Summer School

A free concert with instruments from the

collection Plus drinks reception and

light refreshments Sunday 17 June

(See events listings)

Friends of the Bate Trinity Term 2012

AGM and Concert

Conservation workshops with the Bate volunteers

By Fiona Davis

“A fantastic experience”

Bate Volunteers

In collaboration with the Viola da Gamba Society A day of workshops for viol

players (See events listings)

The Bate Recording Prize

We are pleased to announce the award of the new Bate Recording Prize for undergraduates of the Faculty of Music. This initiative started for the academic year 2011/2012. There are two prizes awarded to students who have engaged with the collection in historically informed performance. From a strong field of entries we selected a pair of very fine performances, both in joint-first place. Jennifer Pike (final year, Lady Margaret Hall) is an ex-BBC Young Musician of the Year. She opted to play the adagio and presto from sonata No 1 in G minor by JS Bach. This was played on the Rose violin, dated 1750 (Bate 9010). The other recording by Michael Papadopoulos (2nd year, Trinity), who had given a piano recital in the recent Anniversary Concert. His entry was an Allemande in D minor by Handel. He played this on the Smith harpsichord, dated 1720 (Bate 974). Both recordings can be heard on the bate website: http://www.bate.ox.ac.uk/student-recording-bate-instruments.html

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Bate conservation volunteers Fiona Davis

Of course, Andy didn’t make us sit in silence working our poor fingers to the bone! We had a good time comparing instruments, their origin, how old they where, who owned them - not to mention the giggles and stories we shared around the table that had nothing to do with the collection at all! It seemed a shame we only had two hours on a Wednesday morning to meet and work on the collection. We where also fortunate to have Lynda Hillyer on board - Lynda is a textile conservator and the former head of textile conservation at the V&A. Lynda brought an extra dimension of professionalism to the sessions along with interesting conservation stories! She also introduced a new style of a record form, which proved to be very useful.

Furthermore, we had an opportunity to meet some interesting people (other than Andy of course). We had the pleasure of meeting Anneke Scott, who is quoted to be “a natural horn player in more ways than one” and “the finest horn soloist I have ever heard” – so it was a pleasure to meet her briefly while we where looking after the very family of instruments that she works with. Andy managed to arrange an educational day out for us (we nearly fell off our seats when we where told!). The following Wednesday we met at the Missing Bean coffee house in the Turl, before being given a private tour of the Pitt Rivers conservation Lab by Heather Richardson (head of conservation). What a fantastic experience! During our Bate mornings, I asked the other members of the group why they wanted to get involved with this particular volunteer post - these where some of the answers I received;

• To gain hands-on access to iconic objects. • The opportunity to learn new skills. • The opportunities you get in UK museums, are

particularly broad compared to other countries like Australia

• I was over the moon when I found out I would be involved in working with this particular collection – My overriding interest in conservation is to learn as much as I can and to make a contribution no matter how small to the museum.

This has been such a fantastic experience! We all found we gained so much. Not only have we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves but also we felt this was a wonderful and relaxed way of networking. I certainly didn’t expect to get as much out of the project as I did.

For the past six years I have been travelling the UK as a Costume Designer and have recently decided to stop sleeping on other peoples sofas and eating out of microwave ovens for a relatively normal routine in Oxford. I currently work at the Bodleian Library as a tour guide – this is tremendously rewarding, as I am passionate about history. Various areas of conservation have always been of great interest to me. Therefore I decided to bravely change my career path - to peruse a career in conservation. As soon as I unpacked my life (suitcase) I applied to Oxford University Museums and Collections volunteer register, in the hope of gaining experience in different areas of conservation. The first conservation opportunity quickly arose;

“Bate Collection Object Cleaning Assistant required” Those of us who where accepted felt incredibly lucky. To make it even more interesting we all came from very different career backgrounds and countries!

We where initially trained - by Andy Lamb - to carry out the cleaning to a safe and professional standard. The areas we covered ranged from Health and Safety - objectives of the project - safe object handling and how to write up our object record form i.e. to log the work carried out. Cleaning these historic instruments could be considered painstakingly arduous – You clean an area (the size of a 50p) discard the swab and start again. You continue like this until every inch of the object has been cleaned. The objective was not to make the instrument shiny and sparklingly clean, however, we received comments from passing academics, which included “why don’t you just soak it in a bath of white sprit?” and “can’t you just take a Brillo pad to it?” (Although I think that latter comment was a joke…I hope!)

Fiona cleaning the Carlin French horn

The tools I used to clean the “Goudot” French horn & end-of-day report record.

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Forecast of Events

Learn Gamelan with the Oxford Gamelan Society

Wednesday Evenings 6.00pm -9.30pm OGS meet at the Faculty of Music on

Wednesday evenings during the University Term. This is a chance to learn to play on

the Javanese Gamelan. Play guitar with Oxford Guitar

Society Tuesday Evenings 6.00 – 9.30

Oxford Guitar Society meet in the Faculty of Music, last Tuesday of the month

FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES

HALF TERM

4 - 8 June (half term week) 2 – 5 pm

Gallery activities including trails, colouring and word-searches.

[Free of charge, no advanced booking necessary]

FAMILY CONCERT

Saturday 12 May 12.30pm In the Holywell Music Room

BATH SPA GEORGIAN BAND

A concert of music for families and children. Featuring works by Herschel Tickets £10.00 – children under 16 free

(Tickets on the door)

MUSIC WORKSHOPS Viola da Gamba consort with Alison Kinder Alternate Tuesdays 9.30am – 2.00pm In collaboration with the Viola da Gamba Society The Bate has started a new Viol Consort with membership open. This is suitable for beginners and intermediate ability. Meeting fortnightly Theremin with Lydia Kavina Saturday 26 May 10am – 5pm For beginners and advanced players. Including half-hour individual instruction, small groups and a chance to play in ensembles. The workshop is also open to spectators. (Booking in advance)

GALLERY RECITALS

Fatima Lahham and David Gerrard Wednesday 2 May 1.00 A recorder and harpsichord recital featuring works by Bach, van Eyck and others 18th century works for solo keyboard and voice Thursday 10th May 1.00 Accompanied by chamber ensemble. Zalman Kelber, Director Earl of Abingdon Consort Thursday 24 May 1.00 A performance of trio sonata music, including country dances by the Earl of Abingdon (himself a keen flute player) The Bate Viol Consort Tuesday 12 June 1.00 A recital of music by the Bate viol Consort, including traditional early baroque

AGM and Concert

Sunday 17 June

AGM at 5pm Concert at 6.30

A summer concert of music. Featuring the Mascherate Trio, Oxford Guitar Society, Northumbrian piper Graham Wells, The Bate Band and

many others. This will be a free concert but there will be a retiring collection, proceeds

to the Friends of the Bate.

Denis Arnold Hall – Faculty of Music

SUMMER WEEKEND FOR NEW VIOL PLAYERS

16 June 9.30am – 8.00pm In collaboration with the Viola da Gamba Society A weekend of viol workshops and consort work.

Under the tuition of Alison Kinder. Enquiries to admin@vdgs.org.uk or 01865 723778

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Appeal: Thomas Clavichord Restoration

The Appeal

The restoration required is quite substantial. The accompanying illustration shows one item: a severe crack towards the back of the soundboard. Details of the full extent of the task can be supplied on request. We have obtained an estimate of between £2000 and £3000 to complete the work, and the Council of the Friends has therefore decided to launch an Appeal to raise this sum.

When the restoration is accomplished, the instrument will be formally added to the Collection.

Michael Hugh Thomas (1922-97)

Many members of the Friends will be aware of the relationship of Michael Thomas to the Bate Collection. He was a significant figure in the Early Music movement - contributing in various capacities, but predominantly as a dealer in early keyboard instruments. In 1992, the Bate acquired from him a group of seven harpsichords (including several of the first importance) and four clavichords (each built or commissioned by Thomas himself) – in all, a huge enhancement of our holding of keyboard instruments.

The present instrument

In 2011 we became aware of an unfretted 5-octave pentagonal clavichord by Michael Thomas, having some unique features, both in provenance and in design (e.g. a 4’ string band over the lowermost 20 notes). We were therefore delighted that the then owner, Mr. Henry Van Dyke of Grand Rapids, Michigan offered to present it to the Collection, though we would have to be responsible for the shipping and restoration costs.

Our Patron

We are most grateful to the internationally acclaimed forte-pianist, Lady Mary Verney who has agreed to become Patron of this appeal. Now living in retirement in Oxford, she was a friend of Philip Bate, and from 1967 was a member of The Oxford Foundation for Historical Musical Instruments – the body formed to secure the Bate benefaction for the university. She was also the original owner of this clavichord, having purchased it from Thomas in the late 1960s, and it remained her possession for several years.

Friends are invited to respond to this Appeal with their usual generosity: Gift Aid will automatically be added to donations from those who have so indicated in respect of their membership subscriptions. In advance of this announcement, over 10 per cent of the target of £3000 has already been received.

The Friends of the Bate have now met the transportation costs and this clavichord is in the Bate workshop.

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  h  

Studying Organology since 1946  

For   the   publication   of   original   research   into   the   history,  construction,  development  and  use  of  musical  instruments.    

The   journal,   published   annually,   contains   articles,   reviews,  notes   and   queries   on   all   aspects   of   musical   instruments.    Articles   are   welcomed   from   contributors   worldwide.   Contact  Dr  Lance  Whitehead,  at    

editor@galpinsociety.org    

The  Newsletter  is  issued  three  times  a  year,  publicising  future  activities,   reporting   on   recent   ones,   placing   notices   from  members   attending   conferences   etc,   and   containing   requests  for  information.    

Visits   are   organised   to   instrument   collections,   many   not  normally  accessible  in  the  UK,  Europe,  and  beyond.      

 

Membership is open to all For  further  information  contact:  Maggie  Kilbey  Administrator  of  the  Galpin  Society  37  Townsend  Drive  St  Albans  AL3  5RF,  UK  Email:  administrator@galpinsociety.org  

The Galpin Society www.galpinsociety.org

Technical examination of the Bressan Recorder

Following the technical examination of the Bressan recorder (Bate 0112), a film has been made by the University of Southampton to describe the process and the aims of the project.

It can be found on Youtube at the following address:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRDLms95GXs

We are pleased to announce the production of the first of the new Bate publications. It is a demi-catalogue by Dr Peter Mole on the harpsichords in the collection. This is only the first in the series. We are already well advanced in the production of a second catalogue on the Bate Clavichords. Further planned publications include: Horns, serpents and bass-horns, portraits, drums and bugles and other aspects of the collection. This project has been supported by Dr Peter Mole, Copies are available from the Bate shop or online at: http://www.lulu.com/shop/peter-mole/an-oxford-collection/paperback/product-18703044.html

New Publication

http://www.galpinsociety.org

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Friends of the Bate Contacts: Chairman - Jeremy Montagu: jeremy.montagu@wadh.ox.ac.uk or jeremymontagu@gmail.com, (and for anyone without internet at 171 Iffley Road, Oxford OX4 1EL) Secretary - Sarah Montagu: sarahmontagu@googlemail.com Bate Collection Manager - Andy Lamb: Andrew.lamb@music.ox.ac.uk

The Bate Collection

Faculty of Music University of Oxford St Aldate’s Oxford OX1 1DB

www.bate.ox.ac.uk

We have just completed a loan of the Hofmaster horns to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. A special exhibition curated by noted media historian, David Starkey has been arranged to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The loan instruments are a matched pair of orchestral hand horns made in about 1750 by John Christopher Hofmaster. Hofmaster was registered in London with the Goldsmiths Company as an instrument maker and worked closely with the trumpet-maker Rodenbostel. The horns are from the Lloyd-Baker collection and feature in the famous painting of the Sharp Family by Zoffany, in the National Portrait Gallery. The painting contains a number of other instruments, including clarinets and flageolets. These have formed part of the Bate permanent display since the original loan in the 1970s.

Opportunities to make music: Regular informal chamber music sessions

Sunday evenings in East Oxford.

Resident continuo band; `top' instruments welcome! (also cello or bass viol).

Baroque (and some Renaissance) music; pitch A 440; sightreading one-to-a part; a variety of music is provided.

If interested, please contact Jane and Quentin

jane.bliss@lmh.oxon.org 01865 722192

Chamber Music Sessions

The instruments were selected as part of a display concerning music on the river and share a case with items from a number of other noted collections. These comprise a Stanesby Junior flute and oboe from the Horniman Museum, a Barak-Norman viol from the Royal Northern College of Music, two original Handel manuscripts from the Foundling Museum Handel Archive, a Stanesby Junior bassoon from the Waterhouse Collection, and two portrait medallions from the V&A and the Royal Collection. The exhibition will run from May until September with tickets at £11 for adults or £5 for children.