newsletter nov 2017 - · pdf file future programmes november 18th: young performers’...

Volume 6. Issue 1 November 2017

Welcome . . . Phew, what a year we have had: six concerts, loads of socials including a marathon walk, a sixties gig for the string quartet, a few weddings and births and even more new members. I suppose we shouldn’t complain: life is certainly buzzing for the HSO. So enjoy this new issue, with lots of interesting photos and articles from some members that may surprise you somewhat. Look out for an intriguing photo involving our chairman: undertaking one of his many enterprises! Please also don’t forget to send this issue to your friends. Free publicity is the best publicity but remember, there is no such thing as bad publicity! Enjoy! Bryan

Spot the Logo Now here’s a new one: yes it is John Mitchell one of our violinists. But where is he and what is he doing? No competition now, just for fun but let me know what you think.

www.harrogateorchestra.org.uk


Concert talk 2016 November 19th Well, we pulled it off despite that pregnant silence at the end of the Bruckner! I think the audience was so emotionally charged that they didn’t want to spoil the silence. Seriously though, the whole concert was a great success and we had so many favourable comments about the programme. Bartosz and Bartholomew were wonderful, the Butterworth was appropriately atmospheric and the Bruckner was fab- u- lous! I know many were hesitant but what was so pleasing were the many comments from the members about how much it had inspired them and how much they enjoyed playing it: difficult as it may well have been. I personally have never had so many people come up to me after a concert to let me know how much they had enjoyed the symphony. Anyone for Symphony 9?

December 17th The Harrogate Christmas Concert at the HIC Well, despite the fact that 5 schools dropped out (and 2 of them, 2 weeks before the concert!), we had over 1100 in the audience and a full cohort of singers. This was only the result of our coordinator stalwarts Carmel Wake, Helen Mills and Lizzie Williams who at the last minute got their choirs involved to make up the numbers. Many thanks to them. We now have amended how we get the schools in the rota to confirm their involvement each year and certainly for this year, it seems to be working. It was as special an event as ever and wasn’t Father Christmas good? I personally thought the jokes this year were the best yet. Strange that I have had so many ‘new’ jokes passed on to me.

March 18 Academic Festival Overture Brahms Flute concerto (Anna Noakes) + Damase Dance of the Blessed Spirits Gluck Symphony no. 3 (organist Simon Lindley) Saint-Saens Another great evening with a welcome return from Anna: the 4th time she has played with us. She is always wonderful to work with, thinks the HSO is fantastic and the players so professional, unbelievably enthusiastic and warm and friendly to boot! Thanks to Jen Berry for rehearsing the piece beforehand and playing in the Gluck. The Saint-Saens was, as expected, a great experience and wasn’t the organ splendid! Simon Lindley was over the moon

with the orchestra and said it was one of the best performances he had experienced. Praise indeed.

2017


June 17 RH A Night at the Opera with ‘Tenori We all knew it was going to be a fabulous event but who could have anticipated a first for the HSO: virtually every person in the hall standing at the end! Congratulations came thick and fast with many people suggesting this was our best ever concert. People were very compliment- ary about the orchestra saying that not only did we play the orchestral items wonderfully, we accompanied brilliantly too. Even our esteemed

Chairperson said it was the best concert he has ever played in. Soloists John Hudson, Nick Ransley and Alex Grove were equally thrilled. Those of us who went to the meal afterwards continued the celebrations into the early hours of Sunday morning: much to the delight, I’m sure, of the restaurant. Are we all up with a ‘Tenori ‘ return in the not too distant future? Bryan with Tenori July 23rd Harrogate International Festival Children’s Concert I think we were all so glad that this concert went ahead. Judging from responses from our young audience and their parents it certainly was great fun. Some very entertaining pieces, a very excited audience and 2 guest conductors: one planned, (Harry) one a surprise. (Jaime) You should have seen your faces when she came out and did ‘The Queen’. How could we fail? My favourite was the ‘Angry Birds’ theme tune but from what I gather, other people simply loved ‘Ghost Busters‘. Very odd! Future HIF concerts are in the pipeline so suggestions please for appropriate pieces.


Future programmes November 18th: Young Performers’ Concert La Cenerentola Overture Rossini Fantasia Para un Gentilhombre (Alexandra Clarke) Rodrigo Symphonie Española (Becky Else) Lalo Ave Maria for cello (Ben Messenger) Bruch Unfinished Symphony Schubert Should be good: an unusual programme for us and some very talented youngsters: let’s hope we get the audience this concert deserves! Dec 16 HCC Yet another name for the centre: can you guess what it is called now? This year involves our original rota of schools, plus a couple of new ones, so this should be another whiz-popper of an evening. Watch out for Cawood School: now I wonder who the Head teacher is? 2018 March 24 RH (rescheduled from the 17th) A Concert Overture Salmon Trumpet Concerto (soloist Matilda Lloyd Arutunian 2014 BBC Young Musician of the Year brass winner and BBC Radio 2 Young brass Award winner) Symphony 5 Shostakovich Bet you can’t wait: I can’t. June 23 RH: A Film Spectacular Night Lots of music: a nightmare for the librarians and the treasurer! Nov 17 RH

Poet and Peasant Overture Von Suppé Concerto de Aranjuez (soloist Craig Ogden) Rodrigo

Symphony no. 1 Mahler Dec 15 HCC Rota no. 2 new schools, same place, same time, same music (only joking)

Exciting or what!


Other news Welcome to our new members: Edith Barton: Edith played violin a number of years ago and has made a welcome return. Eleanor Kellett: enjoyed herself so much in July she wanted to come and play her cello on a regular basis. Paul Grooby: Paul has played horn on occasions before but now joins us full time. Leo Doherty: likewise on bass, Leo has done a couple of concerts but wants to be a full time member. Alison Orr and Sharon Gladish: 2 very welcome viola players. Sally Davies: on cello: must be ok as she had the same teacher as a number of our ‘more mature’ cellists. Beth King: our first ever full time percussionist: hurrah! . . . and the leavers: Harry Brody: sadly died last year but always had a wonderful time with HSO and was proud to be a member of our wonderful cello section. Gerald Payling: Nick’s dad also sadly died. For many years he welcomed the Friends with a twinkle in his eye and handed out their programmes. Rachel Robinson and Lauren Oldacre: cellists. New jobs ensued! Ben Coltman: violin. Couldn’t miss the chance to further his learning skills down South! Gordon Rycroft: bass player extraordinaire had to hang up his bow due to ill health. Jenny Woodhead: a worthy and valued member of our horn squad. Amy Gold: cello. Went on to higher education. Mark Tasker : bass. No one seems to know what has happened to him. Any ideas?

Births, marriages and other stuff . . . . . Maggies Yes we managed to raise a fantastic amount simply by selling raffle tickets! Almost £2,000. John had a big input here, thanks John. Flick made the amazing prizes. Well done guys.


Jo Leach: intrepid explorer. Back in May I travelled to Borneo to volunteer at the Matang Wildlife Sanctuary for two weeks. The centre rescues animals (mainly orangutans, sun bears and small monkeys such as macaques and gibbons) from the pet and entertainment trades to provide them with a better quality of life and, where possible, to rehabilitate them for release

back into the wild. As a volunteer I was involved in feeding the animals, cleaning out the cages/enclosures, general maintenance around the site and providing enrichment to help create a stimulating environment for the animals in order to encourage natural behaviour. It was an amazing two weeks. The humidity was beyond anything I've ever experienced before - I've never been so

sweaty and stinky in all my life! But it was worth it to be in such close proximity to these wonderful creatures - an experience I'll never forget. p.s. Jo is the one in the middle (only joking Jo)

Guess the longest serving player. This was an interesting one: a survey amongst our players to see how long they have played in the orchestra. Here are some of the people who for some strange reason have stuck with HSO through thick and thin but can you match the players to the number of years? (Answers on page 9)

1. Chris Crebbin (1st violin) 11. Anna Fall (2nd violin) 2. Caroline Hunter (cello) 12. Gillian Neild (bassoon) 3. Jill Wilcocks (1st violin) 13. Chris Armitage (clarinet) 4. John Richards (2nd violin) 14. Kathy Richards (2nd violin) 5. Andy Williams (horn) 15. John List (1st violin) 6. Chris Garbutt (oboe) 7. Henry Pankhurst (viola) a)21 b)25 c)23 d)25 e)24 f) 45 g)25 h)35 8. John Mitchell (1st violin) i)18 j)27 k)20 l)19 m)17 n)21 o)25 9. Jeremy Carter 91st violin) (sorry if I missed someone out but one of the lists 10. Jen Berry (flute) disappeared!)


Lydia Smith: star of stage and screen. Lydia’s wedding day looks as good as the dress that was on TV. If you didn’t manage to see the programme, it was very entertaining. Ask Lydia if you missed it. We hope hubby loved the dress too! p.s. did you know that Lydia has just been awarded a distinction in her MA degree? Talking of TV personalities, did you manage to see Ian Botwright on BBC2’s Robot Wars? Watch it on catch up programme 2. I won’t give the result away (unlike a judge in a famous baking programme): you’ll just have to watch it.

Better luck next time though Ian!

Frances Harmer: woman of many parts. I learned to play violin at school and continued as an amateur on and off depending on

work and family commitments. After moving to Harrogate many years ago, I played for a while in the now defunct Harrogate Chamber Orchestra. When retirement loomed I decided to learn to play the cello, something that had appealed for a number of years. I was taught by Fiona Mayo until I passed ABRSM Grade 8. In the meantime I played with Settle Orchestra before joining HSO in 2009. A couple of years ago there seemed to be a shortage of viola players in the orchestra so I thought maybe it was time for a change and a new challenge . . . to play viola. As long as I could get to grips with the strings a fifth lower than the violin and the alto clef, what could be tricky about that? Bryan generously gave me the opportunity to ‘have a go’ at the children’s concert in summer 2015, and I was

welcomed into the orchestra’s viola section the following September. I am having lessons with Pam Else who from time to time supports the viola section at concerts. Her daughter Becky is playing the violin solo in Symphonie Espanole at our Young Performers’ concert this November. Playing viola has opened up more opportunities for music making. I now play with Bryan’s Nidderdale Community Orchestra and the Harrogate Philharmonic Orchestra and also with two quartet groups. It’s never too late to learn. Double bass next? Hmm, perhaps not! While this was going on I also found myself doing an Arts and Humanities degree with the Open University and in 2016 graduated with a BA open degree in music and history. My bucket list is getting shorter.


Social activities continue to thrive headed by our 2 new social secretaries, Jo Leach and Laura Morris. Apart from the usual after the concert bashes, we continue to invade Zolsha’s every half term and we have been known to frequent certain shady places like the one here. Now who is that slinky young thing in the flamboyant attire in the foreground? No not you Nick Salmon!

It was so good to hear that activities don’t always end up in the pub or feasting ourselves. So it was great to hear that some hardy members planned and braved the arduous trek to . . . where did they say it was now . . . the base camp of Everest? Hang on, that looks suspiciously like Pen-y-ghent?


Dodgy business entrepreneur exposed . . . . News is just in that a certain member of HSO has been seen trying to evade the authorities. Now we all know he has his fingers in various ‘pies’ but HSO can not, under any circumstances, be associated with the likes of . . . . Photo courtesy of London Metropolitan Police

Guess the longest serving player answers: Chris C = 21 Chris G = 27 Anna = 21 Caroline = 18 Henry = 35 Gillian = 19 Jill = 23 John M = 25 Chris A = 20 John R = 45 Jeremy = 24 Kathy = 25 Andy = 17 Jen = 25 John L = 25 So John Richards is the winner! Can you believe it? What a fantastic achievement: 45 years. Such a lucky man! I wonder what changes he has experienced during that time? Quite a few I would guess. Well done and congratulations John. A close second is our illustrious viola leader Henry with 35 years and 3rd is our amazing oboe player Chris with 27 years. What dedication chaps: many thanks for your outstanding efforts . . . . and I thought I was doing well with 32 years!

Friends of the HSO. Many thanks to all those who have encouraged friends to come to the next concert. Before bookings open, the ‘Friends’ and their guests often number almost 150. An amazing number. A logistical nightmare for Kathy but wonderful news for us. Just think what could happen if we all sold just 2 tickets each in addition to these . . . guaranteed audiences: no worries about empty spaces!

. . . and finally: Ø You are aware of the old saying ‘any publicity is good publicity’ so please

forward this newsletter to all your friends and relations, especially now, to promote our November concert.

Ø Recordings should be with you shortly. Please be patient, we are working on it!

Ø Anyone know anyone who would do a good job in reworking our website? We are looking for a more up-to-date site and easier way to navigate it.

Knowledge testing time: Nota Bene for Musicians Some more notes to tickle your fancy: Lento: the days leading up to Easto Largo: brewed in Germany (hence Handel’s Largo reaches the parts that other beers cannot reach) Piu Animato: if you don’t clean out that rabbit, it will have to go! Interval: time to meet the members in the bar. Perfect Interval: when drinks are on Mike Kelly Con spirito: often associated with brass players i.e. drunk Cantata: a fizzy drink Tutti: everyone for an ice cream at the interval Coda: served with chipsa after the showa Codetta: as above for children only. Chords: things that organists play with one finger Discords: things that organists play with two fingers Suspended Chord: only to be used after a concert with a very poor soloist. Rubato: ointment for the musicians back.


newsletter nov 2017 - · pdf file future programmes november 18th: young performers’...

Documents