Tuesday 11 July 2017

East Devon Choral Society "Colours of Love" Charity Concert St George's Church Tiverton Saturday 8 July 2017

East Devon Choral Society
COLOURS OF LOVE
Musical Director: Andrew Daldorph

East Devon Choral Society in full voice
(Photograph: Mike Brett)
The East Devon Choral Society are well known for their spectacular performances of baroque and classical masterpieces at Tiverton Baptist Church, with full orchestra and Colin Pettet playing the impressive Willis organ.

For this weekend's concert the choir sang with only minimal accompaniment. Director Andrew Daldorph demonstrated his amazing ability to play complicated melodies on the piano from a standing position, while simultaneously conducting a full choir.


Johann Pachelbel: "Canon & Gigue"
Piano: Andrew Daldorph
In a new departure, Andrew had also done away with musical manuscripts and songsheets. Every song was learned by ear and sung from memory - with everyone's attention firmly fixed on the Andrew for direction.

The change was immediately noticeable, with the relationship between conductor and choir much more visible to the audience than ever before. Every pair of eyes was looking up and outwards sharing their animation and excitement with the audience.

The first three numbers were from the renaissance, and eased the choir into unscripted song.

Thelonious Monk: Blue Monk
Andrew Daldorph   Chris Gradwell 

Verity Stroud
Greensleeves is well known, and the men concentrated on a wordless continuo. Orlando Gibbons' "Silver Swan" has a more complicated lyric, with counterpoint, but ironically relates the misconception that swans themselves do not sing - until they are about to die. Andrew also had some fun with Johann Pachelbel's "Canon & Gigue" for violins and continuo. He had arranged this as a beautiful vocalise for multiple voices, with no words at all. The choir worked their magic deftly, sending waves of pure delicious sound wafting over the audience, to the astoundingly delicate accompaniment of Andrew's piano playing. What a lovely opening to a concert - with the promise of much more to come.

Drums: Steve Douglas
The choir then had a chance to take a rest, as Andrew was joined by an informal jazz band convened for the evening. Steve Douglas played the drums and Chris Gradwell played the tenor saxophone in a smooth and lively version of Thelonious Monk's "Blue Monk" with Andrew playing the piano, and a slightly mysterious guest playing the electric bass guitar.

Tenor Saxophone:
Chris Gradwell
The mystery was soon resolved, as Andrew introduced Verity Stroud, one of his music students at Exeter School - and a very accomplished one. Verity is a Grade VIII piano student, as well as guitarist. She also plays the bassoon - and had been bassoon soloist in a performance of Mozart's "Bassoon Concerto in B flat" earlier the same week.

Verity's main contribution to the evening was still to be revealed. Andrew has been Verity's singing teacher, and came to realise that she has the perfect voice, and temperament, to perform his own compositions for jazz band and voice. Together they have made an album of classic songs and Andrew's own compositions.

Verity Stroud
"On You Beloved Eyes"
With Steve, Chris and Andrew providing a emotive introduction and accompaniment, she sang the title track from the album: "On You, Beloved Eyes", while accompanying herself on bass guitar. Her voice is very sensual, and blends perfectly with the instruments of a jazz quartet.

Before the interval there was also time for two more of Andrew's jazz numbers, "It's You My Love" and " Since You Are Here". The percussionist on the album is Gary Evans, and Steve Douglas had prepared for only a few days for this performance. Regardless of this, his gentle rhythms were perfect - and infectious.

The album also features Mike Thorn's double bass. Copies were available at the Church - produced by "Musical Squares" - i.e. Mike & Wendy Gluyas.

"Colours of the Day" (Light Up the Fire)
(Keith Ryecroft, Sue McClellan, John Paculabo)
East Devon Choral Society
The choir then returned for two more songs. First Andrew led a very sombre arrangement (by himself) of Charles Villiers Stanford's "Blue Bird" for female voices and piano only.

The men soon joined in, with full band including Verity's bass guitar, to sing the traditional spiritual (with a distinct, albeit spurious, West Country flavour), "Kum Ba Yah". To ensure that the choir members did not forget which verse they had reached, Andrew mimed the actions at each reprise - a very effective form of direction.

Parchment
Ryecroft, McClellan & Pac
The theme "Colours of Love" had slightly slipped with this campfire song, but the first half ended with a rousing spiritual hymn which combined all of the elements. "Colours of the Day" by 'Parchment' (Keith Ryecroft, Sue McClellan & John Paculabo) - also subtitled "Light up the Fire" - did just that.

The exciting Christian message of Jesus' impending resurrection was expressed jubilantly in words and actions. And the choir were joined at the opportune moment by the full band to end with several exuberant choruses and a final exultant cheer.


Verity Stroud
"When I Saw You
Standing There"
The interval was passed pleasantly in the churchyard, with wine, soft drinks and snacks served in the church centre. After a pleasant half hour in the evening sunlight, the audience returned. Verity welcomed everyone back with an unscheduled rendition of another of Andrew's romantic compositions, "When I Saw You Standing There".

Peter McLean-Buechel
An appeal on behalf of
British Heart Foundation
Then a tenor from the choir introduced the benefit charity. Peter McLean-Buechel has reason to be grateful to the British Heart Foundation for all their help and support when he had cardiac surgery last year. In a witty and moving exposition, he summarised the many benefits provided by the charity. 

The Foundation works in all parts of the country, and is currently spending £26M on 87 projects in Exeter and Bristol. They have provided over 2,000 publicly accessible defibrillator units, and supply CPR units to schools. They also fund cardiac nurses, and a 24 hour helpline service. Proceeds from ticket sales go to the charity - along with donations from audience members. Andrew echoed Peter's sentiments - especially applauding the Foundation's work to keep one of his tenors in good health.

The rest of the choir then joined Peter on stage for something a little bit different, Dorothy Gale's impassioned ballad from "The Wizard of Oz", "Over the Rainbow" by Yip Harburg, with music by Harold Arlen (adapted, of course, by Andrew Daldorph). In a more exotic vein, Oswald Durand's Haitian song "Choucoune", set to music by Michel Mauléart Monton, and translated into English as "Yellow Bird" - a delightful contrast to Dorothy's bluebirds.

Henry Mancini: "The Pink Panther"
Drums: Steve Douglas
Piano: Andrew Daldorph
Tenor Saxophone: Chris Gradwell
This entertaining anthropomophic romance, sung by the women and accompanied by male chorus and drums, rekindled the jazzy feel of the evening and set the scene for a classic instrumental jazz number. Steve Douglas provided the ever-familiar brushed cymbal introduction to Henry Mancini's Academy Award winning theme to Blake Edwards' "The Pink Panther". Chris Gradwell's tenor saxophone playing totally recalled Plas Johnson's original - and Andrew's switching between genres was as impressive as ever. A song with everlasting appeal.


Verity Stroud
"Coming Back Home"


Verity joined the band on bass guitar for Sonny Burke's wartime lament "Black Coffee", and sang two more of Andrew's compositions with the band, "And I Want to Hold You" and "I'm Comin' Back Home". Verity's singing reached new heights on intensity, as she poured ever more energy into each word of Andrew's heart wrenching story.





Accolades from the band
for a special new singer
Verity Stroud


Verity's singing was perfectly matched, and complemented, by Chris's skilled saxophone solos, with all four instruments rising and falling in intensity precisely with Verity's mood - and incredible joint effort by four outstanding musicians.

By way of a total contrast, Andrew then introduced the men of the choir (plus female tenor Cathy Harris) to sing something in a lighter style - and very stylish indeed - "White Shoe Blues" by Jim Page.


Jim Page: White Shoes Blues
Andrew introduces the men
The men very ably injected just the right amount of humour and hep into the words and - just at the opportune moment - the entire soprano and alto sections joined in the chorus from the stalls. A brilliant and hilarious embellishment.




The Men's Section
Director: Andrew Daldorph
The whole choir polished off the theme of colours with "Blue Moon" by Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart (with spectacular male-voice continuo) and (with whole-hearted audience participation) "Yellow Submarine" by John Lennon & Paul McCartney. Originally performed by Ringo Starr "Yellow Submarine" offers ample opportunity for comic embellishment, which the choir members provided with voices off, while the audience joined in enthusiastically during the choruses - and most of the verses.

As a fitting finale, and an opportunity for the audience to recover from all the excitement, Verity Stroud ended the concert with another performance of "I'm Comin' Back Home" accompanied by the band. Her contributions had been much appreciated, and audience members made their way hot foot to the table at the exit selling her CDs - and to add to the contributions towards the British Heart Foundation.

The choir return to rehearsals in October, when new members are welcome as ever - especially tenors. The next concert will be at the Baptist Church in Newport Street, Tiverton, on Saturday 9th December: Handel's "Messiah"!

East Devon Choral Society
Musical Director: Andrew Daldorph
(Photograph: Mike Brett)

Thursday 6 July 2017

Dartington International Summer School & Festival Week Four Saturday 19 August - Saturday 26 August 2017

Dartington International Summer School
Week 4:
Saturday 19 August - Saturday 26 August
Peter Grimes / Composition
Film & Multimedia / Gospel & Jazz

Justin Dalton
Scaravelli Yoga
7.45-8.30am every day

CHORAL, VOCAL & OPERA COURSES

(& CONDUCTING)

Susanna Stranders
Advanced Opera Course
Britten Peter Grimes
(with Sian Edwards
& Paul Nilon)
All Sessions
Lee Reynolds
The Big Choir
Elgar The Music Makers
Session 1/2
CeCelia Wickham-Anderson
Gospel Choir
(with Carol Pemberton)
Session 2


Sarah Gabriel
Vocal Workshop
Session 3

Songs of the Jazz Age
(with Richard Williams)
Session 4
Tim Anderson
Opera Chorus:
Peter Grimes
Session 4
Sian Edwards
Advanced Conducting
Course
All Sessions




COMPOSITION, MULTIMEDIA
& JOURNALISM COURSES



Michael Finnissy
Advanced Composition
All Sessions
Dead Rat Orchestra
Multimedia, Art
& Sound Design:
Musical Magpie-ism
Session 1/2


Howard Skempton
Open Composition
Session 2
Neil Brand
Improvising to Film
Session 3/4
Paul Morley
Writing about Music
Session 4

JAZZ & BRASS COURSES


Paul Archibald
Brass Warm-up
(with Brett Baker
 & Eric Vloeimans)
Session 1
Brass Ensemble
Session 3
John Ashton Thomas
Beginner's Jazz
Session 1
Eric Vloeimans
Trumpet Workshop
(with Paul Archibald)
Session 2





Brett Baker
Trombone &
Low Brass Workshop
Session 2
Steve Lodder
Jazz Piano &
Keyboards Workshop
Session 2
Andy Sheppard
Saxophones Workshop
Session 2


Martin France
Jazz Drumming &
Percussion Workshop
Session 2
Andy Sheppard
Jazz Ensembles
(with Eric Vloeimans,
  Steven Lodder &
 Martin France)
Session 3
Steve Dummer
Big Band
Session 4





WIND, PIANO &
INSTRUMENTAL COURSES


Steve Dummer
Wind Band
Session 1
Chamber Music
(with Fournier Trio &
Atéa Wind Quintet)
Session 1/3/4
Atéa Wind Quintet
Flute, Clarinet, Oboe,
Bassoon & Horn Workshops
Session 2


Joanna MacGregor
Cornelius Cardew
& Open Scores
(with Howard Skempton)
Session 3
Fournier Trio
Violin, Viola &
'Cello Workshops
Session 3



MORE THAN MUSIC


Ivan Burton
Open Dance Course: Jive
Session 4


Paul Morley
Illustrated Lecture
"The Age of Bowie"
Mon 21 August 5.15pm
Neil Brand
Illustrated Lecture
"The Silent Pianist Speaks"
Wed 23 August 5.15pm



Dead Rat Orchestra
& Multimedia Students
Musical Magpie-ism
Multimedia Installations
Friday 25 August 2pm-4.30pm


All Courses: £440 (student £395, U12 £220)
Individual Courses (if available): £120
Two Session Courses: £160
(Telephone Only - 01803 847070)
Day Observer Pass: £10


Great Hall Courtyard: £805-£1,505
Higher Close: £555
Foxhole: £325
Camping: FREE
(Catering, per person: £325)
Parking Permit Included



GREAT HALL CONCERTS

Saturday 19 August
7.45pm BLACK VOICES £14/£18.50

Sunday 20 August
5.15pm ATÉA WIND QUINTET: SUMMER MUSIC £8
7.45pm FOURNIER TRIO: GREAT PIANO TRIOS £14/18.50
10pm DEAD RAT ORCHESTRA £10

Monday 21 August
5.15pm PAUL MORLEY: THE AGE OF BOWIE £8
7.45pm JAZZWORKS £14/18.50
(Saxophone Andy Sheppard, Trumpet Eric Vloeimans,
           Keyboards Steve Lodder,  Percussion Martin France)
10pm JOANNA MACGREGOR: JOHN CAGE SONATAS & INTERLUDES £10

Tuesday 22 August
5.15pm DAVID GRAY: ALKAN - CONCERTO FOR SOLO PIANO  £8
7.45pm AN EVENING OF BRASS MUSIC £14/18.50
(Trumpet Paul Archibald, Trombone Brett Baker, Trumpet Eric Vloeimans,
    Piano Steve Lodder, Piano Joseph Havlat)
10pm SONGS OF THE JAZZ AGE £10
(Soprano Sarah Gabriel, Piano Stephen de Pledge)

Wednesday 23 August
5.15pm NEIL BRAND: THE SILENT PIANIST SPEAKS £8
7.45pm FILM WITH MUSIC: METROPOLIS (1927) £14/18.50
(Saxophones Andy Sheppard, Piano & Electronica Joanna MacGregor,
          Sound Projection Matthew Fairclough)
10pm GILDAS QUARTET: GEORGE CRUMB'S BLACK ANGELS  £10

Thursday 24 August
5.15pm ROMEO & JULIET SUITE £8
(Dartington Brass Ensemble Conductor Paul Archibald)
7.30pm BENJAMIN BRITTEN'S PETER GRIMES £14/18.50
(Peter Grimes Paul Nilon, Advanced Opera & Conducting Students,
                                            Dartington Festival Orchestra & Opera Chorus)
10pm [White Hart] JAZZ JAM Admission FREE - Advance Booking
(Dartington Jazz Students)

Friday 25 August
2pm [Studio 1] CORNELIUS CARDEW Admission FREE - Advance Booking
("The Great Learning" & other scores reinterpreted
                                           - Open Scores Students, Director Howard Skempton)
2-4pm MUSICAL MAGPIE-ISM Admission FREE - Advance Booking
(Multimedia, Art & Sound Design Students, Directors Dead Rat Orchestra)
3pm [Barn Theatre] FILM WITH LIVE MUSIC Admission FREE - Advance Booking
(Improvising to Film Students, Director Neil Brand)
5.15pm GILDAS QUARTET: NEW CHAMBER MUSIC Admission FREE - Advance Booking
(Advanced Composition Students, Director Michael Finnissy)
7.45pm ELGAR DOUBLE BILL:  'CELLO CONCERTO & "MUSIC MAKERS" £14/18.50
(Dartington Festival Orchestra & Choir, Conductor Lee Reynolds, 'Cello Pei-Sian Ng)
11pm BIG BAND & JIVE £10
(Dartington Big Band, Director Steve Dummer, Trumpet Eric Vloeimans)

Saturday 26 August
7.30pm BENJAMIN BRITTEN'S PETER GRIMES £14/18.50
(Advanced Opera Students, Dartington Festival Orchestra & Choir,
                                                        Conductor Sian Edwards, Peter Grimes Paul Nilon)

BOX OFFICE: 01803 847070

Sunday 2 July 2017

Budleigh Salterton Music Festival Friday 7 July - Saturday 15 July 2017

Budleigh Music Festival
Temple Church Budleigh
(& St Peter's Church Budleigh)
Friday 7 July - Saturday 15 July




Budleigh Music Festival

Temple Methodist Church &
St Peter's Church Budleigh
Friday 7 July - Saturday 15 July
LUNCHTIME CONCERTS
(Daily at 12NOON - except Sunday)
Friday Zephyr Duo: "Summer Fantasies"
(Ruth Molins Flute, Sally Jenkins Harp)
Saturday Sidmouth Town Band: "Best of Brass"
(Musical Director: Adrian Harvey)
Monday Jazz Trio: "Bach to Jazz & Bach"
(Martin Dale Sax, Gavin Martin Piano
 Jim Rintoul Double Bass)
Tuesday Daughters of Elvin: "Mediaeval Music"
(Katy Marchant Pipes, Steve Tyler Strings
 Alison Burnett Voice)
Wednesday Joel Munday: "Violin Recital"
(Peter Clarke Piano)
Thursday Ed Jones: "Organ Recital"
(Michael Graham Tenor)
Friday Santiago Quartet: "Friends on Two Continents"
(Rowan Bell & Johanna McWeeney Violin
 Cressida Wislocki Viola,
 Jonathan Hennessey-Brown 'Cello)
Satuday Tyler Hay: "Piano Recital
All Lunchtime Concerts: Admission FREE
EVENING CONCERTS
(Daily at 7.30pm - except Sunday)
Friday Soloists of the 12 Ensemble
Mozart/Strauss/Shostakovich/Mendelssohn
Saturday Exeter Cathedral Choir: "Jazz Fusion"
(Musical Director: Peter Noon)
Monday Alexei Gryynyuk: "Piano Recital"
Scarlatti/Chopin/Mussorgsky
Tuesday Festival Orchestra
Beethoven/Mendelssohn/Bartók/ Mozart
+ Nicholas Marshall: "5 Country Dances"
(Nicholas Marshall Conductor,
 Paul Matthews Leader
 Giovanni Guzzo Solo Violin)
Wednesday Marlborough Piano Quartet
Bridge/Schumann/Fauré
(Anna Tilbrook Piano, Guy Johnston 'Cello
 Giovanni Guzzo Violin, Philip Dukes Viola)
Thursday Schubert Schwanengesang D597
(Roderick Williams Baritone
 Susie Allan Piano,   Jenny Agutter Narrator)
Friday Saccconi String Quartet
Mozart/Dvořák/Huw Watkins
(Huw Watkins Piano,
 Simone Fernando Sacconi Violin
 Ben Hancox/Hannah Dawson Violin
 Robin Ashwell Viola, Cara Berridge 'Cello)
Saturday Devon Opera: "Conquests of Love"
Rossini/Mozart/Bizet/Puccini
Donizetti/Gounod/Dvořák
Tickets: £17 (student/U16 £8.50)
Budleigh TIC: 01395 445275
Online BookingTicketSource