Our Summer Term began on Tuesday 26 April, and we’ve got eleven rehearsals before breaking up for the holidays on 12th July. As always, we’ve got an eclectic programme of pieces from divers periods and nations, including Granville Bantock, Lennox Berkeley, Edward Elgar and Gustav Holst from the UK, with Austrians Haydn and Schubert, and Czech Dvorak.
Sir Granville Bantock (1868-1946) was a Londoner intending to have a career in the Indian Civil Service. Ill-health changed this, and he spent time studying composers’ manuscripts, which inspired him to study music. This led, in his twenties, to touring the world conducting a music comedy troupe and writing Music Hall songs. He also promoted contemporary composers’ music, in particular Sibelius. In 1900 aged 32, he became the first full-time Principal of Birmingham School of Music, followed in 1908 by succeeding Elgar as the Peyton Professor of Music at Birmingham University, a post he held for 26 years. Most of Bantock’s major compositions are for full orchestra and often with chorus and soloists. However, he loved Scottish folk music, and we are playing a Suite of 5 movements entitled Scenes from the Scottish Highlands. It ends with a Reel, when I think the conductor should wear a tartan kilt! Please join us (to play, kilt optional ...)
For more information, contact Haydn Thomas on 01562 88525
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