English Music Festival, Dorchester

[mercia]

looking ahead in the Radio 3 schedule I noticed the evening concert of 23 May will be an all English programme from the English Music Festival, Dorchester-on-Thames including four world premieres (Boughton, VW, Bax). I've not heard of the English Music Festival, here is their website.

http://www.englishmusicfestival.org.uk/programme.html

Unfortunately the background colour they've used for the Saturday concerts has made it unreadable (for me) but I'm sure there are some interesting items.

The abbey website is a bit easier to read

http://www.dorchester-abbey.org.uk/events-at-dorchester-abbey.html

[Tony Halstead]

looking ahead in the Radio 3 schedule I noticed the evening concert of 23 May will be an all English programme from the English Music Festival, Dorchester-on-Thames including four world premieres (Boughton, VW, Bax). I've not heard of the English Music Festival, here is their website.

http://www.englishmusicfestival.org.uk/programme.html

Unfortunately the background colour they've used for the Saturday concerts has made it unreadable (for me) but I'm sure there are some interesting items.

The abbey website is a bit easier to read

http://www.dorchester-abbey.org.uk/e...ter-abbey.html

This piano recital looks interesting:

Saturday 24 May at 10.45am: Duncan Honeybourne (piano)
COOKE: Cormorant Crag
COOKE: High Marley Rest
COOKE: Whispering Willows
BRIDGE: Sonata
ROSENTHAL: Three Irish Pastels
COOKE: Gothic Prelude
FARRAR: Miniature Suite
COOKE: Reef’s End
GURNEY: Five Western Watercolours
ROSENTHAL: Variations on the Nursery-Rhyme Hush-a-bye, Baby
Tickets: £17.50

I thought I knew all of Arnold Cooke's piano music ... are these maybe recently discovered, unpublished pieces?

[MrGongGong]

This piano recital looks interesting:

Saturday 24 May at 10.45am: Duncan Honeybourne (piano)
COOKE: Cormorant Crag
COOKE: High Marley Rest
COOKE: Whispering Willows
BRIDGE: Sonata
ROSENTHAL: Three Irish Pastels
COOKE: Gothic Prelude
FARRAR: Miniature Suite
COOKE: Reef’s End
GURNEY: Five Western Watercolours
ROSENTHAL: Variations on the Nursery-Rhyme Hush-a-bye, Baby
Tickets: £17.50

And some people think that going to the Opera is expensive

[DracoM]

Well, Mr GG, my thought exactly. Would you get many families attending a concert at those prices?

[MrGongGong]

Well, Mr GG, my thought exactly. Would you get many families attending a concert at those prices?

It looks like (for those who are keen on this stuff) a really great festival and it IS cheaper than going to football but it does seem a bit steep to only have one price.

[amateur51]

This piano recital looks interesting:

Saturday 24 May at 10.45am: Duncan Honeybourne (piano)
COOKE: Cormorant Crag
COOKE: High Marley Rest
COOKE: Whispering Willows
BRIDGE: Sonata
ROSENTHAL: Three Irish Pastels
COOKE: Gothic Prelude
FARRAR: Miniature Suite
COOKE: Reef’s End
GURNEY: Five Western Watercolours
ROSENTHAL: Variations on the Nursery-Rhyme Hush-a-bye, Baby
Tickets: £17.50

I thought I knew all of Arnold Cooke's piano music ... are these maybe recently discovered, unpublished pieces?

I've not heard the Bridge sonata in concert and that alone would persuade me to go

[DracoM]

To be fair, they do have ranges of prices for some of the concerts. Just that the highest profile gigs are priced at £22 a throw.

[Flosshilde]

A lovely place to visit even without the music. I went there many (many, many ...) years ago - a very nice teashop as well, but presumably different people running it now (if it's still there)

[Flosshilde]

The festival itself sounds very enterprising - this is the 7th year (asuming it's annual). Something the BBC should be broadcasting more concerts from, even if it's only in the Afternoon on 3 slot.

EdgelyRob might be interested in this - Our new record label, EM Records, takes our work to a new level, facilitating accessibility of these rare and glorious pieces.

and some on the board might find the founder appealing ; others might prefer the founder's friend

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The festival itself sounds very enterprising

I was thinking how misleading the name of the Festival is - nothing from Dunstable or the 15th Century, nor much (anything?) from the 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, or 21st and only a tiny representative selection from the 20th. A worthy project, but poorly named if this years' events are representative.

[Flosshilde]

The 'Welcome' page says -

Whilst ranging from the timeless delights of Tallis and Byrd to the power and drama of Howells and Britten, the focal point of Festival is the early twentieth century – the Golden Renaissance of English music.

http://www.englishmusicfestival.org.uk/welcome.html

The first event is a pre-concert talk 'A Glory that shines upon our Tears’: Music and Art in the First World War' - setting the scene, possibly, for this year's programme. The 2012 programme has a mix of early & modern music.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The 'Welcome' page says -

Whilst ranging from the timeless delights of Tallis and Byrd to the power and drama of Howells and Britten, the focal point of Festival is the early twentieth century – the Golden Renaissance of English music.

http://www.englishmusicfestival.org.uk/welcome.html

Yes, I saw that - but where is the rest? For those of us who think that the Renaissance provided the real Gold of English Music (and who think that there is at least as much gold in Music written after "Howells and Britten" as before) the programme as advertised here is far too narrow to warrant the claims the Festival makes for itself.

[teamsaint]

Yes, I saw that - but where is the rest? For those of us who think that the Renaissance provided the real Gold of English Music (and who think that there is at least as much gold in Music written after "Howells and Britten" as before) the programme as advertised here is far too narrow to warrant the claims the Festival makes for itself.

self effacement is not a popular pastime these days.
I blame the government/ukip/computer games/football agents/GM crops/the internet/Gergiev/.....(Delete as appropriate).

Some interesting works to be heard, the only one I really fancy is the monday PM concert.
Ticket prices? pricey for a family.Ok otherwise.

Could be expensive on petrol if folks head for Dorset....

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Some interesting works to be heard

Yes - and, as ami suggested, the Bridge Sonata is a particular highlight.

[MrGongGong]

Could be expensive on petrol if folks head for Dorset....

All depends on where you live
I don't think my mate from Shetland will be going