Bright Wings

Young Glenn Gould practising

 

The teenage Glenn Gould practising Bach's Partita No. 2.  A fascinating glimpse into a rehearsal of a great pianist.

Roy Tankersley MNZM

Roy Tankersley has been awarded a MNZM (Member New Zealand Order of Merit) in the New Year Honours, announced on 31 December 2010.

Well done, Roy. Very well deserved.

Roy has organised many church music activities at community and national level, including direction of the RSCM Winter School.  He is an organ consultant, motivator, workshop presenter, recitalist and choir trainer, as well as running an educational video project. Roy has had an enormous impact wherever he has been. His enthusiasm and passion for church music has inspired generations of New Zealanders.

Roy was for many years Head of Music at Tawa College and later Marsden School, as well as conducting several community choirs.

These days Roy is based as a freelance musician in Palmerston North, where he is Director of Music in the parish of St Marks and St Andrews, directs the Manawatu Youth Choir and Schola Sacra Choir of Wanganui.

Silent monks perform the Hallelujah Chorus

Silent Monks perform the Hallelujah Chorus. Wonderful.

Quadriga Consort plays

 

Quadriga Consort plays Loch Lomond

Quite by chance I found this compilation video of the Austrian early music group Quadriga Consort in which soprano Elizabeth Kaplan sings a hauntingly beautiful version of Loch Lomond.

The full group are: Elisabeth Kaplan (voice); Angelika Huemer (recorders, viola da gamba); Karin Silldorf (recorder); Dominika Teufel (viola da gamba); Peter Trefflinger (baroque cello); Laurenz Schiffermüller (percussion); Nikolaus Newerkla (harpsichord, arrangements and direction).

Gary Higginson, writing for Music Web International -

Yes, they play recorders and gambas and there is a harpsichord. However their repertoire is mostly folk music which is timeless. Elisabeth Kaplan is super: she has a flexible voice, a folksy voice which includes a pop singer-style elegant scoop up to a note where suitable.

Some arrangements have a ‘jazzy quality’ to them, using syncopation. You can hear this in ‘The Maid who sold her Barley’. ‘Pulling the Sea-Dulse’ has some distinctly modern, nice harmonies and changes of key so, although the sound-world says ‘early music’, the repertoire is mainly anonymous and traditional from the British Isles. That said, ‘The Saucy Sailor’, in this arrangement anyway, has a sense of the Hispanic about it!

Quadriga are nothing if not a sophisticated ceilidh band. What is especially pleasing about being able to see Quadriga perform, is that, with the obvious exception of their director and harpsichordist Nikolaus Newerkla, they each sing/play from memory. His allows for freedom and a greater sense of fun.

Cultural icon acclaimed, but under threat

The NZSO has returned from a triumphant overseas tour, receiving standing ovations in Shanghai, Essen, Düsseldorf and Hamburg, and repeated calls for encores in Vienna and Lucerne, to threats that its government funding, and that of Vector Wellington, is being reviewed.

Reading between the lines it seems that government thinking is that there is no need for two Wellington-based orchestras and, if funding for Vector Wellington was withdrawn - spelling the end of this orchestra, its current funding could be spread between the Christchurch Symphony and Auckland Philharmonia. 

There's no getting round it; touring with an orchestra the size of the NZSO is expensive. Sponsorship is thin on the ground in the current economic climate.

Nailing the NZSO to the ground in Wellington might be very appealing to Treasury number-crunchers, and leave the concert platform clear for the Christchurch and Auckland orchestras. But the NZSO is a world-class orchestra, a national treasure.  Audiences outside Wellington deserve the opportunity to hear it.

---

The NZSO's Christmas concert series, with Aivale Cole, and the choirs of Wellington Cathedral, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland, and NZYC Alumni Choir and Jubilate Singers, is on in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch, 9 - 14 December.  Details here

Random act of Hallelujah Chorus

On Saturday, October 30, 2010, the Opera Company of Philadelphia brought together over 650 choristers from 28 participating organizations to perform one of the Knight Foundation's "Random Acts of Culture" at Macy's in Center City Philadelphia.

Accompanied by the Wanamaker Organ - the world's largest pipe organ - the OCP Chorus and throngs of singers from the community infiltrated the store as shoppers, and burst into a pop-up rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's "Messiah" at 12 noon, to the delight of surprised shoppers.

This event is one of 1,000 Random Acts of Culture to be funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation over the next three years. The initiative transports the classical arts out of the concert halls and opera houses and into American communities to enrich everyday lives.  This event was planned to coincide with the first day of National Opera Week.

Labour Weekend: what's on in the Wairarapa

Photo credit: jdurham

Bookaholic Paradise

The Heart Foundation are holding their very popular annual book sale in Masterton this weekend.

A treasure trove for readers of all ages and preferences, this is a very inexpensive way to build an impressive library. The collection is truly eclectic.

As well as books they offer vinyl, jigsaw puzzles (great entertainment if you're on holiday) and piles of glossy magazines.

New stock is put out each day.

Heart Foundation Book Sale
Masterton Town Hall
Chapel Street, Masterton

Opening hours:
Friday, 22 October,  4 pm - 7 pm
Saturday, 23 October, 10 am - 4 pm
Sunday, 24 October, 10 am - 3 pm (all books half price from noon)

Eftpos available.

2010 International Film Festival

The New Zealand Film Festival is on from 13 - 27 October at the Regent  3 Cinema in Masterton.

Check out the programme here

 

Wairarapa Farmers' Market

Experience a real country farmers market - fabulous local artisan food, produce and crafts. And enjoy fine Arabica coffee and music while you're browsing.

Wairarapa Farmers' Market
Solway Showgrounds
Fleet Street
Masterton

Every Saturday, 8.30 am to 12.30 pm
Eftpos available.

 

Martinborough Monster Charity Auction

This monster charity auction is raising money for South Wairarapa Volunteer Fire Brigades.

60+ lots, nearly all no reserve, of excellent goods donated by local and Wellington businesses. Items range from air flights, wine, olive oil, accommodation around the country, art, clothing, meals, cosmetics, laptops, helicopter flights - and more.

Tickets ($10) available from the Martinborough i-Site, limited to 150 attendees - so be quick!

Saturday, 23 October, 6 pm - 10 pm
Martinborough Fire Station, 9 Texas Street

More information here

 

Beyondsemble in Masterton

Fresh from appearances at the Wearable Arts Award, the quirky group Beyondsemble is doing a gig in Masterton on Monday, 25 October.

Their Facebook page describes them as genre-defying Folk, Jazz, Gypsy, Tango, Bluegrass, Celtic, Latin, Rocksteady.

Beyondsemble
Harlequin Theatre
152 Dixon Street, Masterton
Monday, 25 October, 3 pm

Tickets:  United Travel, 8 Lincoln Road, Masterton

More information here.

 

On at Aratoi

Born in Czechoslovakia in 1925, Mirek Smíšek (OBE) has forged a career as a remarkable New Zealand artist since arriving here in 1951.

Smisek has built three studio potteries on the Kapiti Coast over the past 41 years, and Mahara Gallery, as Kapiti’s District Gallery, has produced the first full survey exhibition to honour his life-times’ work. Cultural commentator Hamish Keith has described the project as ‘a genuine revelation of Smisek’s achievement’.

Curator Gary Freemantle has selected 60 pots spanning 60 years of Smíšek’s work from private and public collections around New Zealand. They represent Smíšek’s main forms of vases, bowls, crocks, jugs and Yunomi (Japanese tea-bowls) and the variations in glaze, shape and decoration as his work matured.

Finishes October 24.

Check the Aratoi website for other exhibitions

 

Local Artists on show - Martinborough

Local Wairarapa artists will be part of an Arts and Crafts show this weekend in Martinborough.

On Sunday evening from 6pm to 8pm there will be live music, wine and canapes. Ticket sales at the door - $15.

Arts and Crafts Show
Martinborough Town Hall
Saturday and Sunday, 23-24 October, 11 am to 5 pm
Monday, 25 October, 11 am to 3 pm

Admission: $2.50

 

Eketahuna Arts and Crafts Exhibition
A variety of local artists and specialist exhibits on show in the Eketahuna Community Centre.

Exhibits will be auctioned on 30 October, from 6.30 pm in the Eketahuna Community Centre. Bid on the exhibit of your choice, including a doodle by John Key.  Wines by Loopline.

Eketahuna Arts and Crafts Exhibition
Community Centre, Eketahuna
22 - 31 October, 10 am to 4 pm

 

Castlepoint - book launch

Celebrate the launch of the book Castlepoint on Sunday with this great community event, which includes transport to and from Castlepoint Station.

Transport provided to Castlepoint, departing from outside Hedley's Bookshop at 2.00pm. (Please check in no later than 1.45pm.)

The bus will travel via Otahome, across Castlepoint Station to arrive at the Castlepoint Woolshed at 4pm.

Castlepoint owner Anders Crofoot will provide commentary during the trip.

The bus leaves Castlepoint at 6pm and will arrive back at Hedleys Bookshop at 7.15pm, travelling directly via Tinui.

Bookings are essential.

Order an autographed book $60 and your bus ticket is just $10. ($70 for book and bus). Additional bus tickets are $20 per person.

Sausage sizzle, sandwiches and drinks will be provided at no charge at the event.

BOOKINGS AT
HEDLEY’S BOOKSHOP
150 QUEEN ST
MASTERTON
063782875
sales@hedleysbooks.co.nz

More information is available on Hedley's website

V8 a capella heading for Wairarapa

 
No, it’s not unaccompanied Holdens, it’s Auckland’s premier a cappella vocal octet V8 Vocal Ensemble.

They are on tour next month and here for one concert in Greytown Town Hall on Saturday October 9th at 5pm.

Hot Club Sandwich to play in Carterton

Jazz string band Hot Club Sandwich are playing in Carterton on Tuesday, 14 September.

Part of the Jazz at St Mark's series, this evening promises to be a real treat for jazz lovers.

 

Hot Club Sandwich

St Mark's Anglican Church,
cnr High Street and Richmond Road
Carterton

Tuesday, 14 September 2010, at 7.30 pm

 Tickets: $25
Carterton Information Centre
Greytown Library
Masterton iSite
Martinborough iSite 

Phone 06 379 5687 or 06 379 6510 for more information.

In the bleak mid winter

The indifferent weather seems perfect for Harold Darke's lovely arrangement of Christina Rossetti's poem, In the bleak midwinter.

It is sung here by the choir of Kings College, Cambridge.

Greytown Arts Festival

The Greytown Arts Festival, to be held over Wellington Anniversary Weekend (23- 25 January 2010) has an interesting line-up.

Musical highlights include the Wellington Ukulele Orchestra, chamber music in St Luke's from the Amazon Trio  and an American Blues Night.

Visual arts include Made in Greytown - an exhibition by Greytown artists working across a variety of mediums, an Art and Garden Tour, a postcard exhibition and competition, a Digital Art Competion for Greytown school students, Lego Building Competition, Graffiti Knitting, and Flowers in Shops.

From 4-13 December, Wairarapa residents can purchase tickets to the Ukelele Orchestra from the Wairarapa Visitor Centres in Masterton and Martinborough, and the Greytown Library.  After that date tickets will also be available from www.undertheradar.co.nz

The festival is also on Facebook

Music in the Garden: historic Masterton gardens on show

Two of Masterton's finest historic gardens were open to the public on Saturday, 21 November as a fundraiser for St Andrew's in the Paddock, Upper Plain.

“Last year we hosted a very successful garden tour,” the Reverend Liz Greville noted, “so this year we thought we’d focus on two gardens that were in easy walking distance of each other and put on some music as well.”

Live music was performed throughout the day in both gardens and included local musicians Pat McKenna (voice and guitar) and Rachel Thompson (keyboard).  Masterton musician Caryl Forrest (keyboard and voice) joined with MaryRose Ryman (soprano), Matt Painter (bass) and Amelia Ryman (soprano) from Wellington and performed everything from lieder to light music to Christmas carols.

While they were listening to the music, guests were treated to elegant afternoon teas and delicious cordials.

Ngahuru was built in 1917  and designed in English cottage revival style by William Fielding.  The one and a half acre garden is believed to have been designed by Alfred Buxton.

Woodchester was built for Ted and Lorna Norman soon after the Hawke’s Bay earthquake in 1931. It has had only three owners since and sits proudly on just over two acres, tucked down a long driveway off Cole Street.

Success for Wairarapa Youth Concert Band

The Wairarapa Youth Concert Band returned with an armful of awards from the National Concert Band Festival, held in Rotorua last weekend.

Competing against adult bands, their percussion and flute ensembles each won a gold medal, and the saxaphone group a silver medal.  The entire concert band also collected a silver medal for a 15 minute programme.

Led by Ruth Ekford and Pam Workman, the band has students from Makoura, Wairarapa College, St Matthew's, Rathkeale, Solway and Hadlow.

After hearing this band play at Cafe Cecille last week (refer my earlier post) I'm not at all surprised they did so well. Their playing is stylish and professional and has the wow factor in abundance.

Fine performance ends annual organ music series

Dr Ron Newton at the organ, St Matthew's Church, Masterton

The 2009 Music at St Matthew's organ music series ended in fine style with a matinee performance by Dr Ron Newton.

While titled Victorian Matinee there was nothing Victorian about Dr Newton's performance. Relaxed and engaging, he immediately developed a great rapport with his audience and demonstrated a fine mastery of the Rodgers Trillium organ, together with sensitive, innovative registration.

C S Lang's triumphal, jaunty Tuba Tune opened the programme and was followed by a contemplative Elegy by George Thalben-Ball.

Andantino in D flat - more popularly known as Moonlight and roses - was the alltime audience favourite of distinguished concert organist Edwin Lemare (1865-1934). In 1906, with celebrity status rivalling that of a modern rock star, Lemare packed the Wellington Town Hall night after night with a week of organ recitals to mark the launch of the new Norman and Beard organ. Such was the financial success of the recitals that by the end of the week the organ was paid for.  Following expertly in such illustrious footsteps, Dr Newton brought a delicious Edwardian flavour to his interpretation.

The Milner March, hinting at headmasterly pomp and much enjoyed by the audience, was written by Ron Newton to commemorate Waitaki Boys' High School Rector, Frank Milner, and demonstrated Dr Newton's fine skill as a composer.

Lilburn's little performed but beautiful Prelude and Fugue, written in 1940 for a competition which Lilburn subsequently won, was a concert highlight.  This work, which starts in a very simple, understated way, develops into a complex and full-bodied fugue and was another fine performance.

The programme, which also included Franck, Mascagni, Parry, Bach and Barnett, was interspersed with two brackets of audience-selected hymns. The audience enjoyed a really good sing of Praise my soul and - highly appropriate to mark the 70th anniversary of the start of the Second World War - God the all terrible. More organ recitalists should include audience participation in their recitals. It's a great way of building engagement with the audience.

The concert ended with a lively, stylish performance of Gigout's Toccata in B Minor and was followed by the audience singing Guide me, o thou great redeemer.

Dr Newton is well-known as an organ builder and tuner. Trading as the New Zealand Organ Manufactory, he is based in Oamaru but travels the length of New Zealand installing, restoring and keeping some of New Zealand's finest organs in good working order.

__

The Arthur Hobday pipe organ, which served St Matthew's for many years, has been restored by Dr Newton and is currently being installed in St Patrick's Basilica in Oamaru with the opening scheduled for 28 November 2009.

Arts and culture programme gets off to great start

Jeff Workman's initiative to get art and music out into the Masterton community got off to a fine start last night when the Wairarapa Youth Concert Band and artist Linda Dennes joined forces with a large and enthusiastic audience at Cafe Cecille last night.

The Wairarapa Youth Concert Band - off this Friday to compete in the National Youth Concert Band competition in Rotorua - are a class act.  Ably led by Ruth Ekford and Pam Workman, they played a selection which highlighted the diversity and depth of talent within the band.

Five foot two, eyes of blue, played by a saxophone and trombone quintet, wowed the audience. I was particularly impressed by Occidens Proximus Orienti (East meets west), played entirely by the percussion section. This was rhythmically extremely complex and technically very challenging and the group played it with great panache.

Linda Dennes exhibited a series of paintings featuring musical instruments. I loved the depth, warmth and luminance of this work, and the way Linda has captured the dents and imperfections of much-loved, much-played instruments. 

Linda, an emerging artist who has had two works accepted recently by the Academy of Fine Arts,is a member of the WaiArt Community. Their elegant website includes more of Linda's work, together with work of other artists within the group.

New Masterton arts initiative

Getting art and music out in the community is a new initiative by Masterton Councillor Jeff Workman who wants to make Masterton a more interesting and vibrant place.

This initiative is being launched tonight at Cafe Cecille - from 5.30 to 7 pm - with an exhibition by Greytown artist Linda Dennes, combined with a free gig by Wairarapa Concert Youth Band. It is hoped this will be the first of a regular series of arts and culture events.

Mr Workman hopes to foster street art and other vibrant forms of art and encourage other organisations to stage art and music events.

Tonight's event:  Linda Dennes art exhibition, with Masterton Concert Youth Band, 5.30 - 7 pm, 1 September, Cafe Cecille, Queen Elizabeth Park, Masterton.

Other musical events this week in Masterton

Dr Ron Newton, organist, will be performing a Victorian Matinee at St Matthew's, Church Street, Masterton, Wednesday, 2 September at 2 pm, tickets $10, students free

Rami Bar-Niv, international concert pianist, will be performing at "The Landing", Landsdowne Park Village, 100 Titoki Street, also on Wednesday, 2 September at 7.30 pm, tickets $20.

Having two concerts by distinguished performers on the same day is a great pity and points to the need for coordination between groups providing musical events. There is an opportunity for Destination Wairarapa to help here.

Christopher Herrick plays in Masterton this Sunday

Don't miss this Sunday's concert by one of the world's finest concert organists, Christopher Herrick.

St Matthew's, Church Street, Masterton
Sunday, 26 July 2009, at 2 pm

Admission Adults $15. Students $5. Door sales

Further programme details and information and see my earlier post

Young choral talent to sing in Masterton

The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) is holding its annual Winter Choir School in Masterton during the first week of the school holidays (6 - 11 July). Choristers aged between 9 and 19 will be coming from all over New Zealand for a week of intensive singing and other musical activities. The school is tutored by three very experienced choral directors - Roy Tankersley (Director), Michael Fulcher and Stephen Rowley.

Their final service and prizegiving is open to the public.  If you'd like to hear some of the best of New Zealand's young choral talent, don't miss the Choir School's Final Service and Prizegiving, 11 am, Saturday 11 July, in St Matthew's Church, Church Street, Masterton.  Retiring collection.

Steve Race dies

Homepaddock notes an obituary notice in The Telegraph for legendary musician and compere Steve Race, for many years compere of the BBC's My Music.

Those of you who are older will recall his extraordinary musicianship and musical knowledge. He was more than a match for the contestants Denis Norden, Frank Muir, John Amis and Ian Wallace, who were fine musicians in their own right.

I particularly appreciated his ability to seamlessly combine a few bars from a number of different items to keep the contestants - and the listening audience - on their toes.

Flanders and Swann's Hippopotamus Song was a great favourite of the My Music team. I was unable to find a recording of Ian Wallace singing it, so here is a live recording of Flanders and Swann in action.

Christopher Herrick to play in Masterton

Internationally acclaimed organist Christopher Herrick returns to Masterton to give another dazzling recital on the Rodgers Trillium organ in St Matthew's, Masterton on 26 July.

Christopher Herrick is one of the finest organists in the world and his playing at St Matthew's is a great win for the Wairarapa.

"A superb English organist...Mr. Herrick was at the peak of his considerable form, combining precision with panache, interpretive freedom with sheer joy in virtuosity. The playing was, in a word, triumphal."   - New York Times

He will be playing Organ Fireworks, the name of his much-acclaimed series of recordings he has made over the last 25 years (including one recording on the Wellington Town Hall organ).

Christopher Herrick plays Organ Fireworks

St Matthew's, Church Street, Masterton

Sunday, 26 July 2009, at 2 pm

Programme details