Our February meeting was a complete departure from our usual programme with everybody contributing their particular favourite musical offering. Margaret started with a delightful choice, followed by Douglas, Hazel and Lee. Doris contributed a waltz and Joyce was followed by Val & Lee. Bob presented the finale. It was a very enjoyable evening with far…
Our January programme presented by Ian started with the appropriate theme “Winter” from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”. A delightful duet, soprano/contralto by Pergolesi was followed by Delius “The Walk to Paradise Gardens” and “interlude” by Tippett from the “Triple Concerto”. The choir of Trinity College Cambridge sang “The Lamb” and Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No.20” heralded a…
At our pre Christmas gathering Lee let loose an avalanche of seasonal numbers, some 23 memorable recordings dating from the 50s. Andy Williams, Clayderman, Garland and Sinatra, Roy Orbison & Perry Como all continued our journey back to those forgotten Christmas’ of long ago. After our Christmas refreshments, The Andrew Sisters, Ray Coniff & Slim…
Keith presented a cascade of variety at our last meeting featuring Strauss, Verdi and Offenbach – Rachmaniov’s “Adagio” from Symphony No.2 followed by Shostakovich’s “Ravel” and Borodin. The second half started with Elgar’s “Nimrod”, Mascagni, Dvorak and Beethoven followed. The evening came to an end with Andrea Bocelli singing “Time to say Good-bye”. A thoroughly…
Douglas opened our new season with a programme of immense variety ranging from Mozart’s “Piano Concerto” to Peter, Paul & Mary. Verdi and Purcell restored the classical element with “Fiddler on the Roof” and “If I were a Rich Man” popping up in between. A Beethoven Sonata & Vivaldi’s “Concerto for Two Violins” brought the…
Our Spring/Summer session ended with joint contributions from Doris, John, Lee and Douglas and ranged delightfully from “The Love Duet from La Traviata” to “Waltz No. 7” by Chopin, followed by “Al Jolson, Judy Garland and Barbara Streisand with selections from their repertoires. The second half featured DVD’s presented by Douglas and included music by…
Our May meeting was a departure from the norm. We took the opportunity to involve as many individual members’ choices as possible, the order of presentation being chosen by raffle ticket. The result was an eclectic mix of music. Tracks included Bruch’s ‘Violin Concerto no. 2’, ‘Espana’ by Chabrier, ‘Chopin Waltz no 7’, and Massanet’s…
Douglas gave our April meeting a rousing start by playing the 2nd Movement from Shostakovich’s 5th Symphony, having first described the tribulations of the composer in the USSR at the time of its writing. Beethoven’s Romance for Violin and Orchestra No 2 then followed before we heard Katherine Jenkins perform Puccini’s “One Fine Day” from…
The March programme was delivered with considerable aplomb by Gill and John Phillips. The first half belonged to Gill, she opened with a track from “Les Miserables”, Delibes followed with “Csardas” from Coppelia and excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker”. Two dances “Cossack” & “The Can Can” completed the balletic routine. Two more pieces including a flute…
ARMS (Aynho Recorded Music Society). Our first meeting of 2017 was hosted by Lee Simmonds and what an entertaining evening of nostalgic music he gave us! The programme was an eclectic mix of old favourites plus some lesser-known works. All were carefully researched and interspersed with amusing background and anecdotes…