I’m organising a concert on this date, the main piece of which will be, I hope, Bach’s cantata 106 “Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit”. I have in mind another shorter English piece from the same period. The cantata involves a small ensemble of solo singers, as well as 2 recorders and two viols da gamba with basso continuo.
Arising from this, there is the question of getting good viol players. Could I appeal to any viol players, should we have any, within the Club who might be interested? The parts are written one in the tenor, the other in the alto, clefs and do demand expertise of solo standard I should think. I do have some contacts in the viol world but failing them, falling back on to using a cello or viola is an option. If anyone has ideas on this, I should be grateful.
The second point is that there is still an hour’s worth of music to fill up the rest of the concert and it would be a good opportunity for those of you who like playing music of this period to come forward with your suggestions. I have my own ideas of what I would like to put in but please do feel free to volunteer your own. I’m not hung up on matters of pitch but it would be a good opportunity for those of you who play baroque-style instruments to give them an airing to the rest of the Club.
Things are still fairly fluid at this stage but please do contact me by e-mail or phone. I look forward to hearing from you,
Norman Parkyns, September 2008
We regret to inform Club Members of the death of Leonard Whitehouse, on 10th May 2008. Leonard was our longest serving member, the last from the cohort that joined the Club in 1951. A fine Bassoonist, he served on the Club Committee for many years, particularly as Wind Co-ordinator. He was the subject of a Celebratory Concert held in March 2006.
His funeral will be held at 3:40pm on Wednesday 28th May at Putney Vale Crematorium. Club members are invited to attend.
Jo Rushton, May 2008
For the attention of all violin and viola players
Dvorak’s 8th Symphony. If you have not received an invitation for this special Workshop (or if you have received one but have not yet responded) and you would like to participate, please contact me, Carole Kaldor, as soon as possible. I will be out of the country for much of May, returning on 14th June. It would be helpful to have arranged the orchestra before May 5th.
Carole Kaldor, April 2008
Members of the Club are invited to attend this concert in the Housman Room at UCL, on Thursday 22nd May - details as follows.
John Klier (1944-2007) taught in the Hebrew and Jewish Studies Department at UCL from 1989 until his sudden and untimely death in September 2007. He was one of the most innovative and influential historians of East European Jewry and enjoyed an extraordinary degree of respect and affection among his colleagues the world over. Deeply committed to his department and the college more generally, he was well known to many colleagues right across UCL. Not least, he was a loyal supporter of the ASCR and served for many years on its committee. In the light of John's keen interest in various forms of music, the committee has decided to commemorate John's contribution, and his life and achievements more generally, with an annual music event.
“White in the moon the long road lies”
Settings of A. E. Housman’s ‘A Shropshire Lad’ and other
poems, including works by
Ireland, Butterworth, Barber and Gurney
Cassandra Manning, soprano
Caroline Jaya-Ratnam, piano
Jon Shallcross, readings
Please check the flyer for details of the timing. Reservation is essential - to reserve places, please contact me.
Jane Spender (ASCR Manager), April 2008
There are still slots available for this concert. Please submit your offers as soon as possible so that the programme can be finalised.
Nick Murray, April 2008
The club opera this year is Verdi's Falstaff which will be performed on Saturday 8th November 2008 in Highgate. The opera will be performed in English from the Schirmer score. Piano rehearsals will take place on the two weekends prior to the concert and there will also be 2 orchestral rehearsals, possibly with some additional ensemble rehearsal as the music is really quite tricky.
If you are interested in a role in Falstaff, and haven't already been in touch, please contact me by phone or email before Saturday 10th May.
Jo Parton, April 2008
This recently established 4-day course might be of interest to some of the Club string & woodwind players or pianists.
Chamber Strings is a 4-day course in chamber music for adult learners of strings, woodwind and piano taking place in East London between 27th and 30th May 2008. The course is tutored by 8 professional chamber musicians, (Abigail Dance, David Way, Peter Fender, Adrianne Wininsky, Kwesi Edman, Julie Buckley, Peter Dodsworth & Tra Nguyen), and aims to provide a friendly and supportive atmosphere in which we can make music together. Daily options include small chamber music rehearsals and coaching, Baroque, Classical & Romantic orchestras for string & woodwind players, as well as cello/bass ensemble, woodwind ensemble & choir, amongst others. At the end of the week there will be a concert for the students to perform to friends and family, as well as a staff concert during the week.
Further course information can be obtained at our website www.chamberstrings.co.uk. If I can help by providing more information, do get in touch.
Abigail Dance, February 2008
Graham Thorne, a fine pianist and for many years the Club Secretary, died on 6th February. His funeral was held at St Barnabas Church, Dulwich, at 11:30 on Tuesday 19th February. Click here to read more details and memories from his friends.
The 2008 AGM will be held on Saturday February 23rd at 5.30 p.m. in the Housman Room, University College, Gower Street WC1. As on previous occasions, the AGM will be followed by a short concert finishing with an informal party to which all are invited. Please click here to read the full agenda and associated announcements.
Lyn Parkyns, February 2008
Most members of the present Committee have held office for several years and some are stepping down. If you want greater involvement in the making the music happen, or a role in deciding the Club’s future direction, then please consider standing for election. The process is not too formal and you may nominate yourself. Present committee members would be happy to talk to you beforehand about what is involved.
Lyn Parkyns, February 2008
Once more we have had a wonderful year of concerts which were inventive, interesting, inspiring, and deserving of many more complimentary adjectives. Unfortunately they were not always well-attended. I know I say this every year but you really are missing one of life’s real pleasures if you don’t go, quite apart from value for money for your subscriptions! The standard of performance and the choice of music seems to improve all the time. ... Click here to read the full letter.
Lyn Parkyns, January 2008
The date of the Wind Orchestra concert, originally planned for 28th June, has been brought forward by a week. The concert will now take place on Saturday 21st June, and full details will, as usual, be circulated nearer to the time.
Peter Kaldor, November 2007
We propose to hold another Concerto Workshop in the New Year, this time conducted by Edward Kay and organised by Peter Kaldor. It will begin at 2:00 in the Housman Room, and continue until 7:30 or 8:00. Each work accepted will be rehearsed and performed within its allocated slot - up to an hour for longer works. Shorter works (such as concert arias) are also welcome, since they help to vary the pace.
Solo singers, and various vocal and instrumental concertante ensembles, are just as welcome to apply as concerto soloists. However, some preference may be given to those who have not yet performed in a Workshop. Music hire can be a major expense, so it will help your case if you can locate a low-cost source and let us know. This year, we hope to lay on a bigger orchestra with trombones.
Make your application to Peter Kaldor, by the end of October. Let him know the duration of what you want to perform, and exact instrumentation. He will, if necessary, consult with the Music Committee about the selection of works, and announce the results by mid-November. The committee decision will be final!
Peter Kaldor, September 2007
On Wednesday 21st November, Lyn Parkyns is organising a concert focussing on 'Women Composers'. She would be delighted to receive suggestions for items (both vocal and instrumental) to include in this concert.
Lyn Parkyns, September 2007
As usual at this time of year, a new edition of the Membership Directory is in preparation, and a paper copy will be sent to all members, probably in July. Please send in any updates or corrections as soon as possible. As a new development, PDF copies of the Directory will be sent (as an attachment) to all mail-enabled members in a forthcoming message.
The AGM took place on Saturday 28th April. The minutes of the meeting, and the report on activities for the past year, are available here.
Because of difficulties in recruiting sufficient string players, the proposed programme for this orchestral concert has been abandoned. Instead the concert will be devoted to wind music - further details will appear later.
Alan Reddish, April 2007
The formal announcement of the AGM, with Agenda, is available. Click here for the full notice.
Lyn Parkyns, March 2007
The concert on 9th May, organised by Donald Ray, will see a second piano installed in the Haldane Room. The programme for the concert is at an advanced stage, but there is still room for further items. Any Club members who would like to offer items (for two or more performers) should contact Donald directly (and asap).
Donald Ray, April 2007
On Saturday June 23rd, Alan Reddish is conducting an ambitious concert for the Club, entitled ‘A journey in space and time’, with works by Mozart, Berlioz, Johann Strauss ii, Elgar and Walton. We need as many string players as we can get (for the Roman Carnival overture, which forms part of the programme, Berlioz specifies 61! – although Alan says it is viable with fewer). It would be enormously helpful if members of the Club could invite all their string playing friends in string quartets and orchestras to take part. Of course, all string players in the Club are warmly invited (and encouraged) to participate, too - don't hold back or it may be necessary to reduce the ambition of the concert. Click here for full details.
Helen Braverman, February 2007
Yet another year of excellent concerts; they never cease to amaze me with their variety and interest. There is hardly ever any repetition, ideas continue to abound. I really think that we are very lucky to have so many talented and imaginative members, as well as hard-working and efficient concert organisers. ... Click here to read the full letter.
Lyn Parkyns, January 2007
CMC, who have contributed to our Gala Concerts in recent years, have asked us to announce their forthcoming concerts in Cambridge.
INAUGURATION OF A NEW CONCERT SERIES
The Chamber Musicians’ concert on Sunday 25 February 2007, will mark the inauguration of a new series of chamber concerts, in each of which a Mozart piano concerto will be performed as a chamber work, with one player for each orchestral part and with no conductor – that is, in most cases by an ensemble of thirteen players. Nicholas Toller will be the piano soloist in these concerts, and it is planned that they will take place as an annual event, at West Road Concert Hall, over five years. With these forces it will be possible to build some exciting and varied chamber music programmes around each concerto. The first concert in the series will include Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.23 in A major, K488, and Mendelssohn’s Octet in E flat, Op.20.
SUMMER CONCERT
On Wednesday 16 May the Chamber Musicians will be offering a lovely and slightly unusual programme. Nicholas Toller will again be the pianist in two of Mozart’s piano trios which are real gems (K542 and K548). The other members of the trio have yet to be definitely confirmed but the trio will be joined by two guest performers, Brenda Dykes and Danielle Perrett, who will play music for flute and harp which is certain to be a delight. Brenda and Danielle both have very well established careers as performers and as teachers. Brenda has frequently performed on BBC radio and television as well as in many of the major London concert halls and elsewhere. A number of her pupils have become professional musicians. Danielle is one of the UK’s most sought after concert harpists and plays all over the world. She has had much music written for her, including music by David Gough, her husband, who has contributed substantially to the repertoire for harp. The programme will include some of his music and David will almost certainly be in the audience.
Further details are available on their web site at www.chambermusicians.org.uk
Lyn Parkyns, December 2006
At the moment my personal circumstances are making it very difficult to produce the concert programmes in the short time in which it is necessary to turn them around. Is there anyone in the Club who would like to have a go at this?
Ideally you would have a good knowledge of Microsoft Word. Otherwise, if you have access to the software and are keen to learn to use it, I would be happy to teach you how. In order to upload the programmes easily onto the website, they need to be produced in table format.
If someone else can chivvy the organisers, lay out the programmes and then email them to me as attachments, I can continue duplicating and distributing them.
As I am about to change my email address and don’t yet know what the new one will be, volunteers should leave a message on my answerphone on 020 7624 6897. I look forward to being overwhelmed with offers. Many thanks,
Sue Estermann, October 2006
Calling all singers for the Chorus
Some of you may not yet know that this year we are performing Tales of Hoffmann, a three act opera by Offenbach. And, as usual, we will need a chorus.
If you are not playing in the orchestra, and even if you don't consider yourself to be much of a singer, how about joining the chorus on this occasion. The opera is probably the Club's most sociable event and is always followed by a party. Why not put yourself forward now without waiting for Lyn to issue a personal invitation. She would love to hear from you.
There will be two evening rehearsals at The Studio in Great Ormond Street.
Wednesday 1st November 7.00 - 9.30
Monday 6th November 7.00 - 9.30
Note the dates in your diaries now and let Lyn know that you will be available to take part. You can contact her on 01442 255429 or email her.
Lyn Parkyns, September 2006
This year's Concerto Workshop was a triumphant Club success. 8 members between them proposed 7 works, by uncanny good luck exactly filling the time available with a superbly balanced programme. Chris Fifield steered us through it all effortlessly, and excellent work by the instrumental fixers provided an alert orchestra, with no part in any score ever missing.
We therefore propose to repeat the event in the New Year. It will begin at 2pm on January 20th, in the Housman Room, and continue till 7.30 or 8. Each work accepted will be rehearsed and performed within its allocated slot - up to an hour for longer works. Shorter works (such as concert arias) are also welcome, since they help to vary the pace.
Solo singers, and various vocal and instrumental concertante ensembles, are just as welcome to apply as concerto soloists. However, some preference may be given to those who have not yet appeared. Music hire can be a major expense, so it will help your case if you can locate a low-cost source. In any case, the orchestra should not be a huge one, and there will be no trombones!
Make your application to Nick Murray before the end of October (020 8980 4638) or email him. He will, if necessary, consult with the Music Committee about the selection to be made, and announce the results by mid November. The committee decision will be final.
Nick Murray, September 2006
This year we are trying something slightly different. We are having a ‘workshop’ concert which will relieve us of the usual difficult job of getting people to rehearsals. The proposal is to have 2 rooms booked in the afternoon, the choir and orchestra will rehearse separately and then come together. Rehearsals will probably start at 2.00.
For this reason, and also because it’s a Mozart anniversary year, we have decided on a piece that we hope most people will know, and which isn’t too difficult anyway – The ‘Coronation’ Mass in C. The orchestra will play a short piece, and we will sing a Tomkins madrigal as it’s his anniversary too – probably ‘When David heard’.
Please let me know as soon as possible if you can take part. The solos could be taken by more than 4 people as there are several, but bear in mind that there will be very little rehearsal. Let me know if you are interested. I’m not prepared to send music out in advance as this has caused a lot of trouble in the past. There should be copies of the Mozart available in libraries.
As usual the format will be:
1) Rehearsal
2) Annual General Meeting
3) Run-through (Performance)
4) Party
Lyn Parkyns, April 2006
I am running the London Marathon on Sunday 23rd April, and raising money for the Alzheimer's Research Trust. If you would like to sponsor me, or just read more, please visit my fund-raising web site at www.justgiving.com/ajw-art.
Andrew Westlake, March 2006
The Sheena Booth Music Trust invites participants to Come and Sing at a Choral Workshop with John Rutter to be held on Saturday 11th February 2006 from 11:00am to 4:45pm (Tea & Coffee from 10:15am) at St Mary's Church South Woodford. Full details are available from the Trust web site.
Edmund Booth, January 2006
John Batem
The concert on Wednesday 23rd November constituted a memorial to John, including works of which he approved. Several performers spoke of their memories of him and of the musical events that he hosted.
Jonathan Shaw, November 2005
We have been informed by the UCL Security Office that - with immediate effect - there will be no parking in the Front Quadrangle for Saturday bookings. It will be possible to enter the Quad to drop off heavy instruments and people who have difficulty walking far, but the cars will have to be removed immediately and parked off site. This decision has been made at the highest levels of UCL administration and relates not just to the O&CMC but to all parking in the Quad (including the Beadles themselves).
We do not know whether this is a permanent situation or just one related to current building work.
Please pass this message on to Club members who do not have access to this web site, and remember to inform any guests that you invite to Club concerts.
Adrian Rushton, September 2005
Members of the Club will be sad to hear that Hilary Orr, who chaired the Club for three years from 1995, died on 20th September after a long and painful illness.
A memorial service was held on Friday October 14th at Chelsea Old Church, SW3 at 2.00. A string quartet and 2 movements of Bach's cantata 161 were performed by friends from the Club and Music Camp.
Lyn Parkyns, September 2005
May I remind all singers that in place of the opera this year we are performing Tippett's 'A Child of Our Time'. There are lots of solos which may all be taken by different people, preferably those who will also sing in the choir. Any orchestral players who are not playing (I don't think there will be many!) are also welcome to join in the singing.
I am very worried at the moment as we have a choir of 4! Here is a repeat of the information sent out earlier. Please reply as soon as possible by post or fax (click here for Word version of this note, with a reply slip) or e-mail.
Rehearsals: first 3 choir only, last 2 tutti
| Thurs. 20th Oct. | 7.30 | The Music Studio, 49 Great Ormond Street (just behind Hospital) |
| Tues. 25th |Oct. | 7.30 | Same place |
| Mon. 31st Oct. | 7.30 | Haldane Room, UCL, Gower Street, WC1 |
| Fri.4th Nov. | 7.30 | United Reform Church, Pond Square, Highgate |
| Sat. 5th Nov. | 2.15 | Same |
| Sat. 5th Nov. | 6.30 | PERFORMANCE - Same |
Please bring your friends, we need all the singers we can get. The choruses are numerous and exciting but need quite a bit of practice. The famous Negro Spirituals occur separately throughout the work and are accompanied. Afterwards we will as usual have a ‘bring-and-share’ party with drinks available.
If you are unable to attend all the rehearsals please negotiate with me.
Hoping to see lots of you there – Alan Reddish is conducting.
Lyn Parkyns, September 2005
Dear Club-members,
I just want to cover in greater detail some of the items discussed at the AGM.
May I remind all singers that in place of the opera this year we are performing Tippett's A Child of our Time. There are lots of solos which may all be taken by different people, preferably those who will also sing in the choir. Any orchestral players who are not playing (I don't think there will be many!) are also welcome to join in the singing. Apply to me.
There are still a few concerts and an opera before we take our summer break. I hope to see many of you at these and wish you a good summer.
All the best.
Lyn Parkyns, June 2005
The death has been reported of John Batem
Lyn Parkyns, May 2005
We are sad to report that
Bernard Gilonis, a member of the Club since 1994 and a regular performer on the
viola in Club concerts, has died. His funeral was on Friday, May 20th, at 11.am,
at Kingston Crematorium, Bonner Hill Road, Kingston.
Helen Braverman, May 2005
It is hoped that a large number of you will attend. A copy of last year’s minutes can be read by clicking here.
In addition to the normal business of the AGM, there are two proposals for discussion:-
If you wish to suggest any other items to be included on the agenda, please contact Lyn Parkyns (chairman) or Richard Shaw (secretary), preferably before the meeting.
The committee always welcomes new blood and fresh ideas and there is at least one vacancy to be filled this year – someone to replace Percy Timberlake.
Serving on the Committee is a good way of finding out how the Club works. Members may nominate themselves or others but only need to do this in advance if unable to attend the meeting itself.
If you would like to know more about what is involved in becoming a Committee member, please contact Lyn Parkyns.
Following our normal tradition, the serious business of the AGM will be followed by a concert, after which there will be a party (with wine).
The Club Membership Directory is due for re-issue following the AGM. Please advise Andrew Westlake of any changes of address, telephone number or e-mail address – or indeed of any other of the details shown in the Directory.
Chamber Musicians of Cambridge, the University group who contributed to this year's Gala Concert are giving a concert at Emmanuel College, Cambridge on Sunday 15th May. Click here for details (PDF, 23Kb).
Michael Crowe, April 2005
Another excellent year for Club concerts; I think I used up all my superlatives last year, let them stand for this year too. A great success for organisers and performers alike, and much pleasure for the audiences. I’ll mention just one, the Memorial concert for Percy Timberlake. A few days afterwards I had a message from a Club member to say that he thought the occasion was ‘the Club at its best – somewhat unusual music played with love and care’. I think this sums up what is so special about OCMC and the reason why so many of us enjoy being involved in it. (I would of course have added the word ‘sung’!) Percy used to organise the annual Gala Concert – Hugh Rosenbaum & Mike Crowe have taken this over, the date this year is March 5th. Please try to attend this one particularly as we have contributions from visiting performers from Oxford & Cambridge Universities & UCL as well as our own, the standard will be high, and we try to make an occasion of it with refreshments afterwards.
Click here for the full letter
Lyn Parkyns, January 2005
During the memorial concert for Percy Timberlake, Percy's son Simon talked about Percy's life and his involvement in music and with the Club - you can read Simon's notes here.
John Lill will play Brahms Second Piano concerto in a performance in aid of the Sheena Booth Music Trust. The concert, given by the Forest Philharmonic, will take place on Sunday 17th October in Walthamstow’s Assembly Hall, London E17, under the baton of Mark Shanahan. The concert starts at 7:30pm and Prokofiev’s Sixth Symphony completes the programme. Further detains are available on the web - click here.
Edmund Booth, September 2004
Memorial concert for Percy Timberlake : Saturday 16th October in the Housman Room, UCL
Among other items we hope to perform ‘An Oxford Elegy’ by Vaughan Williams, for Narrator, choir & small orchestra, conducted by Colin Myles.
Rehearsals for this:
Tuesday Weds. 22nd Sept., 7.00 – 9:00 Choir only, Hinde Street Methodist Chapel,
W1,
Tuesday 12th October, with orchestra, also at Hinde St. at 7:00pm
There will also be a rehearsal at 2pm on the Saturday afternoon in the Housman Room
There will be friends and colleagues of Percy’s in the audience, as well as members of the Club, so it has to be good! Please make a big effort to sing in this.
Opera: Rusalka by Dvorak: Saturday 9th October (in English) at United Reform Church, Pond St., N6
This will be conducted by Chris Fifield. There is not a great deal of chorus, more for women (divisi) than men, although what there is is certainly worth singing. We will only need one rehearsal before we meet the orchestra. Please note that this will not be on the Friday evening as usual, but on the previous Tuesday.
Rehearsals:
Weds. 29th Sept. Venue to be arranged
Tues 5th Oct. 7.00 Hinde Street Methodist Chapel, Hinde Street, W1 (with Orch.)
Afternoon of Sat. 9th. United Reform Church, Pond Square, Highgate, N6
Lyn Parkyns, July 2004
It is with great sadness that we have to report that Percy Timberlake died on Wednesday 2nd June. Percy was central to the survival and continued success of the Club in the second half of the last century, serving for extended periods as Chairman and as leader of the Club Orchestra.
His funeral was held at Golders Green Crematorium West Chapel on Friday 11th June. Further details, appreciations, and advance information about a memorial event for the autumn will appear here shortly. An obituary appeared in the Guardian Newspaper on 30th June.
June 2004
We are sad to inform members that Ronald Robson, a member of the Club for more than thirty years, was killed in a road accident recently. In the past he was a regular participant in Club events as a violinist, and more recently was often in the audience. The family wrote with the details of the accident: "He was struck down at the street crossing near his home by a stolen car which was driving at high speed to avoid pursuit and which did not stop."
Lyn Parkyns, May 2004
As the current Diary only extends to the end of July, members are asked to note the following events.
Opera
The performance of Rusalka will take place on Saturday 9th October 2004 at the church in Pond Square, Highgate.
Orchestral rehearsals are scheduled for Mon 20th Sept, Tues 28th Sept and Wed 6th Oct (with chorus). The chorus-only rehearsals have not yet been arranged.
There will NOT be a rehearsal on the Friday evening but there will be one for everybody on Sat 9th Oct, starting at 2pm.
Gala Concert on Saturday 5th March 2005
We hope this will include items from Oxford, Cambridge and London Universities. The Committee would be very happy to hear from anyone in the Club who has musical connections at Oxford University as we have had problems getting an item from them for the past two years.
The AGM will be held on Saturday 23rd April 2005.
Lyn Parkyns, April 2004
The 2004 AGM will be held on Saturday 27th March 2004 at 5.30 pm in the Housman Room, University College, Gower Street, WC1
The present committee are all willing to serve for another year but three of them are considering standing down if other members of the Club are keen to become more involved. We would therefore welcome nominations or self-nominations. If more than 12 people are interested in serving on the committee, or anyone resigns during the year, additional people may be co-opted.
Individual officers are not elected at the AGM; jobs are distributed at the first meeting of the new committee. However, certain roles would benefit from new blood.
In particular, Alan Reddish, who has been Music Secretary for many years, is looking for someone who would like to work in tandem with him for a year and then take over his role. Might this person be you?
Would you like to be responsible for the booking of venues, or do you enjoy taking minutes at meetings? Perhaps you have the skills to produce the programmes. Whatever your strengths, think now what you might want to offer, this year or in the future.
The AGM will be followed by concert 1899. After the concert everyone is invited to stay for drinks and light refreshments, for which there will be a small charge
Lyn Parkyns, March 2004
The chorus for this concert is as yet rather small. If you are an instrumentalist who would like to exercise your vocal cords for a change and can manage rehearsals on Friday March 19th and Wednesday March 24th, Lyn would love to hear from you. Don’t be shy!
Lyn Parkyns, March 2004
Members are reminded that there will be a Club Composer's concert on Wednesday 14th July. Anyone thinking of offering an item is asked to contact the organisers, Tony Noakes or Alan Reddish.
Alan Reddish, February 2004
Well, we've had yet another splendid year of excellent concerts of varied and interesting music; I am constantly and agreeably surprised by the knowledge and ingenuity of the Club members. As Chairman I attend every concert I can, but it's a far from onerous duty and adds to the richness of life. We often hear music that is probably never performed elsewhere, always interesting and often unjustly neglected, as well as more familiar pieces. Long may this continue! Many thanks to all the organisers and performers who work hard to bring us these treats; if you rarely come, it's your loss!
Now for 2004. You will have noticed that the Diary only goes as far as July, this being the first year of changing the Diary to starting in September and ending in July. So the next one will be a full year. Of course, all the concerts are important, but there are a few special points I'd like to make about some dates early in the year:
January workshop. It's always difficult to arrange the January concert, nobody wants to organise, perform or even attend, so we are experimenting with a workshop needing no audience.
February - Gala concert. Please turn out in force for this one particularly, as we have visiting performers and like to make it a special occasion, with refreshments afterwards.
AGM and Opera will both probably be based on this year's anniversary of the death of Dvorak in 1904. The Opera will most likely be "Rusalka". If you are interested in singing a solo please make this known to Jo Parton, Evelyn Bercott or myself. We do not as a rule hold auditions, so if you feel your voice is not known, do offer to sing in an Open Concert. On the subject of Open Concerts, there are people who complain that they are never asked to sing or play. On the other hand, the Committee always complains that not enough people volunteer - do please help to redress this imbalance! Any instrumentalists not needed to play in the AGM who would like to sing, please let me know.
We have a lively, hard-working Committee, full of ideas. I would like to thank all the members for making my job so much easier, and in fact, a pleasure.
I'll finish by passing on to you some anniversary dates, which may inspire you in your choice of music in this coming year:
Lyn Parkyns, January 2004
Members may remember the discussion at the 2002 AGM concerning a suggestion that various records from the period up to 1954 (including membership records up to 1935 and programmes up to 1929) might be deposited at the Department of Special Collections and Western Manuscripts, Bodleian Library, Oxford. This process has now been completed, and the catalogue can be consulted online.
Lyn Parkyns, January 2004
This concert owes its genesis to Hilary Orr, and the orchestra (which is led by Anne Park and includes a number of OCMC members) is enjoying working with two excellent young postgraduate violinists funded by the Sheena Booth Music Trust. It would be splendid if some of Hilary and Sheena's many musical friends could join us on this occasion. Nonesuch also won a Special Activities Award for a Strings plus One project this season, and have an excellent clarinet soloist, Catriona Scott, to start us off.
The concert includes music by Mendelssohn, Corelli, Finzi, Holst, Vivaldi, Tartini and Nielson, and will be held at St Sepulchre Church, Holborn at 7pm on Thursday 11th December. Click here to open the flyer with details of the programme and location.
Helen Braverman, December 2003
Some of you may know that Hilary Orr, OCMC Chair until 1998, is very ill. She would welcome correspondence and phone-calls and perhaps visits by arrangement. She is at: Kensington Nursing Home, 40/42 Ladbroke Grove, W11 3PH, (020) 7727 8033 (ask for 1st floor).
Lyn Parkyns, October 2003
To all aspiring opera soloists:
If you wish to be considered for a solo role in the Club Operas, please make
sure that you are heard at a concert, either Open or organised. The Committee
has decided that this is preferable to formal auditions.
Lyn Parkyns, Chairman and Vocal Co-ordinator, September 2003
We need a big choir for this occasion as there are lots of choruses, the tenor/bass ones with divisi, so please not only sing yourselves but try to find extra singers to take part . If you let me know names and contact nos. or email I can get in touch with them, but obviously if you can present me with a fait accompli it helps.
There will as usual be a party afterwards to which you are asked to contribute some food. Guests in the audience are welcome to come.
| Tuesday September 30th: 7.30 | Music Studio, 49 Great Ormond Street, WC1 Opposite entrance to Hospital. Nearest tube stations Russell Sq. or Holborn. Tel.(020) 7405 9848) |
| Wednesday October 8th 7.30 | |
| Monday October 13th 7.30 | |
| Friday October 17th 7.00 | United Reformed Church, Pond Square, Highgate |
| Saturday October 18th pm | |
|
Performance at 6:00 |
Lyn Parkyns, July 2003
The chamber concert on Saturday 20th September was dedicated to the memory of Sheena Booth, who died last year. The programme is available here, and is based around pieces and players in some way associated with her.
Details of the trust which has been been established to continue Sheena's work of furthering the musical development of children and young people are available here.
The recent AGM approved the proposed increase of subscriptions (see AGM minutes). The new rates, applicable from January 1st 2004, are as follows :
Richard Shaw, April 2003
The new issue of the Club Directory will be prepared shortly. Is your entry correct and up-to-date in all details? Please check, and if there are any changes to be made - eg changes of address or telephone number, incorrect spelling of names, e-mail address etc - please send details to members {a} ocmc.org.uk.
Richard Shaw, April 2003
The Annual General Meeting of the Club will be held on Saturday April 12th 2003 at 5.30pm in the Housman Room, University College, Gower Street.
A motion will be put to the AGM to increase the subscription from its present level of £25.00 per member (£37.50 for a couple living at same address) to £30.00 (£45.00 for a couple living at same address).
This AGM is an important one. Please attend it if you can. A number of important issues will need to be dealt with, all of which are very much concerned with the future of the Club. The proposed rise in the annual subscription is an immediate need in order to stem current losses, but this will also need to be accompanied by economy measures to reduce costs wherever possible.
Libby Summers, who took over as Treasurer last year, has produced accounts which - for the first time - identify the costs associated with individual concerts. This demonstrates the need for more disciplined budgeting, and for Concert Organisers to work within defined budgets. Two particular areas for economy, which will be detailed at the AGM, concern hire of rehearsal rooms and hiring of music. Savings are also being made by extending the use of e-mail in place of postal mailings for distribution of concert programmes.
Another proposed change - for efficiency rather than economy - is that the Club Calendar, containing the Concert programme for the following 12 months, should be reissued in September rather than January.
We need a new Membership Secretary.
Richard Wood, who has served the Club as Membership Secretary for a number of years, has resigned. We are sorry to lose Richard and thank him for the important contribution which he has made to the working of the Club. We now need to find a volunteer to succeed Richard and take on this essential task of enrolling new members and maintaining membership records. Please contact Lyn Parkyns if you are interested or think you could help the Club by taking on this responsibility.
Would you like to help the Club by serving a spell on the Committee ?
There are a number of vacancies to be filled. Apart from that of Membership Secretary (see above), we also need assistance in a number of other departments, eg particularly
Serving on the Committee is a good way of finding out how the Club works. If you are interested in becoming a Committee member or would like to know more about it, please contact Lyn Parkyns - if possible before the AGM.
Lyn Parkyns, April 2003
A choir is needed for the AGM Concert on Saturday April 12th 2003. As last year, the orchestra, conducted by Colin Myles, will play a couple of pieces and the choir will sing probably 5 unaccompanied pieces (conducted by me). This year I can find no suitable anniversary composers and have decided to do a varied group 'In memoriam John Elton'. As most of you know, he was a keen member of our choir, obligingly moving from bass to tenor when required. In fact his last appearance last year was at the AGM, although he was not well enough to sing, having fallen ill the day after attending the first rehearsal for it. The composers will probably include Purcell, Schütz, Britten and Weelkes (one anniversary is the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603), my final decision being dictated by the response to this request.
There will two rehearsals plus one on the day, which should be only a 'top-and-tail'.
Two hours should be enough if we start on time, so please be punctual.
A choir will also be needed for the Arne Opera on Weds. June 4th and the Club main opera (Mozart's Idomeneo, lots of lovely chorus numbers) on Sat. October 18th (with rehearsal the previous evening and Sat. afternoon). It is possible that other dates may appear, but please put these in your diaries. The main opera has been moved back from November this year to avoid a possible clash with Chelsea Opera Group.
Lyn Parkyns, March 2003
The Club has just learned of the sudden and tragic death of Geoffrey Elkan, clarinettist.
The funeral service will be held on
Sunday January 12th at 10:30 at the
Golders Green Crematorium, 62 Hoop Lane London NW11.
In addition members who knew the family might want to drop in at the Elkan home any evening 12-16 January between 6 and 9pm. The address is 31 Coleridge Walk NW11.
Hugh Rosenbaum, January 2003
Dear Club member,
I thought this might be a good time to write to everybody, the first time I have done so. Another splendid year of music! At the time of writing, the last event was the Opera, which went extremely well. Congratulations to all who were involved, but indeed every concert is a treat. Where else in London can you hear a high-quality concert which is absolutely free, where you sit in comfort, and can be sure of meeting friends? The music is always interesting and often very unusual. Many thanks to all who organise and perform, but also to those who come and listen. It's dispiriting when one has spent time and trouble preparing a programme, only to find that there's a minute audience. If you don't often attend these concerts you are really missing something enjoyable, and surely this is what the Club is all about.
As most of you probably know already, the cost of putting on concerts everywhere has gone up, mostly due to a big rise in the amounts we pay for music hire, and above all, room hire. All the rooms that we use have put their rates up considerably. We have recently discovered one medium-sized room in Central London which is reasonably-priced (Ormond St.), but if anybody knows of any others, please inform our room-booker, Lynn Maya. All bookings must be made through her. In future, please could you also consult the Treasurer, Libby Summers, before embarking on hiring music or doing anything else which will cost the Club money. Our expenses are exceeding our income by quite a large factor, and we are seriously considering the necessity for raising subscriptions after the next AGM.
One last plea: we still have NO SECRETARY! This is not an arduous job, as in fact I do most of the secretarial work (there isn't a lot). All we need is someone to take Minutes at the Committee meetings, which take place about 4 times a year, and at the AGM. They then need to be typed and sent to the Committee members, most of whom are on e-mail. Please will somebody volunteer. Apart from being a very important job, it's a good way of finding out what's going on!
I have finally delivered the archives to the Bodleian Library, where they will be re-bound, looked after, and probably used for reference.
I'm sure we will have another wonderful year of music in 2003. I've discovered a few anniversaries which may give you ideas for programmes, but I haven't looked very hard and I'm sure there are lots more.
| Arnold Bax | (1883 - 1953) d. 3rd Oct |
| Hector Berlioz | (1803 - 1869) b. 11th Dec |
| John Wesley | (1703 - 1791) b. 17th June |
| Lennox Berkeley | (1903 - 1989) b. 12th May |
| Sergey Prokofiev | (1891 - 1953) d. 5th March |
| Hugo Wolf | (1860 - 1903) d. 22nd Feb |
Lyn Parkyns, January 2003
With great sorrow we have to report that Sheena Booth lost her brave fight with breast cancer and died peacefully on Monday 23rd December, with Edmund at her side. A Memorial Service for Sheena was held on Tuesday January 28th at St Mary’s Parish Church, South Woodford.
A trust has been established to continue Sheena's work of furthering the musical development of children and young people. Details of this are available from Edmund's website.
Hilary Orr, December 2002
Very regretfully, the ‘Songs We Sang’ Concert, which was deferred from Wednesday October 2nd to Wednesday October 16th due to the Underground strike, has had to be put off again and will now take place on Saturday January 25th 2003. Helen Shaw apologises for this further deferment but the problems and uncertainties which have been created both by strikes and threats of strikes have been such that she believes it will be far better now to make a new start. The new concert date will allow the time which is necessary for a worthwhile performance with a full complement of singers, and hopefully free of further threats of strikes!
Helen Shaw hopes that as many as possible of those who were going to take part on either of the two cancelled dates will be able to join her on January 25th: She also invites any other lady members who weren’t able to manage it this time round but would like to take part in January, to contact her. There will be further advance publicity about this concert, including rehearsal details, in the New Year.
Helen Shaw, October 2002
Efforts to fill these two jobs (both vacant since the AGM in March) have so far been unavailing. The Committee would like to hear from any member of the Club who might be interested in helping the Club by filling either of these positions - even on a short-term, temporary basis. Please contact Lyn Parkyns (Chairman) or Alan Reddish (Music Secretary) if you think you might be able to help.
These days this job no longer involves any organisational duties, almost all of which are done by the Chairman and other members of the Committee. The one important remaining task for the Club Secretary is that of taking the Minutes of Committee meetings (4 or 5 per year) and the AGM.
Main responsibilities are helping pianists to find opportunities to perform and acting as a link person eg to put singers in touch with potential accompanists. There is also an opportunity to organise special events like the memorable concerts of two-piano music organised (successively) by Tom Radice and Anthony Hardwicke.
Lyn Parkyns, June 2002
To all Ladies of the Club.
Do you have memories of singing in your school choir ? Do songs like ‘Five Eyes’ by Armstrong Gibbs, ‘Cargoes’ by Martin Shaw, or ‘Daffodils’ by Eric Thiman, bring back memories ? Or did you have a favourite song which you would like to sing again ? If so, Helen Shaw (020 8868 5830) would like to hear from you and hopes you will join her for a nostalgic evening of song on Wednesday October 3rd . It is hoped that ‘The Songs We Sang’ will include a wide repertoire of solos, duets, and part songs.
Helen Shaw, June 2002
Club composers are reminded of the composers' concert on Wednesday September 4th. Please contact Alan Reddish if you have a composition which you would like to be included in this concert - or Tony Noakes (now in Australia) after he returns to England in June.
Recent information from Tony is that he has had 2 CDs made of his songs - information and copies from him.
Alan Reddish, April 2002
There is room for more (approx 10 minute) items for this Concert. Please contact Alan Reddish if you would like to offer an item, also if you need help in finding an accompanist
Alan Reddish, April 2002
John Elton, a frequent contributor and much loved member of the Club, has died. His funeral will be held at 11am on Thursday 18th April at Mortlake Cemetery, and Club members are invited to attend. No flowers, but donations may be made to the Musicians Benevolent Fund.
Lyn Parkyns, April 2002
The minutes of the AGM, held on 8th March in the Housman Room, University College, are now available - click here to read them.
The Report from the Music Committee on the items presented during 2001, as delivered by Alan Reddish at the 2002 AGM, can also be read here. We intend to keep these reports on the site in future, and have added that for 2000 - click here.
The meeting adopted a new rule, requiring members who rejoin after allowing their membership to lapse to pay by standing order. It also heard that interest had been expressed by the Bodleian Library in Oxford in the archive material about the Club's activities up to 1939 - the meeting agreed to offer this material to the Bodleian on permanent loan.
Richard Shaw, April 2002
Helen Shaw would like to hear from ladies of the Club who might be interested in reliving some their 'happiest days' when they sang in their School Choir. A concert on October 3rd will include unison, 2-part, 3-part and maybe 4-part songs which formed the standard repertoire of school choirs in the mid 20th century but which are rarely heard today. If you would like to take part in this event, would you please contact Helen to let her know (020 8868 5830) so that the music can be chosen and distributed in good time.
Helen Shaw, February 2002
The AGM will be held in the Housman Room, and will (as in previous years) be followed by the 'AGM Concert' at around 6.30pm on Saturday March 9th.
There will be a number of vacancies to be filled on the Committee and the need to find a new Club Treasurer is now urgent. Any member of the Club who might be interested in serving on the Committee or becoming Club Treasurer is invited to contact Lyn Parkyns (Chairman).
On this occasion the proceedings will include a motion, presented by the Committee, that
'Any former member who wishes to rejoin the Club after allowing his/her membership to lapse should, on re-admittance to the Club, be required to pay his/her subscription by Standing order and to maintain this as a regular arrangement'.
The purpose is to reduce one of the main problems which the Club Treasurer has to cope with (still a vacancy here, although Mike Scott has kindly agreed to present the Accounts at the AGM).
Anthony Hardwicke, February 2002
Anybody who would like to offer a musical item for inclusion in this concert, or who would like to take part in a concerted item - especially but not necessarily on Baroque instruments - is invited to get in touch with Lyn and Norman Parkyns. Vocal items are also invited.
Mike Scott, who has been our Treasurer for the past six years, has opted for a country life and expects to move house early in the New Year (mid/late January). Mike has served us well and we are grateful to him for the important contribution that he has made. Now we need to find a new Treasurer to take over from him.
Because Mike has been so efficient at the job, he shouldn't be such a hard act to follow. The hard work (says Mike) was in sorting it out and setting up the system. He tells us that the system is now ticking over nicely. The main income is from subscriptions, most of which are Standing Orders. This leads to a surge of activity in January; this part of the job is done in conjunction with the Membership Secretary (Richard Wood) and in the coming January Mike hopes to deal with most of it before he leaves. Outgoings - hire charges for rooms and music, admin expenses etc - are spread out throughout the year and run to a regular pattern. If all transactions are properly recorded at the time when they occur, it is not difficult to produce the annual set of accounts for the AGM. Mike reckons that for most of the year (ie apart from January) his job as Club Treasurer takes him less than one hour per week !
It helps - but is not essential - to have a computer. Mike uses the Quicken software package - a system which is designed for the uninitiated. Mike says it does it all for him. He could put the existing accounts on a disk for the person who takes over from him.
Do let us know if you think you might be able to help the Club by taking on this essential job. If you would like to know more about it please call Mike on 020 8778 8564.
Richard Shaw, November 2001
Some important items of Club history have recently 'turned up' - a pile of dusty old ledgers comprising the complete membership and subscription records of all the members of the Club from 1899 (the foundation of the Club) to 1935. The handwritten entries show the names of all members between those dates together with their subscription records, also when they ceased to be members and for what reason. Many of the entries concern difficulties in getting members to pay their subscriptions (plus ça change . . .! ). But there are also interesting details about such things as members who lost their lives in both the Boer War and the Great War.
The best-known of the Club's former members have already been listed in the official History published in 1979 and more recently (1999) in Alan Reddish's article "A hundred years of Club history" published in the Centenary Year Programme and included on this site. The lists given in those published accounts may well have been drawn from a combing of these ledgers, which are likely to be of interest mainly to historians and researchers.
The ledgers - currently being kept by our Chairman, Lyn Parkyns - will be put on display to members at next year's AGM when the question of what to do with them will also be on the agenda. The Bodleian Library has expressed an interest.
Lyn Parkyns, November 2001
Members will remember that Tommy Evans, the last pre-war member of the Club, died in February. Tributes to Tommy have been written by some of those who knew him, and we have decided to use these to start a Remembrances page. Other members of the Club who have personal memories of Tommy or other past Club members may wish to add further contributions (of any length including single paragraphs).
Richard Shaw, May 2001
The 2001 issue of the Club Directory is now in preparation. Is your entry correct and up-to-date in all details? Please check, and if there are any changes to be made - eg changes of address or telephone number, incorrect spelling of names, e-mail address etc - please contact Richard Wood, Membership Secretary at members {a} ocmc.org.uk.
Richard Shaw, April 2001
This year's AGM included a report by Andrew Westlake regarding his experience of establishing the Club website and then operating it for its first complete year. For those who were unable to attend the AGM, the following is a résumé of Andrew's report. It will be recalled that the original initiative for establishing the website came from Andrew, who put it forward as a proposal to last year's AGM. In his report Andrew described the content of the website and the services which it provides to members and non-members.
For members the main benefit is the facility to access and download programmes of forthcoming concerts at an earlier stage than is available by post. The website also retains an archive of past concert programmes (starting with the Centenary Year) and as far as possible these represent the details of the actual concert performed (ie any changes from the advance programme are incorporated).
The website is also designed to provide 'brochure' information about the Club to non-members. This is largely drawn from material from the Centenary Year booklet and the programme for the Centenary Concert. That information is ideal for the purpose, being designed for the same objective, however Andrew pointed out that it will need to be expanded and updated as time goes on.
When the details of a new concert programme are posted on the website, an e-mail is sent to all Club members who have opted to receive this service, telling them that the programme is on the website and available to be accessed.
An important benefit of the website is in reducing the repetitive and time-consuming manual task involved in transmitting concert programmes and other material by mail. A number of Club members - mainly those who make heavy use of e-mail and the internet as part of their professional work - have indicated their willingness to forgo mail deliveries and to depend solely on the internet for receipt of concert programmes. It is hoped that over time a growing proportion of Club members will feel confident enough to make the same decision. However this is a long-term objective and the option of mail delivery, which remains the prevailing mode for most members, will always be retained - both for those who depend on it alone and for those who wish to continue receiving by post while also getting the e-mail advices.
To conclude, if you wish to be included on the list of those who receive automatic e-mail advice when a new concert programme is posted on the website, please contact Andrew (Mail {a} ocmc.org.uk) and let him have your e-mail address.
Richard Shaw, April 2001
We regret to report that the Club has lost its longest-serving member. Tommy Evans (who had been an OCMC member since 1936) died on 9th February 2001.
Richard Shaw, February 2001
This year's opera is Handel's Semele conducted by Nicholas Steinitz. As usual, the venue will be the United Reform Church in Pond Square, Highgate. The start time has been moved back to 6pm.
The performance will be followed by a party - members are asked to bring food in the form of a single dish to be shared, enough for 5 - 8 people. Drinks will be available.
Lyn Parkyns, November 2000
It is with regret that we announce the death on June 22nd of Reginald Thompson, for many years conductor of the Club Orchestra and a frequent performer in club concerts. The Club was particularly indebted to him for providing a regular rehearsal room for the orchestra and an elegant location for special concerts.
Richard Shaw, August 2000
This year's opera, on Saturday November 11th, will be Handel's Semele. A strong choir is needed to sing the many choruses which are a feature of this opera. Rehearsal dates are still to be arranged - there will be 3 preliminary rehearsals before the orchestral rehearsals on the day of the concert and the preceding evening (Friday November 10th). The conductor will be Nick Steinitz and there will be a relatively small orchestra - so that the choir and singers can be heard! As on previous occasions the concert venue will be the Pond Square Chapel, Highgate.
Lyn Parkyns is asking all club members who might wish to take part in the chorus to put this concert in their diaries together with the 2 orchestral rehearsals. If you wish to take part in the chorus and haven't already received a letter from Lyn, please contact her.
Lyn Parkyns, August 2000
Please note that the Club Composers’ Concert, which was scheduled for Saturday October 14th, has been brought forward by two weeks and will now be held on Saturday September 30th. Composers who wish to offer works for performance in this concert are invited to contact either Tony Noakes, the concert organiser, or Alan Reddish, Music Secretary.
Richard Shaw, June 2000
At the AGM on March 15th Andrew Westlake proposed that the Club should have its own Web site containing concert programmes and other club material. To accompany this we would set up a system to communicate with members by e-mail. After discussion it was agreed to set up a small working group to consider the proposal and report back to the Club Committee. The working group (consisting of Richard Wood, Richard Shaw, and Andrew Westlake) has now met - and it’s all looking very positive.
Richard Shaw, April 2000
This is an appeal for assistance from those of us to whom falls the task of compiling programme sheets for Club concerts - the piece of paper that you pick up when you go to a Club concert which tells you everything you need to know about the music, the names of the composers, and the performers. Producing the programme sheet is no problem if all the information is to hand. Unfortunately some pieces of information can be very elusive - none more so than the dates of less well-known composers. The Club prides itself on the range of music which is played at Club concerts.
Richard Shaw, March 2000
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