Meeting Saturday January 16th


An absolutely great turn out that evening with a few new faces as well as some past friends returning. That's just what we are at the BGS!! One big happy family!!

Our musical paterfamilias, Ray Butcher, was on hand to lead us through the dreaded intricacies of Scarlattis Sonata in D for 4 guitars which we bravely blundered our way through. Still some harmony is starting to emerge- a feat that has been considerably improved since I cheated and swapped my piece from Guitar 1 to Guitar 2, thus saving myself a heap of embarrassment from battling 'at the deep end' of the guitar pool with the higher frets! Don't tell Ray!!! Special thanks to Shirley for organising the copies of all the parts.

We'll need to get cracking on this for the Federation Guitar Socities meeting at Southhampton (which now may be taking place in September)

A great round of solos as well. Vince has recorded them and will add them to the web site ASAP.

Only one slight snag...the paper I used to note the names of the pieces and players has gone missing so I you are reading this blog AND you performed a solo at the meeting please email me the name of the piece!! (aferrier.305@lgflmail.org )
UPDATE:
Christine Dabrowa played Sons De Carilhoes By Joao Pernambuco, 1883. (Without a G and T before hand for which she is very proud!!)
John Mann played Villancico de Navidad by Barrios.
BGS Concert Update
On a more positive front, ticket forms for Nora Buschmann's concert are now available on the blog site and will be sent out with the BGS newsletter. Get in quick with your booking as this looks like it will be a cracker of a concert!
UPDATE 2:
Thanks to Vince Chittenden

In the absence of Trevor, our Chairman did an absolutely outstanding stint in the refreshments area, making sure that we were all fed and watered. He has our appreciation and thanks! And thanks to Steve for getting the hall prepared (and being generously forgiving when I arrived too late to assist!!)




Victoria and Albert Museum- Closure of Music Galleries call for action

I have included this letter from Chris Godwin as a matter of public interest. Please support Chris in ensuring that the Music Gallery remains available for the rest of us!

You may by now have heard the alarming news that on 22nd February the V&A museum in London is to close its musical instrument galleries permanently. The instruments, which constitute one of the world's great collections, and have been a vital resource in musical education and the early music revival, will go into storage and will only be available for viewing by special request.

The space currently dedicated to historic instruments will be given over to more fashion displays - as if there weren't enough about fashion and fashion history in the media already; the V&A probably hope to attract more visitors in this way to a more 'popular' display.

All is not entirely lost; there are plans to redisplay the instruments in few years time at the Horniman Museum or elsewhere.

But obviously now is the time for as many people as possible to make their feelings known. The decision was taken personally by the Director, so the best way to register dismay, and urge for the redisplay of the instruments to take place as soon as possible, is to write to him personally:

Mark Jones, Director
V&A South Kensington
Cromwell Road
London SW7 2RL

Also you can write an email, asking for it to be forwarded to him to Sarah Medlam, e: s.medlam@vam.ac.uk

And there is a facebook petition at

http://www.facebook.com/n/?group.php&gid=257514797266&mid=1be8e13G2c449905G49bf0e2G6

Do write to one or all of these if you have the time.

best wishes
Chris Goodwin

Nora Buschmann Concert Update



Bookings are now open for the Nora Buschmann Concert scheduled for April 17th at St Marks Church in Bromley.



Nora's recital program includes:

Phantasia a-Moll -David Kellner (1670-1748)

Elegie -Johann Kaspar Mertz (1806-1856)
Suite Populaire Bresilienne Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959)

Toccata in Blue -Carlo Domeniconi (1947)

Gran Tremolo-Augustin Barrios-Mangoré (1885-1944)
Maxixe
Vals Nr.4 op.8

Um amor de valsa-Paolo Bellinati (1950)
Jongo

Koyunbaba Suite op.19- Carlo Domeniconi
Moderato
Mosso
Cantabile
Presto


Book in early to avoid disappointment!!

Lute Society News


1. LUTE PLAYER NEEDED, LONDON, MARCH 8-10

A lute player of good standard is needed to participate in a small theatre production of ‘Ages ofMan’ to be performed by actor George Innes in Barons Court, SW London, during 8-10 March 2010.

The one- man play was first performed by John Gielgud and contains extracted speeches from Shakespeare. A lute player will contribute to the performance at strategic points and intervals to add atmosphere and accent. Probably up to 20 mins playing of early lute music will be required during the two hour play with flexibility in the selection of material.

All expenses will be paid and there is some possibility of renumeration, but this is mainly an opportunity to perform and gain experience in a theatrical environment.

Interested? Please contact George Innes on 020-8853-2187


2. EARLY MUSIC VACANCIES IN MORLEY COLLEGE COURSES

Dear musician,

I run a number of classes for adults at Morley College [near Waterloo station - http://www.morleycollege.ac.uk/], some of which need more students.

In particular, the Flute Continuation class urgently needs more people to join the current small but dedicated band. This friendly group runs from 8 to 9.30pm on Thursdays, and is suitable for those playing at a minimum standard of around Grade 4 and keen to develop their knowledge of repertoire, phrasing and ensemble skills.

There is also space available in the Flute Elementary class -Thursdays 6.30 - 8pm, approximately Grade 1 - 3 standard];
the Recorder Beginners class [Tuesdays 4 - 5.30, approximately Grade 1 - 3 standard];
the Recorder Elementary class [Tuesdays 5.30 - 7pm, approximately Grade 3 - 5 standard];
and the Recorder Consorts class [Tuesdays 7.30 - 9.30pm, minimum Grade 6 standard].

Finally, Morley College is planning to reinstate the Baroque Consort [Tuesdays 7 - 9, instruments and voices working at A=415 - not taught by me].

For information about this class and about enrolling on the others, please contact the Music Secretary at Morley College [Tel. 020.7928.8501; email enquiries@morleycollege.ac.uk]
For more information about the content of Flute and Recorder class, please contact me [tel. 020.8941.4917; email williamsummers@uwclub.net]

Please circulate this message to anyone it might interest, and please let me know if you do not wish to receive infrequent notice of my early music concerts.

Best wishes for 2010!
William Summers;
early Flutes; Recorders; Windcap instruments.

3. ROYAL LUTESTRING COMPANY

As Chairman of Snodland Historical Society I subscribe to the Origins Network for help with family history queries, etc. They have just put on-line lists of the 'Association Oath Rolls 1696', organized by Company. One of these is given as the 'Royal Lutestring Company', which I'd never heard of, but which has 110 names (many French) and again virtually all unknown to me. I wonder if anyone in the Lute Society can enlighten me? In any case, members might like to follow this up in any way they can. The Musicians' Company has 34 names.

The original reference is at the National Archives: C213/171/398 for the Lutestring Company (and for the musicians C213/171/51). I attach a list of the names in case you would like to include them (surname before Christian name), transcribed by Clifford Webb (who should be acknowledged I think). Apparently there is a note on the musicians: 'the rest of the members are in the king's service and could not be found' and Clifford prints a warning that some of the writing is illegible. Was there enough work for them all, or does the title hide a more varied employment?

If you can help, please contact me, Andrew Ashbee, e; aa0060962@blueyonder.co.uk

Message from Eleftheria Kotzia


If you have any students /members of the Bromley GS that are interested to participate to a guitar summer course could you please ask them to visit http://www.guitarenfrance.org/


In this site they can find information on the 'stage de Ligoure 2010 '. They can also fill in the application and book on line.


If you prefer to receive leaflets to distribute to them. please send me your address and I will forward those to you.


Thank you for your collaboration and wishing you a GOOD New Year