Professional Documents
Culture Documents
June 2013: New Course Date
June 2013: New Course Date
June 2013: New Course Date
UZZ
june 2013
Welcome to the edition of The Buzz. June Recent visitors to Benslow Music will know that the part of the building project dealing with A Block in the Coach House has now been completed. Thanks to a little judicious shifting of walls and doors we are now the proud owners of two light and airy ground floor ensuite bedrooms with bathroom facilities appropriate for the less able. A far cry from the somewhat grim arrangement of the old disabled facility in Pamela Maud wing, beloved of none but the eccentric. And since we were already working in the area, it seemed silly not to improve the first floor arrangement. At the expense of one very poky bedroom we now have a splendid and characterful single en-suite room. No longer does the bedroom door smash against a sink before it has travelled 45 degrees. A happy consequence of this work has also resulted in a minor improvement to the Boult Studio, which now boasts one newly plastered wall and improved sound where there were once ugly utility cupboards. Weve also installed some rather friendlier lighting. But we know that there is still much to do to update our bedroom accommodation. Watch for more developments soon. Meanwhile work proceeds apace on the ground floor of Pamela Maud as it undergoes its transformation into the headquarters of our daughter charity the Benslow Instrument Loan Scheme. The suite of rooms will include a climactically controlled store room for instruments, a small workshop for a visiting luthier, a rather swish kitchen, a main office and a studio space. Two courses this month stand out in my mind as particularly successful. One was Benslow Baroque Strings: Corelli and the Concerto Grosso, impeccably organised by our tutor Theresa Caudle and brilliantly taught by her, her brother the cellist Mark Caudle and the harpsichordist Alistair Ross. The spirit of joy in
making music was exactly what this place should always be about. And then there was the first of our three weekends during each of which the illustrious Allegri Quartet, as well as teaching their usual brilliant course, gives two concerts, eventually covering Beethovens entire quartet output. Here again the spirit of discovery and excitement was palpable, and I feel a huge sense of personal fulfilment knowing that I have been able to facilitate this great music to be performed by great musicians for our own course members and audiences. The next weekend is from 1 to 3 November. I look forward to two full houses for the concerts, and quartets thinking about attending the course should remember that they dont have to play Beethoven! Before then, however, we have our Music on Summer Tuesdays mini-festival, with a line-up of wonderful musicians performing music from Dowland to Britten and beyond. The schedule for the first seven months of 2014 is more or less complete, and although we will not be taking bookings from members until the beginning of August, when our on-line booking system will be in operation, and from non-members four weeks after that, the completed brochure will be placed on line as soon as it is published in mid-July. As usual Ive tried to include one or two innovations and to refresh old favourites as well as retaining the courses that I know will always be popular. As ever we depend heavily on word of mouth to spread the news about us, so please let all of your friends and relatives know about our work. Even for those who arent practising musicians theres plenty on offer. And for those new to serious music, our two new autumn Crash Courses in Classical Music and in Opera are intended to provide a basic orientation in the musical arts. We really want to live up to our slogan, which states that we are for everyone who loves music. We look forward to seeing you here soon.
www.benslowmusic.org
places available
We still have places available on the following July courses. The Benslow Late Starters Orchestra
(Code 13/260, 12 - 14 Jul) (Code 13/261, 12 - 14 Jul) (Code 13/008, 28 Jul)
From Silent Night - Music by Dowland, Gibbons and Byrd. MUSIC FOR A SUMMER EVENING Tuesday 30 July, 8pm
Who was the real Antonio Salieri? Music Technology Day Playing at Leisure Summer Winds
(Code 13/PAL, 2 - 4 Aug) (Code 13/405, 12 - 16 Aug)
Darragh Morgan violin William Bruce cello Martin Outram viola Danielle Perrett harp Julian Rolton piano Mary Dullean pianoi Forthcoming August Concerts 6 August - The Virtuoso Flute 13 August - Celebrating Britten in Song 20 August - A Bach Evening Concerts take place in Peter Morrison Hall, Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Hitchin Herts SG4 9RB
Free entry for young people and full time students. Please contact us for details.
Always a pleasure to arrive at Benslow Music, a special, welcoming place to make music
OBOE EXTRAVAGANZA
I have been in oboe heaven. Thank you for a wonderful weekend I love this course and learnt so much. Andrew and Ian always go the extra mile
SUPERB SAXES
This course was excellent, Jeffery and Tim (piano) could not be bettered. Their abilities and styles are so wide ranging.
PLAYING AT LEISURE
Many people expressed interest in our experimental Playing at Leisure weekend but as yet insufficient numbers have actually committed. If you were thinking of using this opportunity to come along for a relaxing time, mixing informally with other non-professional musicians, enjoying our hospitality and our gardens, and perhaps finding a few things to play together with your fellow guests and all for a rate which is far below what you would expect to pay for a weekends full board at a modest hotel with no music facilities please let us know by midday on Monday 1 July at the very latest.
sos
The Mornington Sinfonia, based in North London, are currently looking for new members.There are currently vacancies for strings, oboe, trumpet, timpani and bassoon and this terms programme includes Rossinis The Silken Ladder, Beethovens 2nd and Mozarts 40th Symphonies. See their website for details. www.morningtonsinfonia.org.uk
Course Competition
Thank you to all who sent us suggestions for new courses. There were some very intriguing ideas. The one we liked the best was suggested by Christine Baelz, who thought that a weekend for small groups of singers, rather like our wind chamber music courses, would be welcomed. Her thinking was that we could recruit singers willing and able to hold a line on their own and who were good sight readers and form instant groups from them. Although we cannot programme this in August it needs a little thought and very careful tutor selection to put into practice - its certainly an idea well worth pursuing, so dont be surprised if it crops up sometime in 2014
SP
Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Hitchin, Herts SG4 9RB T: 0044 (0)1462 459446 I E: info@benslowmusic.org I W: www.benslowmusic.org