Vale Alison Stephens Mandolinist and teacher


We were all deeply saddened to learn of the death of Alison Stephens. Most members will remember the wonderful recital she provided to the Bromley Guitar Society in 1996.

Alison Stephens was arguably the leading exponent of the classical mandolin in the UK. She was the first graduate of mandolin from Trinity College of Music, London, and was appointed as a teacher upon graduation, a post she held up to her death. Alison has played across the UK and has toured extensively across the Far and Middle East; Australia, South Africa, across Europe and in USA.

In addition to concerto performances, Alison regularly gave recitals for music clubs and festivals across the UK both solo and as a duo with Craig Ogden (guitar) or with Lauren Scott (harp) as Duo Mandala and also with Steven Devine (fortepiano/piano). She also regularly played in opera, ballet, film scores (incl. The Queen, Golden Compass and Fantastic Mr Fox) and concert performances with the country’s leading orchestras. She also made broadcasts and recorded live for National Radios in many countries.

Alison recorded seven CD’s in a solo or Duo capacity on labels including Chandos and Naxox. Her most recent CD Souvenirs (CHAN10563) with Craig Ogden (guitar) was released on the Chandos Label in Sept 09.

She worked on many projects in connection with Captain Corelli’s Mandolin including a best-selling CD (with Craig Ogden, guitar), a sell-out stage show (adapted by Mike Maran), the soundtrack for the Hollywood film, a BBC Radio 4 dramatisation, a Bookmark Documentary on BBC 2 and many poetry and music recitals with Craig Ogden and Louis de Bernières.

She will be sadly missed.

Meeting Saturday October 16th

Your correspondent learnt many things about himself at this meeting. His skills in multi-tasking (some unkind people such as his nearest and dearest would refer to it as 'floundering') reached new heights (or plummeted new depths) as he took on the role of Master of Ceremonies, Ensemble Leader, Refreshment provider for the evening.

However thanks to the patience and good will of those members who joined us, especially the timely assistance of Christina Dabrowa and John Mann with the ensembles, we managed to have a great evening. It was a small but nevertheless dedicated group who arrived!


We revisited some of the pieces played at the Federation meeting with a brave attempt at Valse Venezuelienne which didn't sound too bad, thanks to John taking the lead with it.

After a coffee break we launched into some great solo performances which included the following
Peter Nuttall's Nightpieces performed by Marion Davies

Weiss ' Passacaglia' performed by Dave Hampton

Dowlands 'Lord Zouches Masque' performed by Derek Carter

Weiss 'Fantasie' performed by John Mann

A performance of Pernambucos' Sounds of Bells, Tarrega's 'Tango' and Figueredo's Priva Resuello performed by Rob Sellery

Louise Walker's Ein Kleine Romanz' performed by Christina Dabrowa

And a Brouwer piece performed by Larissa Liebermann. (Sorry Larissa- I mislaid the name of the piece!)

(Your correspondent managed to murder Bogdanovich's Passacaglia which STILL continues to remains a work in progress!!)

It was a great evening and we all look forward to a return to normality in November when Ray Butcher returns from his Irish travels. And the other good news is that we gained a new member- Welcome to Ron Eaves from Sidcup!! We look forward to seeing you at the next meeting in November.
The not so good news is that I (or should I say the BGS Committee) owes Dave Hampton ten quid!!!

Performer Spotlight Seb Genovese

SEB GENOVESE Guitarist/ Composer
Presents: Live Music for the silent Movie

Sebastiano Genovese hails from Naples, Italy he is a classical guitarist and Composer, his latest project is “Live Music for Silent movies”.

The 1st movie he has compiled music and provided accompaniment for is Charlie Chaplins The Kid (1921)

Featuring composers from Brasil, France, Venezuela & his own compositions. The main inspiration for this project is the composer Anibal Augusto Sardinha (Garoto) (1915-1955) who is of the same era as Chaplin himself, Garoto’s music weaves in and out of the drama effortlessly. Chaplin & Garoto as a pair the two share a joyful irony and at the same time depth of artistry.
Seb Genovese performs solo guitar and provides an exquisite live soundtrack for this classic silent film.

Titles:
GAROTO: Brasil Tristeza de um violao, Esperanca, Jorge do Fusa, Gente Humilde, Grazioso,Choro Triste 2, Lamentos do Morro, Vivo Sonhando Ronald Dyens: French: Tango en Skai SEB GENOVESE:Italy Tango de los encuentros, Tarantella ieri e domani, Antonio Lauro :Venezuela: Vals Venezolano Villa Lobos:Brasil: Choros No.1


just 9.37 min on youtube of Seb Genovese plays Charlie Chaplin (THE KID 1921):




Seb Genovese:
contact :07859998347
Email: sebgenovese@yahoo.co.uk
www.myspace.com/sebgenovese

Lute and Guitar Concerts October

1. BELSIZE BAROQUE CONCERT, LONDON 30TH OCTOBER

Belsize Baroque OrchestraSt James's Piccadilly, 30 October at 7.30 pm
Works by Arne, Handel and Boyce.
Soprano: Lisa RijmerTickets *
£12, Bookings 020 7381 0441*For further details: www.belsizebaroque.org.uk


2. CONCERT, YORK 16TH OCTOBER

The Secret Lover
Saturday 16 October 2010 7.00-8.00pm
Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, York

Early Music as you've never heard (or seen) it before! Theatrical Baroque ensemble Incandescenza bring you courtesans, singers, passionate love poems exchanged between nuns - and who knew baking could be so subversive? Poignant, tender, witty and rebellious, the untold stories of Renaissance women come to life in a theatrical tapestry woven from texts from early modern Europe and music by Monteverdi and Barbara Strozzi.

Incandescenza: Rosemary Carlton-Willis soprano/director, Rosamund Cole soprano, Hugh Mackay actor, Elena Cicinskaite chitarrone, Andrew Passmore harpsichord/organ, Sam Stadlen baroque cello/viola da gamba

Tickets: £8.50; students/concessions £5.00
Box Office: 01904 432439. boxoffice@york.ac.uk
http://rosemary-soprano.tumblr.com/thesecretlover


3. LEEDS CONCERT OCTOBER 8TH

Friday 8 October 2010 at 7.30pm and 9:00pm
Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall, School of Music

Peter Martin - Lute
An opportunity, prior to his late-night recital, to explore the world of the lute, its repertoire, its history and its techniques. The workshop is open to all - including lute players and audience members.Lutenists: please register by emailing your details to: concerts@leeds.ac.uk

9:00pm-10pm – Late night recitalLutenist Peter Martin plays a programme drawn from one of the most important collections of late 16th-century English lute music, with music by Dowland, Holborne and Johnson, and their continental contemporaries Francesco da Milano and Philip van Wilder. Admission Free: subject to availability on the evening.

This performance is part of the City Wide Leeds Light Night Programme
http://www.lightnight.co.uk/leeds/index.php
Jillian Johnson,Concerts Administrator,University of Leeds Concert Series,The School of Music,The University of LeedsLEEDS LS2 9JTTel. 0113 343 2584 (Tuesdays and Fridays + voicemail)concerts@leeds.ac.uk


4. NIGEL NORTH CONCERT OCTOBER 29th, LONDON

INTERNATIONAL GUITAR FESTIVAL
Oct 29th 7.45
Hall 1, KIng's Place
90 York Way
London N1 9AG

Nigel North (lute)
"The Heart Trembles with Pleasure"
Music for 11 course lute by S.L.Weiss
Launch concert for a new Cd on the BGS label

Nigel North
nigel.j.north@gmail.com



5. OXFORD CONCERT OCTOBER 16th

Saturday, October 16 · 1:30pm - 2:30pmThe Queen's College Chapel, The Queen's College, High Street, Oxford, OX1 4AWentry: FREESilva de sirenas - 16th century Castilian music for the vihuela de manofeaturing music by Luys de Narváez, Enríquez de Valderrábano, Diego Pisador and Josquin des Prezplayed by Richard MacKenzie on a six-course vihuela de mano by Paul Baker (2010).

Message from the Calcutta Classical Guitar Society

This is to introduce the Calcutta Classical Guitar Society http://www.ccgs.in who are organizing Calcutta International Classical Guitar Festival & Competition ‘Nikita Koshkin’ 2010. Details of the festival may be viewed at http://www.calguitarfest.in

With over $16500 in cash prizes, concerts, trophies, diplomas, and implements for participants from all continents and special categories this is the only guitar festival in the world with a special prize for European Guitarists For spreading awareness about and love for classical guitar and particularly to assist us in this first-time event in the nascent classical guitar-horizon of India, we request you to kindly .

Become a Friend of the Festival – this only involves reciprocal exchange of web links – some Guitar Societies have already become friends and you can view them at http://www.calguitarfest.in/guitar_societies.aspx

Pass the word around to your guitarist members who may consider participating or competing in the Festival.

Circulate the Festival’s website link to your general database If you don’t mind, we would love to send you posters of the Festival, which may be put up in your office/recital venues.Thank you so much for your time and patience.

Warm Wishes,

Avik Saha
Competition & Participation Director.
Calcutta International Classical Guitar Festival & Competition “Nikita Koshkin”
5A, Fifth Floor, Hastings Chambers •
7C K.S.Roy Road • Kolkata
700001P +91 33 22426439 • F +91 33 22426466 • M +91 9830052766 E competition@calguitarfest.in • W calguitarfest.in • Skype avik.1964

Message from Carlos Bonell


Bolivar Hall, London, Friday 22nd October at 7.30pm


I am very pleased to invite you to the Bolivar Hall, London on Friday 22nd October at 7.30pm where I will be playing in the first concert of the Transformations Music Series.


Also appearing will be my special guest Esteban Antonio playing the astounding ha-shem, a 3-necked guitar, plucked and bowed, an instrument of his own invention. We will be playing our own compositions and music by Gordon Mizzi, Queen, The Beatles and Renaissance composers. Admission is free.


We hope to make this a special occasion not to be missed!


Full venue details: Bolivar Hall, 54 Grafton Way, London W1T 5DL. For more info visit https://mail.lgflmail.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=feab0c4ad0ac4c8d85fc42af88f1c266&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.carlosbonell.com%2f