Bookham Recorded Music Club
Bookham Recorded Music Club The Right Notes But...was the title of Mike Wither's programme in which he reminded us that in the classic Morecombe & Wise sketch, Eric told Andre Previn that he was playing all the right notes of Grieg's Piano Concerto but not necessarily in the right order. Sir Arthur Sullivan did not write a Suite called Pineapple Poll but Sir Charles Mackerras put many of the well-known tunes from the Gilbert & Sullivan operas into a suite for a ballet. Valses Poeticos by Enrique Grandados was originally a set of waltzes for the piano but Mike chose John Williams playing the classical guitar. Who can forget Leopold Stokowski's transcription of J.S.Bach's Toccata & Fugue for Organ into an orchestral piece for Walt Disney's film Fantasia? Bach's Air on a G String is usually heard as an orchestral work but Mike heard John Fellingham playing it on a cello and hoped members would like the interpretation also. Wherever Mike went in Prague, he heard the music of Smetana's movement The Moldou from Ma Vlast but never on the harp as performed that evening. Mike's choice of Stravinsky's Tango played on classical piano accordians was not only a surprise but also a delight. Beethoven was worried about the reception his violin concerto might receive so Mike ended his programme with Beethoven's transcription for the violin concerto played on a piano. Roy Flogdell presented his last Charity Evening in aid of the Princess Alice Hospice. He selected music and songs from from 'The Golden Decade of Lerner and Loewe'. Roy has been a member of the club for nearly 40 years. He has given Charity Concerts for over 25 years raising funds for local charities. Due to advancing years, Roy finds travelling from Sussex, especially at night, a problem. Regretfully he has decided to retire from the club. Roy has been a staunch member of our club with a vast knowledge of music in all its formats. He will be greatly missed but also fondly remembered. Sheila Roberts began her programme by reminding us that Britain has a long and distinguished musical history, with numerous high-profile composers writing unforgettable music throughout the ages. It's not all pomp and ceremony however and her selection of works which also included some less known composers and works proved. It was a programme worthy of its title 'The Best of British'. Peter Conway's programme entitled Rhapsodies gave Janet Le Ray the idea for her programme entitled Fantasies and Fantasias. Unlike the Rhapsody which belongs to the 19th Romantic era of music, the Fantasia dates from the 16th Century; the first being Italian works for the flute. In the Baroque and early Classical eras, a Fantasia was a piece for solo keyboard or solo stringed instrument. Organ and Harpsicord fantasias flourished in the 17th & l8th centuries. Janet's final choice was a work not often performed. Tchaikovsky's Concert Fantasy in G major is in two movements and is a fun virtuosic piece. It has freedom and looseness of form and of an improvisatory nature. This piece which brought the evening to an end delightfully living up to its title. Mary Brooks
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On the lst of April our Programme Organiser Sheila Roberts presented Members Requests. An Overture, Impromptu and String Quintet by Shubert, a dance by Ginastera, Concertos by Albinoni, Barber, Grieg and Bellini, a Symphony by Beethoven and Saint-Saens whose Fantasie for Harp was also featured. Needless to say, a movement only was played from several of these works.