Our next concert 6th July: Summer jazz from Claire Roberts and ensemble
Claire Victoria Roberts is a composer, vocalist and violinist, blurring the boundaries of jazz, contemporary and singer-songwriter genres. She collaborates with musicians from classical, jazz and folk spheres, drawing upon her diverse influences and melding styles together: through improvised vocals, contemporary classical timbres, and melody-driven compositions. Drawing upon these diverse influences as a composer and performer – lyrical jazz, chanson, and Celtic fiddle music – Claire presents a repertoire blending contemporary string textures with improvisation. The sensitive chamber setting transports listeners through an intimate performance of vocal storytelling, rich string textures and experimentation.
—Manchester Jazz Festival
7:30 pm, 6th July at St Michael and All Angels, Cwmdu
Tickets available now on our Online store
Very enjoyable RWCMD concert from The Bute Wind Quintet
On Saturday 11th May, graduates of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama The Bute Wind Quintet gave us a fabulous concert on an evening with balmy weather.
The performers were introduced and we also updated the audience with a salutary description of the state of music funding in Wales; for example the Welsh National Opera and their orchestra who have had funding by both Arts Council in England and Wales significantly cut.
Even closer to home and relevant in particular to this evening’s activity has been a recent threat to “Young RWCMD” whose Young Acting and Young Music activities provide the opportunity for promising new performers to develop their individual talents. A reminder that “As music lovers we cannot afford to be complacent”.
There is a petition about the RWCMD threat.
Also one for the Welsh National Opera.
The night’s programme gave us an insight into the range of the Quintet, including a soaringly lyrical Milhaud La cheminée du roi René, Celia McDowall’s Subject to the Weather—commissioned for the Presteigne Festival in 2010 and evoking the countryside and birdsong. After the interval works included cinema composer Nino Rota’s theme for Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet and Szervánszky’s Wind Quintet. The evening concluded with Brazilian composer Júlio Medaglia’s Tango from suite Belle Epoque en Sud-America.
Our Artist/Maker in residence Rebecca ‘Becky’ Way displayed a stunning collection of work.
A great evening which highlighted how lucky we are to have RWCMD’s graduates and students on our doorstep.
The Bute Wind Quintet are playing at Gŵyl Beaumaris Festival on 25th May details, and Fishguard Festival of Music/Gŵyl Gerdd on 22nd July details.
IWD Hero Isata Kanneh-Mason
For International Women’s Day, here are a couple of snippets to celebrate the work of pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason.
"…in great demand internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. She offers eclectic and interesting repertoire with recital programmes encompassing music from Haydn and Mozart via Fanny Mendelssohn and Clara Schumann, Chopin and Brahms to Gershwin and beyond."
—Kanneh-Mason website.
Firstly a YouTube video of a performance of Clara Schumann’s Scherzo No.2 in C Minor. (Note: YouTube may include adverts for everyone’s benefit 🤦🏽.)
Clara Schumann’s Scherzo No.2 in C Minor
And then an episode of BBC Radio’s “Add to Playlist” programme with Isata Kanneh-Mason as a guest.
Add to Playlist with Isata Kanneh-Mason
BBC announces new classical music programming
The BBC has announced updated schedules for Radio 3 and a new TV series about Mozart. Highlights include the return of Clemency Burton-Hill, and a weekday afternoon programme Classical Live presented by Elizabeth Alker, Tom McKinney, Linton Stephens and Fiona Talkington.
Karl Jenkins birthday
Happy 80th Birthday, Sir Karl Jenkins! Born and raised in Penclawdd, Gower.
Image: St David Awards 2017, CC BY 3.0
His initial musical instruction was from his father, who was the local schoolteacher, chapel organist and choirmaster. Initially a jazz and jazz-rock musician, he played with legendary Canterbury Sound band Soft Machine.
He’s had a prodigious choral classical output, including Cantata Memoria: For the children, a response to the 1966 Aberfan disaster.
Currently BBC Radio3 Composer of the Week.
Updates on this website
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