.

The professional rendition by both harpsichord and cello, was superbly complimented by the exquisite singing, in Swedish, Italian and English, all word perfect with no reliance on the musical score or song sheet.

This performance appeared to have been enjoyed equally by the audience and performers and, with a delightful encore, we look forward to their return visit.

The next Swansong musical evening is on 23rd November at 7.30pm and features the CBSO Players, whose performance will include Arensky’s Variations on a theme by Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov’s string sextet. Tickets are free and available from the library

 

August 5, 2011

Swansong Evening at Acocks Green Library

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At the July Swansong the audience of over 75 people had the the pleasure of listening to  The Harmonics, a 12 member chamber ensemble, which was formed 8 years ago, as part of the main Warley Male Voice Choir and conducted by their musical director Stephen Allen.


The Harmonics  were joined on this double bill, by a Birmingham based mixed choir the Enchant, formed 5 years ago from a group of friends, having a broad repertoire from church music, madrigals and popular songs, who were led and conducted by John Barber. They can be booked for weddings and other functions: contact www.enchant.org.uk or e-mail hello@enchant.org.uk.

Both choirs were very enthusiastic and professional and well received by the audience who enjoyed their varied repertoire of different styles from sacred music to barber shop and popular songs. All together they produced and performed an inspirational experience.

 

May 13, 2011

Baroque Music Night – Update – This evening (Wed) at St Marys Church

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******Update – this delightful baroque musical group are playing this evening at St Marys Church in Acocks Green, 7.30pm.  Free Entry, donations at end of concert*********************
Local people were delighted by an evening of Baroque music at Acocks Green Library on 11th May.  Consort Pléon are a group of music graduates from Birmingham Conservatoire who play with authentic Baroque instruments. Sharon Reading-Firth plays Baroque Oboe, Maria Larsson & Rens Claerhoudt Baroque violins, Lucia Capellaro Baroque cello and Sara Willander accompanied all the musicans on harpsicord.

Consort Pléon perform as part of Swansong

The group peformed a selection of sonatas by the composers Handel and Corelli and completed the programme with Albiononi’s Concerto for Oboe and Strings in D Minor.

The musicians also  explained the difference between their Baroque instruments and their modern day versions, as well as the way in which the music would have been performed at the time.

The well-supported and much-appreciated musical evenings are part of the programme known as Swansong, organised by recently retired librarian Mike Byrne.

The musicians explain their Baroque instruments

The next scheduled  Swansong Evening is Warley Male Voice Choir, back by popular demand, who will perform in the library on Wed 27th July, tickets are free and available from the library. A collection is made at the end of the evening.

 

April 10, 2011

Music Amongst the Bookshelves – The Beorma Quartet

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The  April 6th Swansong at Acocks Green Library was an opportunity, shared by approximately 50 members of our local community, to witness an outstanding unaccompanied performance of madrigals and other songs by the talented Beorma Quartet.  Comprising  of  Soprano Amy Secretan, Mezzo Soprano Clare Barnett-Jones , Tenor Matthew Spillett  and  Bass Lewis Jones. Together they presented a splendid evening of  vocal music spanning 1000 years.

The quartet was formed by students and graduates from the Birmingham Conservatoire which is part of Birmingham City University.  The name ‘Beorma’ is the original Saxon word for the area now we now know as Birmingham.

Librarian and local historian Mike Byrne is the organiser of the Swansong performances at Acocks Green library.  Mike informed the audience that although  he will soon be leaving his job at the library he will continue to organise the popular and always enlightening Swansong concerts.  He also told the audience that the usual spring concert by members of the CBSO did not take place this year as the result of  loss of the CBSO’s community sponsorship funding.

The next Swansong performance is at 7.30pm on 11th May at Acocks Green Library, with the Consort Pleon presenting music by Handel, Corelli and Albinoni. Tickets are free and available from the library. Everyone who enjoys live music is welcome.  A collection is made at the end of the concert.

 

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.

 

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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