Performing Arts in Surrey, Sussex & Kent

Sussex Chorus Soloists: Soprano Jacqueline Fugelle and Mezzo-Soprano Susan Legg

Sussex Chorus is presenting an evening of Russian music at 7.30 pm on Saturday, 31st March at All Saints Church, The Drive, Hove. 

The programme features some well known pieces such as a selection of choruses from Rachmaninov’s hauntingly beautiful ‘Vespers’ and the ‘Polovtsian Dances’ from Borodin’s opera ‘Prince Igor’, made popular by the use of some of it’s themes in the musical ‘Kismet’. 

In addition, there will be an opportunity to hear works by such composers as Glinka, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky whose choral music is not so familiar. These works reflect the influence of the Russian Orthodox faith on their music. 

 As a complete contrast the ‘Chorus and Dance of the Peasants’ from Tchaikovsky’s ‘Eugene Onegin’ is being performed – choir members have been assured that only singing is involved! 

Read more in March/April issue of Words & Music Magazine

Kingston Choral Society returns to Cadogan Hall on Saturday 31 March 2012, 7.30pm to present Bach’s sublime St John Passion – a gripping and dramatic account of Christ’s betrayal, capture, trial and death.

Performed in the original German, with world-class soloists and an outstanding ensemble playing on period instruments, this is the perfect prelude to Holy Week.

Read more in March/April issue of Words & Music Magazine

Harry Leader: 1906-1987

“So, Mister Leader, play your lilting melodies . . . Music Maestro Please!” 

So went the words to the song that bandleader Harry Leader used as his signature tune, but the apparent lyrical reference to his name was quite coincidental. It was an American song composed in 1938 by Herb Magidson and Allie Wrubel and the moment it became popular over here it was too good for Harry to ignore. But that was many years after he had created his professional name, for Harry Leader was not the name he began life with.

His Russian father, Wolf Lebys, was a trumpeter in the Army of the Tsar and had studied music at St. Petersburg Conservatoire. The 1905 revolution prompted the family to immigrate to Britain and, settling in Poplar in London’s East End, Harry was born there in January 1906 and named George Henry Lebys. There was some pressure on the young lad to become a musician just like his dad but, not keen on playing the trumpet, he initially took violin lessons.

At 14 he bought an alto saxophone and taught himself to play by listening to the records of American clarinettists Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman – and so began his lifetime relationship with that instrument.

 Read more in March/April issue of Words & Music Magazine

Frederick Delius, Composer: 29 Jan 1862 - 10 June 1934

How is it that a lad from Bradford, the son of German immigrants, involved in the local industry of woollen mills, holds an unique place in the hearts of all who love romantic, colourful, emotional music, venerated as the producer of some of the most vivid musical pictures of the twentieth century?

Frederick’s parents were already moderately well-to-do when they arrived in the UK from Germany, though his father’s family was originally Dutch. Frederick, known as Fritz till his teenage years, was the second of four sons – they also had ten daughters!

He was given a comprehensive education at the long-established Bradford Grammar School, where his music teacher who rejoiced in the name Mr Haddock gave him his first lessons. Later Delius was to say these were the only times he ever learnt anything. His father determined to groom him for a career in his firm and much against his will, in spring 1884 the young Delius was sent to manage an orange plantation near Jacksonville on the Atlantic coast of Florida, where he dodged his managerial duties in favour of listening to Afro-American music.

With the sole use of a fine house with servants and guest rooms, Delius found Jacksonville’s strong musical ethos much more to his taste than orange-growing. On the water-front he heard the deck-hands singing as they worked and this sparked his introduction to spirituals.

Read more in March/April Words and Music Magazine!

Ann Widdecombe to star at The Orchard, Dartford

It’s difficult not to be inspired By Ann Widdecombe, whose career spans Maidstone and Weald MP, novelist, dancer and now pantomime star.

Having turned down the opportunity to star in the West-End Musical Grease, “because of the Strictly tour – they  clashed”, Ann is preparing for her stage-debut opposite Craig Revel Horwood in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs this Christmas at The Orchard, Dartford.

Read more in Nov/December Words and Music Magazine!

Composer - Judith Weir CBE

Judith Weir CBE. (b. Cambridge 1954) revealed her musical talent to her Scottish parents whilst she was at school, the North London Collegiate, her first teacher being the distinguished John Tavener. This was followed by Kings College Cambridge with studies under Robin Holloway, graduating in 1976.

Judith was inspired by medieval history, plus traditional Scottish stories and ballads. Her first love is opera, her writing in this genre being declared by some critics to be reminiscent of Benjamin Britten. However her orchestral and chamber works have also attracted great acclaim,The Black Spider, a one-act opera was first performed in 1985 in Canterbury. Since then there have been three full length operas, plus an opera for television, with other works commissioned by Kent Opera and English National Opera.

An opera for Channel Four Armida was written in conjunction with Margaret Williams. Commissions have also been undertaken for Jessye Norman and Simon Rattle.

Read more in the November-December 2011 issue of Words and Music Magazine!

The new Birley Performing Arts centre

The splendid new performing arts centre built for Eastbourne College is not only a great facility for the College but a magnificent addition to the arts scene in Eastbourne, positioned as it is next to the Towner Art Gallery and near the Congress Theatre and Winter Gardens.

The attractive building in a style reminiscent of Post-Modernists, is a real Tardis with an incredible amount of space fitted into its footprint. The foyer is welcoming with bar (usual services and kitchen attached) and exhibition area that can double as a small conference location with projector.

The lift accesses the lower floor which houses individual music practice rooms, instrument store, a composition room fully equipped with computers & keyboards as well as a state-of-the-art recording studio. This latter will be available for public hire and can also be used for rehearsals – big enough for a choir or orchestra or small recitals/poetry readings.

Read more in the November-December 2011 issue of Words and Music Magazine!

Conductor - Stephen Hope

September 25th saw the inaugural rehearsal session of The Orchestra of the 19th Century – an exciting new, and possibly first ever, Professional/Pro/Am Symphony Orchestra.

The orchestra is the brainchild of Surrey-based conductor Stephen hope, well known for his work in the south of England, and in particular with the Sussex Festival Choir, with whom over the last nine years he has given highly acclaimed performances with star – studded line-ups of soloists at Arundel Cathedral, raising in excess of £45,000 for St. Catherine’s and St. Wilfrid’s hospices.

The orchestra is designed to be an eclectic mix of leading professional players and ‘professional amateurs’ – instrumentalists of grade 8 plus/diploma standard are warmly invited to contact Stephen – there is currently NO audition!!

Read more in the November-December 2011 issue of Words and Music Magazine!

The concert in Avila Cathedral under the baton of Carlos Aransay.

Tomas Luis de Victoria was born in Spain in 1548, not in Italy, as those who latinise his name to “da Vittoria” would have you believe. He did, however, live in Italy for a time and is thought to have studied with Palestrina.

He was born in Avila, part of the Castile and Leon area of Spain and served for a time as a choirboy in the Cathedral. Avila Cathedral is a magnificent Romanesque structure, begun in the late eleventh century whose apse forms part of the walls to the city.

Victoria died 400 years ago and his music was celebrated in a wonderful concert, mainly of his music in the cathedral on 26th August this year. An international group of sixty-six singers representing fifteen countries gathered under the “Lacock Courses” banner in Avila, rehearsed together for five days under the baton of Carlos Aransay, founder of Coro Cervantes, and then gave a concert in Avila Cathedral thanks to the cooperation of Caja de Avila.

Read more in the November-December 2011 issue of Words and Music Magazine!

A brief history of a musical phenomenon

A 1928 Aeolian Pianola

‘The Pianola is a piano that everyone can play.’ So declared magazine adverts in the opening years of the 20th century and the statement was undoubtedly true, for it was essentially a mechanical piano-playing device operated by air pressure.

Those early adverts also suggested it was an ideal purchase for Christmas by stating; ‘Though the roaring Yule log fire is now no more and the boar’s head and peacock have given way to simpler fare, one tradition survives through all the years – the tradition of music as the most adequate mode of expressing the Christmas spirit.

The Pianola Piano keeps the old Christmas tradition in your home – you will be able to play seasonable music – dances, songs, carols and hymns.’

Read more in Nov/December Words and Music Magazine!